With 41 IndyCar victories, two NTT IndyCar Series championships, a record 68 poles and an Indianapolis 500 victory, Will Power is in the conversation as one of the greatest drivers in IndyCar history.
What does Power think of that?
“It’s not for me to say,” Power told SPEED SPORT. “You can look at stats, but it’s not fair to put yourself in the discussion, so it’s not for me to say.”
When Power arrived in the United States to start his first season in the Champ Car Series, all he wanted was a chance. It was 2006 and he got that chance with team owner Derrick Walker, who had Power in his Team Australia car for two races in 2005.
Walker liked what he saw and hired Power for the 2006 season. The following year, Power won two Champ Car races for Walker. Champ Car and the old Indy Racing League joined forces to create a unified series in 2008 and Power raced with KV Racing Technology.
After that season, however, Power was without a ride. Team Penske needed a fast driver to start the season because Helio Castroneves was involved in a tax evasion trial in Miami. Power took the ride with the understanding that if Castroneves was acquitted, he would have to turn the car over to him.
Castroneves was acquitted, but Team Penske kept Power for six races.
The highlight was a dominant victory in Edmonton, Alberta. The next season, Power was a full-timer at Team Penske and his career was about to skyrocket. He had five wins in 2010, six in 2011 and three each year from 2012 to ’14.
Power won his first NTT IndyCar Series championship in 2014 and his second this year.
When he began his Indy car career in 2006, Power never dreamed he would enjoy the success he’s achieved.
“When you are that young, you just want a chance because you believe in yourself,” Power said. “You know you can win races if given a chance. Derrick Walker gave me that and I was able to win for them and then KV Racing, and I was able to win for them and then Roger Penske really gave me a great shot.
“It was something that unfolded slowly with a lot of hard work behind it.”
Power will enter next season with the same fierce determination that he displayed in 2022.
“I’m doing what I get paid to do, which is to win races, win championships, win the Indy 500 and get pole positions,” Power said. “That’s why I’m getting paid and I try to do that every time to the best of my ability. That’s my plan.”
Power has matured compared to the aggressive wild-man from Toowoomba, Australia, he was early in his career. He was blazingly fast and had an elephant’s foot on the throttle. But Power also had a penchant for letting the pressure get to him. He let championships slip away in 2010, ’11 and ’12.
When he finally won the NTT IndyCar Series title in 2014, he let loose with a wild celebration.
His next goal was to win the Indianapolis 500 and it took him four seasons before he experienced the thrill of winning the world’s biggest race in 2018. Power turned 41 on March 1, two days after the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season began in St. Petersburg, Fla. Power started second and finished third as teammate Scott McLaughlin scored his first IndyCar victory.
It was the start of a season that was far different than Power’s typical IndyCar Series campaign.
He played what he called “the long game.” Power took a long view of the season and realized the importance of finishing races.
Power scored a victory in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 5 and that put him in the points lead. From that point forward, Power was either first or second in points, with the exception of 24 hours between the doubleheader events at Iowa Speedway in July.
Power finished third to teammate Newgarden in the first race and dropped to third in the standings. He moved back to second after a runner-up finish to Pato O’Ward the following day.
The next weekend, Power finished third in the Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was back in the championship lead. He kept the lead the rest of the season, finishing third in the series finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and claiming the title by 16 points over Newgarden.
Podium finishes were the key to the title as Power became the first driver since Tony Kanaan (2004) to finish every lap of every race. Conversely, Newgarden had five victories and six podiums.
Three more finishes in the top-three clinched the championship for Power.
“You are very aware of the championship contenders and know where you have to finish,” Power said. “The last three races for me, I got the pole at Gateway and had a great shot at the end, but we made a mistake in strategy and still ended up sixth. That was a bit of a disappointment.
“At Portland, started second and finished second and then qualified on pole at Laguna Seca and finished third. Those last three races were game on for me, and you saw the absolute best out of me, and it really showed on the track.”
Power believes he is more focused and more relaxed because of his accomplishments, including a pair of titles and an Indy 500 triumph.
“It definitely takes pressure off when you are going into a championship race,” Power said. “I think I have the right amount of intensity now. I understand the right amount of intensity you need to execute at the highest level without going over the top. Having those previous achievements took the big pressure off, but mentally I’m so much further ahead than I ever was.”
Power has plenty of racing left in his career, but he is also looking to the future. He is involved in driver development and works with Indy Lights driver Myles Rowe. His wife, Liz, is Rowe’s business manager.
Rowe is part of the expanded Force Indy effort that also includes Ernie Francis Jr. and hopes to give African American drivers a chance at making it to IndyCar.
“We speak to Myles weekly and it’s been great to watch his development,” Power said. “I really believe he is going to get to IndyCar. I do. He is definitely good enough to do that. He’s got Roger Penske supporting him. It was a pity he didn’t win the USF2000 championship this year. He’ll have another shot at winning a championship and if he does that this year, he’ll be in Indy Lights in 2024.”
Of course, Power wants to win another Indy 500, but Team Penske will have to return to its past form that includes a record 18 Indy 500 victories. The past few seasons have been “un-Penske like” in many ways at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I know Chevy is working really hard, we as a team are working really hard and we are trying to close the gap to Ganassi,” Power said. “They have a big advantage. We have to find a bit of speed and we have engineers working very hard on that right now.”
As for another championship, Power will continue to play “the long game” next season, but he does see a few areas where he can improve.
“I have things that I can improve upon for next year,” he said. “I can be better in a few spots. I’ll be aiming to continue that consistency, but it would be nice to add a few more wins to the season. These days it’s so difficult to get a win, you have to put your head down and not really aim for that as a goal.
“It’s a different season every year with a different flow. This year, consistency paid off and next year, you don’t know. But in general, if there are five or six people going for a championship, the one with consistency will normally pay off.
“Of course, I will try to do a similar thing that I did this year because it led to a championship.”
Another championship will elevate Power even further into the discussion of the sport’s best drivers.
He belongs in that conversation.