Australians clean-sweep front-row

Australians have clean swept the front row of the IndyCar grid ahead of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

Pace-setter Will Power has taken the PEAK Performance Pole Award, edging out team-mate and fellow Aussie Ryan Briscoe.

Power posted a best lap of 1m11.4546s on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn natural-terrain course in the Firestone Fast Six, beating Briscoe’s 1m11:7361.

Power says that his team will pay close attention to strategy.

“It was very tiring but we saved it until the end and put a good lap together,” he said.

“I’m happy to have the the #12 Verizon car up front again. It’s really important to start from the front at this track. I feel we should have won the race last year with the speed we had, so we’re pretty focused on the strategy.”

Briscoe was pleased to be the ‘best of the rest’ behind the dominant Power.

“Well, at least I was beaten by the guy who no one seems to be able to beat in qualifying,” he said.

“The car is feeling great this weekend; we really unloaded strong and we’ve been right up there in every practice session. Wish we could have gotten the pole, but we got the front row. It’s going to be a long race and I’m looking forward to it because I need to get some points back from St. Petersburg.”

Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon (1m11:8826) and Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves (1m12:1247), the defending race winner, will occupy Row 2.

Justin Wilson (1m12:3085), who is driving with an injured wrist, and Oriol Servia (1m12:4394), in his first start at Barber, will share Row 3.

Also at Barber Motorsports Park, Victor Garcia grabbed the Sunoco Pole Award, his first in Firestone Indy Lights class. He will share the front row with Esteban Guerrieri for Sunday’s race.

Will Power talks about his pole position

Ryan Briscoe talks about his front row start