Will Power moves into the final month of the IndyCar Series just 13 points behind his Team Penske stablemate Helio Castroneves.
The showdown between the Penske stars will be a gripping feature to the final four rounds in August on consecutive weekends at Mid-Ohio, Wisconsin, Sonoma and Fontana.
The ‘Toowoomba Tornado’ has fallen short of the title in the past, claiming the runner-up spot in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Since then the 33-year-old has a new-found affinity on ovals, which were largely responsible for his undoing at the hands of Ryan Hunter-Reay in the 2012 title finale at Fontana.
The 2014 season has again been an inconsistent one for Power however, with two victories and six podiums countered by a litany of penalties and incidents.
Power has been at the forefront of American open-wheel racing since making the move from Europe at the end of 2005.
He has the distinction of winning in four different generations of American open wheel chassis – the last two Champ Cars and the two most recent IndyCars – a rare achievement which is only matched by Dale Coyne racer Justin Wilson.
Since making his Champ Car debut at Surfers Paradise in 2005 in a Derrick Walker-prepared Lola, Power has won a total of 24 races (three Champ Car and 21 IndyCar) .
The 2002 Formula Holden Australian Drivers Champion has also been successful in Formula Ford, and Formula 3 and won two races in his only season in the Renault World Series in 2005.
Should Power take the IndyCar title, it will be the most significant open-wheel championship victory by an Australian since Alan Jones triumphed in the Formula 1 world championship in 1980.
What do you think? Will 2014 finally be the year that Will Power breaks through?