BAM Media
Apr 09, 2007
Team Australia s Will Power has become the first Australian to win a round of the Champ Car World Series after clinching the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Nevada this morning. Power, who started from pole, dominated the race in his Aussie Vineyards-backed machine to clinch the win from Dutch rookie Robert Doornbos and Champ Car veteran Paul Tracy.
Other former Australian podium winners have included Geoff Brabham and former F1 world champion Alan Jones, but Power, who won last year s Rookie of the Year title, is the first Australian to stand on the top step. Power was born and bred in Toowoomba, Queensland, and currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, close to the team.
Team Australia is owned by Queensland businessman Craig Gore and US racing legend Derrick Walker. Power basically took up from where he left off last year s championship.
He claimed pole in the penultimate round of last year s title chase at his home race on the streets of Queensland s Gold Coast and then clinched his first podium finish in the last race of the year in Mexico City. He claimed the pole for today s race by almost a second from his nearest rival and, despite losing the lead on the opening lap to Tracy, ran a fast and trouble-free race under a perfect strategy prepared by Walker.
Defending champion and Power s main rival for this year s title, Sebastien Bourdais, crashed out on lap 30 of the 68-lap race. Power s team-mate Simon Pagenaud also showed good speed throughout the weekend and looked a top three threat before he suffered engine problems and withdrew after 47 laps.more
