POWER GRABS SIXTH TOP 10 STARTING SPOT IN CHICAGO QUALIFYING

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Will Power has earned his sixth top 10 qualifying performance for the season with 10th fastest in qualifying for the PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois today.

Power, driving the #8 Aussie Vineyards ˜ Team Australia Honda/Dallar=/Firestone, an IndyCar rookie who is making his first appearance on the 1.5-mile, D-shaped, Chicagoland oval.

The 27-year-old posted a four-lap average of 214.583mph and will lin=-up on the outside of the fifth row.

Power was 12th fastest in this morning's practice with a speed of 21=.558mph, followed by ninth fastest in second practice.

In qualifying, Power went out sixth of the 28 drivers who made a quali=ying run and had an incredibly consistent effort.

Power, who will be making his 47th career start in US open-wheel compe=ition and just his 11th on an oval, enters tomorrow's race 14th in the standings with 301 points, 33 points out of 10th and third in the Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year race trailing Hideki Mutoh by 33 points.

The driver from Toowoomba, Queensland has earned five top-10 finishes =four on road or street circuits), including two top-five showings (both on street/road circuits, won in Long Beach and fourth in Mid-Ohio) with one victory in 16 races this year. In 10 previous oval starts, Power has one top-10 finish a ninth place showing earlier this year at Iowa.

WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …

Will Power: #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Fi=estone

‘The Aussie Vineyards˜Team Australia car felt good during qualifyi=g, very consistent and that is always the key for the race,’ said Power.

‘If you can have a nice consistent car that's friendly to drive, t=en you should do well.

‘Hopefully the way we set it up in practice today will give us a sol=d car for the race tomorrow.’

Craig Gore: Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia

‘Great job by Will and the Aussie Vineyards crew in Chicago today,’=said Gore.

‘The team has been working hard at improving the oval package, so it=would be great to have a strong showing on the final oval race of the season.’

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 Points Standings - After Race 16
1. #9 Scott Dixon 606
2. #3 Helio Castroneves 576
3. #11 Tony Kanaan 481
4. #10 Dan Wheldon 464
5. #6 Ryan Briscoe 412
6. #7 Danica Patrick 359
7. #5 Oriol Servia 345
8. #26 Marco Andretti 339
9. #17 Ryan Hunter-Reay 338
10. #27 Hideki Mutoh 334
14. #8 Will Power 301

2008 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Standings - After Race 16
1. #27 Hideki Mutoh 334
2. #02 Justin Wilson 321
3. #8 Will Power 301
4. #06 Graham Rahal 276
5. #33 EJ Viso 274
6. #19 Mario Moraes 232
7. #36 Enrique Bernoldi 220
8. #34 Jaime Camara 162
9. #96 Mario Dominguez 112
10. #24 Jay Howard 72

RACE SCHEDULE
Local Chicago (US Central) Times
Race ˜ PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300
Sunday 7 September 2008
2:30pm

UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Sunday 7 September 2008
ABC
3:30pm US Eastern

AUSTRALIAN TIMES
Australian Eastern Standard Times
Race ˜ PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300
Monday 8 September 2008
5:30am AEST

AUSTRALIAN TV SCHEDULE
Monday 8 September 2008
ESPN
5:30am AEST

ABOUT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY
PEAK Motor Oil Indy 300
Venue: Chicagoland Speedway
Location: Joliet, Illinois
Type: 1.5-mile oval ˜ 18 degree banking
Distance: 200 laps ˜ 300 miles

INDYCAR SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Race Winner: Dario Franchitti
Defending Polesitter: Dario Franchitti
Will Power ˜ Chicagoland Speedway debut