Team Australia drivers Will Power and Simon Pagenaud begin their championship charge in the 2007 Champ Car World Series on the streets of Las Vegas in Nevada, United States this weekend. source: teamaustraliamotorsport.com Power served his Champ Car apprenticeship with distinction last season, finishing sixth in the championship and winning the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year title in his first full season in Champ Car. Like Power, Team Australia has come on in leaps and bounds. 2007 is the Aussie Vineyards squad's third season in the Champ Car World Series and it's best chance yet for race wins and championship success. Team Australia has set a strong pace in pre-season testing in its pair of new DP01 Champ Cars, the new car bringing a more level playing field to the category for 2007. Toowoomba-born Power came on strong over the second half of the 2006 season, picking up his first pole position at his home event on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia as well as grabbing his maiden podium finish at the season finale in Mexico City. That form has continued in pre-season testing, with Power setting the fastest time in official testing at the MSR Houston circuit in February and then scoring the second fastest behind defending series champion Sebastien Bourdais in Spring Training at Laguna Seca in March. With 16 Champ Car starts under his belt the 26-year-old is ready to make the #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 a regular podium contender as he challenges for his and Team Australia's first Champ Car win and, ultimately, a crack at the 2007 Champ Car World Series crown. One of the early favourites to succeed Power's thrown as the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year is his new Team Australia team-mate, Simon Pagenaud. The reigning Champ Car Atlantic Champion will suit up in the #15 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01 this season and the Frenchman has already impressed in pre-season testing. The 22-year-old not only possess the speed to run with the established stars of Champ Car, but also drives with maturity beyond his years, a trait that will serve him well this season over the course of the 16-round championship. Both Team Australia drivers are based in Indianapolis close to the team's workshop and have maintained a gruelling training regime over the off-season to ensure peak physical condition for this early part of the championship. The first three races of the season are on consecutive weekends and each is on a demanding street circuit, making it a challenging start to season 2007.
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