By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is full of tradition, and it seems that a new tradition is under way: Will Power always does well at the INDYCAR Grand Prix.
The Australian defended his championship at the Grand Prix, which took place Saturday at IMS. Power led early in the race, hung around during the middle stages, then took the lead for good on Lap 51 and ran in front for the remainder of the 85-lap race.
After a slow start to the season, Power said “it’s just fantastic to get the win.” This is the third win at the Grand Prix for Power and his 33rd career win. It also marked the 200th win for Team Penske, a name that has become so well-associated with the Speedway, and Power is aware of the legacy that Roger Penske has built.
“Two hundred wins in IndyCar shows Roger’s determination,” said Power. “It’s amazing to be a part of that history of Penske racing, because it’s such a deep history. I’m so grateful to be able to drive for this team.”
Power started at the pole, and led the race for the first 19 laps. After that, the lead changed hands five different times over the next seven laps, as the front-runners all made their first pit stops. Sebastien Bourdais, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi and rookie Kyle Kaiser all held the top spot at one point.
On Lap 26, Canadian Robert Wickens moved up to the lead. The 29-year-old from Toronto is racing his first full year in the Verizon IndyCar Series. He has been a top-level racer since his teenage years, and spent the last six seasons in the Deutsche Tournwagen Masters, a German racing league with car designs similar to that of the stock cars used in NASCAR. Wickens won six DTM races.
Wickens got his first taste of IndyCar last June, when drove Mikhail Aleshin’s practice car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports as the IndyCar drivers prepared for the Kohler Grand Prix in Wisconsin. Wickens was on standby because Aleshin was having visa issues returning from France after participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Aleshin was able to race, but SPM was impressed enough to give Wickens a full-time ride for 2018. Since then, Wickens has been impressive, finishing second at the Phoenix Grand Prix and fourth in the Grand Prix of Alabama.
Wickens wound up leading a total of 20 laps at IMS, holding on to the lead until Lap 41, when Power returned to the front. That’s when the second round of pits began, and Power temporarily ceded first place to Graham Rahal, the seventh leader of the race (tying a race record).
Wickens got back in front on Lap 46, but Power moved ahead on Lap 51 and stayed in front until the checkered flag. At that point, Power’s toughest opponent was dehydration, admitting as such once the race was finished on the muggy day. Power admitted that he didn’t drink enough before the race, and not at all during the race.
“When you’re racing hard, you forget to drink,” said Power. “While you’re racing you’re fine, but as soon as I stopped, it was like ‘ooh.'”
Meanwhile, Scott Dixon made a steady climb from the 18th starting position to second place, which is where he finished, 2.2443 seconds behind Power.
“The goal is to finish bettter than 18th, that’s for sure,” said Dixon. “You have an understanding that you can move up.”
Wickens wound up in third place, easily the highest-finishing rookie. Wickens said that the strategy of saving fuel during the race was a new experience for him.
“I’ve never raced in a category where you had to save fuel,” said Wickens. He said that apart “from warm-ups and in and out laps, it’s not something that I’m practicing very much.”
“I haven’t raced him enough,” said Power. “We passed each other twice, no prblem. He’s obivuosly very good. Being fuel safe is probably a new thing for him.” Power also noted that Wickens has as much experience as he does at the top level.
Bourdais finished fourth, while Rossi took fifth.
Next up is the biggest of all, the Indianapolis 500. All three men have this race in their sights – Dixon is the 2008 champion, Power is a perennial contender, and Wickens appears to be another promising rookie in a race that has seen its share of first-timers do well.
Power said he’s had his eye on the 500 since last year, and winning the Grand Prix is a good start to the month of May.
“I’ve had this a couple times now,” said Power. “It always helps you because the team has more confidence. I’m very upbeat and have a lot of confidence.”
“I’ve dreamed of doing a 500 since I can remember,” said Wickens. “I just want to take it one day at a time, because every day in IndyCar seems to be different. All next week’s going to be interesting with practice.”
Will Power won his second consecutive INDYCAR Grand Prix Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s the third overall win for Power and marked the 200th win for Team Penske. (Kent Graham)
Will Power collected his 33rd career win at the INDYCAR Grand Prix. (Kent Graham)