Will Power secured a podium finish with third place in the IndyCar Sonsio GP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course, as Álex Palou continued his remarkable winning streak with a fourth victory in five races this season.
The Team Penske veteran started from seventh position and relied on strategy rather than on-track passes to claim his podium position in what he described as an “uneventful day” from the cockpit.
“A solid day” for Power at the IndyCar Sonsio GP
“It was just a solid day. Didn’t pass anyone on track. It was the same as Barber. Didn’t pass a single car,” Power reflected after the race. “Just spent the whole day sort of like in a good pit stop strategy and speed and sort of overcut there at the end. Got us a couple of positions.”
The Australian’s performance mirrored his approach at Barber Motorsports Park earlier in the season, where he also used strategic pit timing rather than on-track manoeuvres to gain positions.
“Yeah, it was a very uneventful day. It was eventful in the car catching and driving hard the whole day, but as far as chopping through the field or anything. I mean, when you start seventh, obviously it’s not like you’re able to pass a lot of people,” Power explained.
Challenges of a competitive field
Power highlighted the incredible depth of talent in the current IndyCar field as a key factor in the difficulty of overtaking during races.
“It’s a very stout field. People don’t make mistakes. Even the person who finishes last — I don’t know who finished last, but I know when I lapped Abel, he stuck behind me at the same pace, exactly the same space. Hardly dropped off,” Power noted.
“Maybe we need to try a lock-out push-to-pass system where you get within a second and it locks the guy out in front and create passing like that, but it’s cool to see.”
Power acknowledged the new tyre rules implemented for the race but believes more changes might be necessary: “I think this was the first step, try something with tyres, but I think you need to do something more.”
Weight issues affecting racing
When asked about the difficulty of passing during the IndyCar Sonsio GP, Power pointed to the current car’s weight as a potential issue affecting the racing spectacle.
“It is difficult because it’s such a heavy car. I would say coming onto the straight, it used to be quite easy just wide open. You couldn’t be wide open behind someone. You’re lifting. It was very difficult to get close. I think the weight is affecting the racing a bit,” he explained.
“That flat-out corner now becomes a corner, and it gets hard to follow because it’s very aerodynamic. It’s a fast corner,” Power added, suggesting, “We have a system that INDY NXT used to have, that no-reply system. Maybe we just have to try that with what we got right now.”
Despite being a competitor trying to beat him, Power expressed genuine admiration for Palou’s incredible streak of success this season.
“I said it to him. I said, ‘Man, I’ve been around a long time, and in this field in this time, it is amazing to see something like that.’ It really is. It is incredibly tough just to win a race in INDYCAR now,” Power admitted.
“So to go it is five, four wins and one second in five races, that is stout. It’s very impressive. It’s something we’ll look back on. As much as we want to beat him, I have appreciation for people that are very good at their craft, and he is extremely well-rounded and good at his craft. He’s one of the best.”
Looking forward to the Indianapolis 500
With the focus of the IndyCar world now shifting to the upcoming Indianapolis 500, Power reflected on the significance of the prestigious race.
“I think if you won it, you wouldn’t be feeling so bad about the one guy winning all the races, but there’s also a championship. But, yeah, the 500, man. Winning that thing is such a big deal. It just is. It’s extremely hard to win.”
Power continued, “It’s extremely hard to put yourself — you really have no clue how it’s going to play out for you until like 20 to go or something. It’s always that way, which makes it a very exciting race.”
Motivated by Palou’s success
Rather than being discouraged by Palou’s dominance, Power sees it as motivation to improve and work harder.
“You’re definitely taking a very close look at what he’s doing, what the team is doing. I would say the last four races have been absolutely solid for me, if he hadn’t been winning. Like, they’re all top 5s basically. One fifth, sixth, and fourth or a third. All finishes that make up for a great championship. I’m yet to finish ahead of Palou,” Power reflected.
“But, yes, it makes everyone work harder. It really does. It’s just when you struggle, everyone has a really close look at what the other guy is doing. It’s just clicking so well for him right now,” he said.
Power speculated that the current technical package might suit Palou’s driving style particularly well: “Maybe it’s a bit of the tyre we’re running this year with a heavy car just suits his style. Sometimes it’s funny. I’ve seen that over the years different tyres and different sort of — as we’ve changed the car, just suits different drivers. They have a very specific driving style that suits a certain way, but yeah, it’s absolutely phenomenal what he’s doing.”
The series now turns its attention to the crown jewel event of the calendar — the Indianapolis 500 — where Powers’ current form will be put to the ultimate test.
