Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for Penske Racing, won the second Dual in Detroit at Raceway Belle Isle Park. The race was his 26th win in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Notably, it’s his first win since the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis at the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year in May.
Power was excited to pull off the win because of an awesome pit strategy from his strategist Tim Cudric.
“It’s been great,” Power said. “Been a weekend where we’re knocking on the door. In practice, obviously had a bad first qualifying, and then was fast in the race yesterday, had an issue. Was fast in qualifying this morning, fast enough for pole, had my two best laps taken away.
“It’s very satisfying. Very satisfying. Been a tough season, I would say. Yeah, I kind of kept the pace, kept plugging away.”
The Australian racer was happy it was a double header weekend because in the first race of the weekend, he lost a tire and wrecked. So it was nice to bounce back and win the second one.
“Yeah, it did,” Power added. “We started ninth yesterday, were able to work our way all the way to the front. Yeah, I always felt around here, it doesn’t really matter where you qualify, it’s usually a pretty mixed-up race.
“It did matter today. Pretty straightforward race. Nothing out of the ordinary. You just had to be good on restarts. Had a great start, which got me out ahead of Hunter-Reay.”
The former champion also was glad to give team owner Roger Penske a win in his backyard so to speak. Penske is the main reason that IndyCar started to go back to the race track in Detroit and Chevrolet is one of the main sponsors of the race.
“It’s great,” Power quoted. “Roger this morning, very keen, said one of us need to win, and for Chevrolet. Believe me, I’m very happy to be the one.”
Not only was Power’s pit strategy key to the win, but also a very awesome pass he made on the restart while going into Turn 3 around teammate Simon Pagenaud got Power for fifth. Once the cars ahead of them pitted for their final stop, Power got the lead and never looked back.
“I knew on that restart I had to get Simon,” Power said. “It was my best chance. Had cars in front of me, which makes it very difficult in turbulent air.
“But he’s the championship leader and also my teammate. I had to make it a very clean move. So I went to the outside. I wouldn’t have done it to go up the inside, too much risk of taking him out.
“It was a surprise to get him on the outside. It really was. Gave him room in the apex, ended up getting down to first gear, got out. Yup, that’s it, what I needed.”
Power has a strict exercise routine he sticks to which helps him prepare for tough races like the double headed in Detroit.
“It’s very demanding,” Power added. “You go somewhere like Barber, smooth, so high on the G Force. Here it’s constant kickback through the wheel, bottoms out. And some very fast corners. It’s very physical, very tough.
“Had a few issues in the off-season, so my normal level of fitness was not where it should be at the beginning of the season, which made it tough in races. I’m back up to where I need to be.”
Last year when Power won on the IMS Road course people started to call him the King of the road. That was the last time we saw him in Victory Lane until now. Power said the season drug on and then he missed the season opener back in St. Petersburg due to an inner ear infection. Power says he hopes that with the win it means his season is changing for the better.
“It was frustrating last year because I felt I was the quickest,” Power stated. “I had more poles than anyone, led a lot of laps. It just amazed me when yellows would fall, throw you completely out of the game. That’s IndyCar racing. Sometimes it’s just very frustrating because it can be just pure luck where the yellow falls.
“Look at Helio today. Caught out by yellow. Almost a drive-through penalty for that, which I don’t like. He’s done a good job, worked his way to the front, saved more fuel, gone a lap longer, literally it’s a drive-through penalty if you do that. You get put to the back. You’re literally leading, goes yellow, everyone pits, you go to the back. I believe that’s something that should change in IndyCar.”