For the third year in a row, Will Power will start the IndyCar race at Sonoma from pole position.

The Australian held off compatriot Ryan Briscoe to land pole at the Californian circuit, clocking a fastest lap of one minute and 17.2709 seconds as he aims to win the event for the third year running.

Power goes into Sunday’s (Monday 0630 AEST) race, the third-last of the season, holding a narrow five-point advantage in the championship standings from Ryan Hunter-Reay.

The American, who qualified seventh, is one of several drivers in contention for the championship and Power expected a tight race despite his dominant displays so far this weekend where he has also topped the timesheets in Friday’s practice.

“I can see the race is going to be pretty wide open with the way the windows work out, extending the race by ten laps,” he said.

“So there will probably be more passing, too. So expect a lot of action. Hopefully not with me.”

For all Power’s success at Sonoma, it also holds some negative memories for the 31-year-old, having broken his back at the venue in a horrific crash in 2009.

He said he still had concerns over the blind third corner where his crash happened three years ago, when he couldn’t avoid the stalled vehicle of France’s Nelson Philippe.

“Every time I got over that bloody (Turn) 3-A I still don’t think the lights are good enough there,” he said.

“When you go over the crest there (and) someone’s sitting there you’re going to hit them hard. And I did.”