Power: “Finish Ahead of Palou, or It’s Over”

Photo by Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment

For Will Power, it’s really pretty simple. The Team Penske driver needs to finish ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, or his quest for a third NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will be over.

Heading into this weekend’s Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s doubleheader, Power trails Palou by 54-points with three races remaining on the schedule. Power trimmed 12-points off Palou’s lead in the standings by winning last weekend’s race at Portland International Raceway, the final road course race of the season. Palou kept the gap from being cut even more by finishing second.

With the Milwaukee doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday and the final race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway in two weeks, all ovals, in Power’s mind, the championship is still winnable.

“I would say if he (Palou) had finished ahead of us (at Portland), it would almost be over. It just kept it alive. Ultimately, one DNF (did not finish) for him, one win for me, you're right there. Certainly within 20 points. That makes it very possible it could happen.

“I said going into Portland we simply had to win. We simply had to at least finish ahead of him, but ultimately win to keep this thing alive. That's what we did.

“It's going to be the same every race from here out. Just got no choice but to be ahead of him or it's over.”

Given that the INDYCAR SERIES hasn’t raced at Milwaukee since 2015, and Power has only one start at Nashville, the championship battle is entering unknown territory.

“Yeah, quite unknown,” said Power. “You don't even know, like, can you pass at Milwaukee? Will qualifying be a big deal? How will this play out? I don't even think we've run on the tire we're going to run. Yeah, a very, very interesting three races that you really don't know where everyone's going to stack up.

“All the ovals we went to this year, we've had history on, very good setups and data for. Milwaukee, we tested there a couple times now. But it's really difficult to tell till you get in the race situation to know how good your car really is.”

Photo by Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment

Power’s most recent INDYCAR title came two years ago when he finished 16-points ahead of Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden. Despite winning only one race that season, Power’s consistency with 12 top-five finishes was key to his success. A three-time winner this season (Road America, Iowa Speedway and Portland), Power says this championship fight is very different.

“Yeah, it's a must-win situation almost right now. Can take a little bit more risk. You probably have a little less pressure 'cause you're not the one sort of defending this points lead.

“Believe me, it's nice to have the points lead. It's much better to be in his (Palou’s) position by a long shot. Yeah, different year. I kind of learnt from his (Palou’s) championship last year, the style of '22 wouldn't have worked that year. You had to win. That's what this year is.

“This year was a year of a lot of mistakes from a lot of drivers. Last two races. Toronto, think about it, if I didn't try that move on Scott (Dixon). If (David) Malukas and I didn't have that issue (at St. Louis), cause that yellow, suddenly you're looking pretty good. Everyone has let some big points go. Palou at Iowa. It's been one of those years where a '22 sort of year would win it.”

Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment

This season is the first since 2018 that Power has won three races. According to Power, regaining that winning form is down to a number of factors.

“It's never just one thing, to be honest. I think Chevy made a gain last year. Just with that, you've got more chance to qualify in the top six. Qualify in the top six, you certainly have more chance of a win.

“If I look at 2022, there were a lot of races where I went from 16th to third, got a lot of podiums, a lot of second places. Had I qualified slightly better, those potentially could have been wins. It's just putting yourself in that position, having the car.

“You are constantly working on that stuff. One year you're a little conservative. Next year you see Palou win with a bit more aggression, so you become a bit more aggressive. I never stop digging and looking.

“I actually came into this season with the mindset I must win multiple races. It's been a long time since I have. Yeah, that's basically a lot of factors go into it.”

Photo by Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment

In ’22, Power made a conscious decision to be a more consistent finisher, and it paid off for him. He claims he hasn’t altered his race craft this season.

“No, not really. No, I race pretty similar. A couple mistakes this year that I really reflect on that is uncharacteristic of sort of the 2022 year.

“No, I have the same mentality. I'm very calm in the car always. Rarely do I get flustered or say something on the radio. I'm less calm out of the car if something happens, but...

“Yeah, you just change small things. Built this big toolbox of skills over the years, worked on the mental aspect a lot, which just comes with age, to be honest. No particular thing.

“You have your goals coming into a season, but you are just walking that tightrope of aggression versus consistency. If you look at Dixon, 99% of the time he will not go for a move that's sort of in a 50/50. He will weigh on the cautious side. That's won him championships. Palou is further to the aggressive. But he walks that tightrope really well of aggression versus reward.

“I'm always playing on that one side or the other. '22 I was too conservative. '23 I had a bad year. This year maybe I'm a little bit over-aggressive at times. But that's the game you play. You got to hit that sweet spot. It's tough.”

Photo by Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment

One of INDYCAR’s senior citizens at age 43, Power feels lucky to still be in a situation where he can win races and championships.

“Man, anytime I win in this series, I feel so lucky. It feels like it's so impossible and hard to win. When you get a win, it's a very good feeling. It's very, very satisfying. It takes so much, it really does. To get through all those rounds in qualifying, to qualify right at the front, that is so difficult in this series. Then to execute completely on a race day with so many good guys and teams around you, it really is a big deal just to get on a podium in INDYCAR.

“Every win I get now, it's so special. It really means a lot. It's adding to my win list. It's not like I'm racing for another decade, put it that way. I work really hard at my craft, so it's very satisfying. I know all the guys on the car really deserve it. Best pit crew in pit lane. They have been the quickest the last couple years. They are again this year. That's a hard situation to come upon. To be in that situation, to be a good driver in a great team, having the opportunities to win. Bloody winning a race is a big deal.

“When I walk in the paddock, it's like it would be really tough for me to walk away from this sport. It really would. The feeling of being a part of something, trying to accomplish something with a group of people. If I stopped, I'd be very lost with what to do.

“I love racing. I love the paddock. I love the people. Feel lucky to do it.”

Power admits he’s thought about what a third championship would mean to him at this stage of his career.

“Oh, yeah, tremendous, tremendous in many different ways. To win in this series, at this time, it's so difficult. You get a third championship from a deficit of 54 points at this point, come back from a deficit like that, yeah, that would be amazing. It would be absolutely amazing. To finish on all ovals, as well, kind of going back to my early days, sort of unfinished business there.

“Yeah, it's a tough climb from here, but not impossible.”

But to do that, the job at hand is to stay ahead of Palou at all times.

“Yeah, that's our only shot. That is our only shot. We must be continually finishing ahead of him and see where it falls.”