Will Power to take points lead into Indy 500
Will Power was a part-time driver with an uncertain future last year. Now, the Australian heads into the Indianapolis 500 leading the IndyCar Series standings.
Power accepted an offer from Penske Racing last season to step in while Helio Castroneves fought federal tax evasion charges. When Castroneves was acquitted last April, Power knew his spot was in jeopardy because of a lack of sponsorship.
Power went into last year's Indianapolis 500 with no guarantees he'd remain on the team. He finished fifth, and team owner Roger Penske and Penske Racing president Tim Cindric told him the next day he'd get five more races. After finishing third at Toronto and winning at Edmonton, Verizon sponsored him and the team signed him for 2010.
Power has rewarded Penske's faith. He won the first two races this season, at Sao Paulo, Brazil and St. Petersburg. He's already claimed three poles and has four top-four finishes in five races. Now, he leads everyone, including established Penske teammates Castroneves (third) and Ryan Briscoe (fifth).
``This is the first time in my career I've been able to show what I've got,'' the 29-year-old said. ``I'm on a good team, I've got a full-time ride. There's some comfort about it.''
Power has done it all while still dealing with long-term effects from a crash at Sonoma last year. He sustained a concussion, chipped his left front tooth and broke two vertebrae in his back in a collision Aug. 22. He still occasionally has stiffness in his back, though he says he doesn't feel it while he's driving.
Castroneves, a three-time Indy 500 winner who had the fastest lap Sunday (227.046 mph), joked that he might add to Power's pain.
``I'm going to break his leg now, because he's doing so well,'' Castroneves said, laughing within earshot of Power in the Penske garage. ``You've got to do something to stop this guy.
``He's doing very good. I mean, come on. The results speak for itself. It's great to have around new blood.''
Penske driving coach Rick Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner with six poles in the event, said Power's ability to learn quickly has combined with exceptional talent to help him emerge quickly.
``He's got a really good feel for a car,'' Mears said. ``He's very good at applying what you talk about and applying it almost immediately. That helps the learning curve.''
Mears said Power is willing to put in the work to succeed.
``He's got a great desire to do what he's doing,'' Mears said. ``He loves sitting in that race car. That's the way I was. That's the way he is. The desire helps create the focus, and the focus helps create the results.''
Power excelled on road courses in Champ Car until the series merged with IndyCar in 2008. Power expected to start strong this season because the first four events were road races.
``I expected to be very strong on those,'' he said. ``I would have been very disappointed if I hadn't won a race at this point.''
If Power is going to win the points title, he'll have to improve on the ovals. He finished 12th at Kansas on May 1. Power said Mears is an ideal person to help him improve on the ovals.
``He's been through it all, he's seen it all, and you can't beat experience,'' Power said. ``I think if you're stuck or you're struggling a little bit, he's one of the best guys you can talk to. He understands.''
Mears and Power agreed that Power made a major leap during last year's Indy 500.
``I would say by about halfway through the race, I felt very comfortable, and I hadn't had that before,'' Power said. ``It's all confidence around here. You've got to have a lot of faith in your car.''
Castroneves remembers trying to hold Power off during last year's Indy 500. At one point, Castroneves led and Power was in second place. Castroneves eventually won, but he remembers Power closing in.
``When I heard it was Will, I was like, 'He's my teammate. Tell him to back off. I'm trying to save fuel.''' Castroneves said. ``'I'm not going to save fuel.'''
Power said he doesn't feel extra pressure now that he's at the top of the standings, but he has high expectations because of the quality of the team. He hasn't thought much about the points lead or the chance to win a championship, instead focusing solely on the Indy 500.
``I feel like I've got more experience, and a better opportunity to be on the pole or win the race,'' he said. ``I haven't thought about the points situation because this is such a big race. You just think of the race itself.''
