‘Massively Special’ - Will Power Ends Drought at Road America
Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
736 days.
That’s how long it’d been since Will Power stood on the top step of the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Sunday, that 34-race winless streak came to an end as Power led Team Penske teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin to a 1-2-3 podium sweep in the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America.
Making the win more special was having wife, Liz, and son, Beau, in victory lane with him.
“It was very special. She was in tears. So was her mother. Had Beau there. Yeah, been a rough trot. It was last year we didn't get a win. She wasn't at a lot of the races.
“Yeah, good stuff. Good stuff. Very positive.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
736 days. Some more anxious than others.
While the winless streak was mentally draining, the health of his wife, Liz, was much more concerning.
In January of 2023, Liz was hospitalized after contracting a staph infection in her spine. The infection caused a fever of 106°F and required emergency spinal surgery to clean the infection. The amount of hardware doctors inserted into her back means that she will need to take antibiotics for the rest of her life.
The seriousness of her illness led Power to some dark places as he reconsidered his life.
“You start thinking. When that was going on, you start thinking should I be racing at all? If something happens to Liz and something happens to me, is she going to get better? What's going to happen? The doctor said this can come back at any time. Should I be racing? That was the thing that was planted in my mind last year.
“You certainly don't perform at your highest level because you don't want your son to have no parents,” Power continued. “That is sort of the thing you're thinking. Yeah, tough wrestling with that. Ultimately, if she wasn't getting better, I would stop. I would have to stop for my son. Simple as that.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
Just how close was Power to hanging up his helmet?
“In the off-season when my wife is sitting in hospital, we're just wondering what's going to happen here. She almost died. You start thinking, Yeah, I'm going to have to stop now, take care of my son.
“Then after that also, like, it's a long process. Once they put the metal plates and all that, you have that infection in the blood, it can stick to the metal, come back. It's like, what's going to happen?
“Continual blood tests. You just got to be on top of it. If it comes, you have to be very quick to have the antibiotics reduce it, I guess. It seems like... The doc said it can come back anytime. You got to be quick to catch it.”
As if to drive that home further, Power’s weekend at Road America last year was one of his lowest points.
“Yeah, it was a very stressful weekend because I left (home) thinking that Liz was sick again. I left. She was looking in a glass. Actually, getting in the car, had booked a private plane, because that's the only way she could travel. Get in the car, she looks down and says, ‘Look at all the worms in that cup.’
“I'm like, Oh, s**t.
“I said to my mother-in-law, You have to stay here. We already booked this plane. Taking off now. I'll go, call you on the plane.
“All weekend she's going back and forth to the doctors. Turns out she mixed some medications. Hallucinations. That's how it all started, hallucinations.
“Stressful, yeah, this predicament. Should I race or not? Then you crash bad. That's why I was so, I guess, angry or just stressed. Anything set me off. Grappling with that.
“Yeah, that's life. People have it way worse. I'm not complaining. People have it way worse. I'm lucky, very lucky.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
736 days.
With his wife’s health situation stabilized, Power entered the ’24 season with a change in mindset.
“Yeah, I just came in way more prepared like I normally am. I was just back to how I prepared for a year, which is constantly improving on my craft.
“I have to say I'm a better driver again this year than I was in '22 when I won the championship. Last year was sort of a stall-out here. Not much I could do. Spending a lot of time at home, looking after Liz, making sure everything was going well for her.
“Back to Liz helping me, like she is a big part of my preparation. She does a lot for me. We're back as a team again.”
With his win Sunday at Road America, Power is now tied for fourth on the all-time INDYCAR win list with Michael Andretti at 42 apiece.
“That was the next one I wanted to get,” said Power. “That was the one I'd been wanting for a while. To surpass Michael, big fan of Michael's as a kid. Watched him win a lot of races. The Andretti family, such a big deal, such legends of this sport. Anytime you're name is around those guys, it's a big deal. Cool to be equal with Michael.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
Power also has taken over the points lead by five over two-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou in the season standings. For Power, it’s beginning to feel like his championship season of ’22.
“Yeah, back to that flow again. Except we have to win more this year. It's a tough field. That's one thing I was a little cautious in '22 at times where I felt like I needed to push the envelope a little more. It's that fine line. I think Palou is the one that nails that perfectly of aggression versus risks and so on.
“I feel like as a package we are very strong, very strong. You see Colton (Herta) has incredible speed at times, but things seem to happen, which you go through when you're young. You know that guy's going to be pretty strong in the future.
“I feel like as a package we're pretty good. Pretty good.”
Thankfully, that package once again includes his wife. Liz.
736 days. Will Power’s drought is finally over.
Photo Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment