Power qualifies 3rd and Castroneves 8th for Team Penske in first of two races in Toronto
Power turned a fast lap of 1:00.0612 seconds, while Castroneves recorded a lap of 1:00.2866 for Saturday’s race
Photo by: Rebecca McKay
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada (July 12, 2013) – Will Power led Team Penske on Friday by turning the third-fastest qualifying lap for Saturday’s first race of the "Two in T.O." Canadian double-header while teammate Helio Castroneves will start eighth in tomorrow’s Honda Indy Toronto.
Power turned a fast lap of 1:00.0612 seconds in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet as the third-quickest driver in the Firestone Fast Six final qualifying round.
"I hope to get a good start tomorrow,” said Power about the first standing start in the IZOD IndyCar Series, which will make its debut at Saturday's green flag. “The big key to getting a good start is to not get too much (wheel) spin, so you get that proper hookup. I haven't had a chance to look at the grid box, but hopefully it's on a good patch of asphalt because it changes so much around this track."
“The Hitachi boys did a great job and gave me a fast car – we had a fast lap going there when the red flag came out so we ended up eighth,” said Castroneves. “We feel alright though since we know we have a fast car, and a fourth-row start is pretty good here in Toronto. We will do our homework tonight and then do our best in tomorrow’s race.”
Power has two wins at the Exhibition Place street circuit, having won the 2007 Champ Car event and also in 2010. In six career starts at Toronto, he has earned one pole (2011), collected three podium finishes and led 85 laps of competition.
Castroneves carries a 23-point lead in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings into Saturday's first race of the weekend.
Toronto marks the eighth event out of 11 this season that Castroneves has led the points entering race weekend.
Power is one of the few drivers that have experience with standing starts. The native Australian experienced them in the Champ Car World Series, and when he competed in select V8 Supercar races over the last few seasons. Power used a strong start to help win the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach Champ Car race in the last Indy car race to feature a standing start.
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