Will Power recalls wife Liz’s words after his long overdue second IndyCar title, which were groundbreaking in two ways
“My wife told me that I was going to break the record and that I was going to win the title.” Those were the first words Will Power spoke into the TV microphones at Laguna Seca Raceway on Sunday after wrapping up his second IndyCar title
The Australian won his first title in the 2014 IndyCar season. Even then, he drove for the Penske team, for which he still drives today. Between the two title wins and before, Power had to put up with a lot of setbacks. On Sunday, however, everything went right for him.
Power already laid the foundation for his second IndyCar title on Saturday when he secured the pole for the decisive last race of the season in qualifying at Laguna Seca Raceway. It was also Power’s 68th pole of his IndyCar career, surpassing the record set by Mario Andretti.
This is the record that Power’s wife Liz alluded to months ago. Because the quote mentioned at the beginning was recalled by Power after the race. It was spoken by Liz Power “back during the winter break”, as the Penske driver notes.
And the second part of Liz Power’s premonition also became reality on the Laguna Seca weekend, namely her husband’s second IndyCar title, eight years after the first. “What she told me gave me so much confidence. And that just shows how much I trust her and how she feels,” said Power as a now (finally) two-time IndyCar champion.
Over the course of Sunday’s 95 laps of the race, things did not always go perfectly for Power. At the second pit stop, his Penske crew had flattened the front wing. It was a decision that the Australian soon regretted in the cockpit. “Man, I was really struggling. I was on the limit,” Power said.
All the more relief that he wrapped up the title with a 16-point lead over Penske teammate Josef Newgarden. “It’s a big relief to have done it,” confessed the 41-year-old Australian.
Newgarden had made it difficult for himself in the title fight. In qualifying on Saturday, he spun in the notorious corkscrew passage in the Q1 segment, triggering a red phase. As a result, his lap times were cancelled and he missed out on Q2.
From 25th on the grid – and thus from the last row – Newgarden fought his way up to second place in the race. Although he finished the race ahead of Power, the bottom line is that he is 16 points behind his Penske teammate.
And that’s despite Newgarden winning five races during the season, Power just one. But Power has made the podium nine times, Newgarden apart from his five wins only P2 at the finale.
Apart from Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin in the third Penske Chevrolet and Ganassi drivers Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson also still had a chance at the title at the finale. Newgarden, however, was the strongest of the four power competitors.
