Armor All Gold Coast 600 bound Will Power has triumphed at the race track that was host to his 2009 season-ending back injury at the weekend – sweeping pole and the win ahead of his fellow Gold Coast bound IndyCar racers.
Power and his fellow V8 Supercar drivers to be started the weekend well with qualifying, locking out the first three rows of the grid.
Power’s pole position was a record eighth such result for the season, and saw him share the front row with team-mate Helio Castroneves ahead of Dario Franchitti, Alex Tagliani, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon.
Power – who will race with Ford Performance Racing in October - also claimed valuable bonus points for claiming the pole and leading the most laps this weekend, seeing him 59 points in front of nearest championship rival Franchitti with four oval races remaining.
"It's unreal. What a perfect weekend to come back here and win after watching the race a year ago from a hospital bed," said Power following the win.
Franchitti (who will race for Jim Beam Racing on the Gold Coast) chases Power in the championship chase and was third in the race today after Power led Dixon (Jack Daniel’s Racing) across the line. Briscoe (Toll Holden Racing) was fourth. Recent Gold Coast sign-up Castroneves (Wilson Security Racing) was fifth and Tagliani (Kelly Racing) was 14th.
Also racing at the weekend was David Brabham, who will join IRWIN Racing for the Armor All Gold Coast 600. Brabham and his team-mate Simon Pagenaud claimed third at the American Le Mans Series race at Road America, maintaining their championship lead.
Patrick Long and his teammate Jörg Bergmeister were also on track at Road America, claiming eighth overall and second in their GT class to retain their 2010 ALMS GT Championship lead.
All of the international drivers for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 are set to arrive on the Gold Coast on the Sunday before the event and will be involved in a week of activity, including a full-day test at Queensland Raceway on Wednesday, October 20.
The Armor All Gold Coast 600 will include two 300km races on Saturday and Sunday of the event, with the international drivers required to complete a minimum of 30% of each of the races.
Tickets are now on sale for the Armor All Gold Coast 600, with Friday admission tickets starting from just $49 and three day passes from just $136, with each ticket providing admission to not only the day’s racing but also the same night’s entertainment line-up at 600 Sounds. Visit ticketek.com.au or call 132 849 for more information or to purchase.
International Drivers
Please see below for a full list of the 18 international drivers for the Armor All Gold Coast 600. For the two-car teams with one international driver, expect confirmation of which car the international will compete in following the Bathurst endurance event over October 7-10.
- Sebastien Bourdais – France – Dick Johnson Racing
- David Brabham – Australia – IRWIN Racing
- Ryan Briscoe – Australia – Toll Holden Racing Team
- Helio Castroneves - Brazil - Wilson Security Racing
- Scott Dixon – NZ – Jack Daniel’s Racing
- Dario Franchitti – Scotland – Jim Beam Racing
- Fabrizio Giovanardi – Italy – Brad Jones Racing
- Patrick Long – USA – Fujitsu Racing
- Alain Menu – Switzerland –Brad Jones Racing
- Tiago Monteiro – Portugal – Centaur Racing
- Gianni Morbidelli – Italy – Triple F Racing
- Yvan Muller – France – Paul Morris Motorsport
- Will Power – Australia – Ford Performance Racing
- Andy Priaulx – UK – TeamVodafone
- Scott Pruett – USA – Lucas Dumbrell Racing
- Mika Salo – Finland – Bundaberg Red Racing Team
- Alex Tagliani – Canada – Kelly Racing
- Jacques Villeneuve – Canada – The Bottle-O Racing Team
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