Will Power has gained his best IndyCar Series finish on an oval with a sensational fifth place in the PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois today.

The outstanding result means that Power finishes 12th in the 2008 IndyCar Series Driver Standings and third in the Bombardier Rookie of the Year standings.

Power started from 10th in the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia entry and ran in the front part of the field throughout the 200-lap race.

The Australian was able to claw his way into the top five with a combination of strong car speed and slick pit stops. The result is a sign of the progress both Power and the Aussie Vineyards crew have made with their oval racing package over the course of the season.

Power’s previous best finish on an oval was ninth place at Iowa Speedway on 22 June 2008. This finish gives Power six top 10 finishes this season, including the Champ Car finale in Long Beach, California, as well as seven top 10 qualifying performances from 17 races in his debut IndyCar Series season.

Power and Team Australia will now focus their attention on their home race, the Nikon Indy 300 on the streets of Surfers Paradise in Queensland, Australia. Power is a two-time polesitter for that event, which will be a non-points scoring IndyCar race this season.

WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …

Will Power: #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone

“I have never had so much fun in a race,” said Power.

“The Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia car was good, and the crew did a great job in the pits. We picked up positions on every stop. We had good restarts. Everything was good.

“This has been a challenging season. The whole team has worked very hard, and I am just so happy to be able to have a good finish, especially on a mile-and-half oval. It really shows the progress the whole KV Racing Technology team has made this year.”

Craig Gore: Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia

“Will and the team did an outstanding job today and a top five on an oval for us is an excellent achievement,” said Gore.

“It really shows that the hard work from Will and the Aussie Vineyards crew is paying off. My hat goes off to them all and they deserve to be very pleased.

“Now we look ahead to Surfers Paradise and the Nikon Indy 300. That is a massive event for us and we are aiming for the win.”

RESULTS: PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway
Race 17 of the 2008 IndyCar Series
1. #3 Helio Castroneves – 200 laps
2. #9 Scott Dixon
3. #6 Ryan Briscoe
4. #11 Tony Kanaan
5. #8 Will Power
6. #10 Dan Wheldon
7. #14 Darren Manning
8. #26 Marco Andretti
9. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay
10. #7 Danica Patrick

RESULTS: PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying
1. #6 Ryan Briscoe 215.818mph (four-lap average speed)
2. #9 Scott Dixon 215.553
3. #7 Danica Patrick 215.548
4. #11 Tony Kanaan 215.368
5. #26 Marco Andretti 215.064
6. #10 Dan Wheldon 214.967
7. #12 Tomas Scheckter 214.855
8. #4 Vitor Meira 214.796
9. #25 Marty Roth 214.794
10. #8 Will Power 214.583

2008 IndyCar Series Final Standings - After Race 17
1. #9 Scott Dixon 646
2. #3 Helio Castroneves 629
3. #11 Tony Kanaan 513
4. #10 Dan Wheldon 492
5. #6 Ryan Briscoe 447
6. #7 Danica Patrick 379
7. #26 Marco Andretti 363
8. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay 360
97. #5 Oriol Servia 358
10. #27 Hideki Mutoh 346
12. #8 Will Power 331

2008 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Standings - After Race 17
1. #27 Hideki Mutoh 346
2. #02 Justin Wilson 340
3. #8 Will Power 331
4. #06 Graham Rahal 288
5. #33 EJ Viso 286
6. #19 Mario Moraes 244
7. #36 Enrique Bernoldi 220
8. #34 Jaime Camara 174
9. #96 Mario Dominguez 112
10. #24 Jay Howard 72