ELKHART LAKE, Wisc. — Will Power used speed and veteran savvy to win Sunday’s XPEL Grand Prix of Road America, his first IndyCar win in 34 races.
With the three Team Penske drivers firmly in control of the race, Power went one lap longer than Josef Newgarden or Scott McLaughlin to make his final pit stop with 10 laps to go.
By doing so, he was able to get in and out of the pits ahead of Newgarden and maintain the lead to the checkered flag for the final nine laps.
It was the 42nd IndyCar win of Power’s career and the Team Penske driver takes the points lead into a one-week break before the series resumes in two weeks at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Power has a five-point lead over Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
The end of a two-year drought for Power proves the 20-year veteran is still among IndyCar’s very best.
Power defeated Newgarden by 3.2609 seconds
“It feels great to finally win another race,” Power radioed to his crew after tying Michael Andretti for career victories.
All three Team Penske drivers have won races in 2024.
Power pulled off course in turn five to salute the fans for his latest victory but needed to be turned around by the AMR IndyCar Safety Team to complete his victory lap.
Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was third as Chevrolet swept the top three positions. Two-time and defending IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing was fourth in a Honda with Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five.
It was 736 days since Power last won an IndyCar race.
“I felt good about today, had a very fast car, but it was a great strategy,” Power said in victory lane. “This is massively special. We worked so hard to get wins.
“Man, I’m stoked. Verizon has been such a big supporter of mine for a long time.
“Very happy, man, very, very happy. We worked very hard for this one. I knew we had the pace. It shows what this series is. It’s incredibly hard to win. I’m lucky to drive for Roger Penske and I’m lucky my wife, Liz, got through her health issue last year. I’m just a lucky man.”
It was a 1-2-3 finish for Team Penske.
“We put together a good day, but I probably should have stayed out for one more lap. That was the real miss, coming in a lap early.”
Newgarden was driving a backup car after he destroyed the primary car in a crash during qualifications on Saturday and sustained an impact of 95 G Forces.
“This car was just as good as the car I had on Saturday,” Newgarden revealed.
McLaughlin scored a podium finish one day before his 31st birthday.
“This is a huge day for the team, big month for the team, really proud of everyone,” McLaughlin said. “We got the 1-2-3 for the front row at Indianapolis and that was a big day. But this is a big day for the team.”
Scott Dixon entered the race as the championship leader, but a blistered set of rear tires forced him to make an unscheduled pit stop. He finished 21st and dropped from the lead in the standings to third, 11 points behind Power.
The start of the race was like last week’s crash fest on the streets of Detroit as it took numerous attempts to complete a single green-flag lap.
Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Marcus Armstrong and pole winner Linus Lundqvist crashed into each other in turn one of the opening lap. Colton Herta was also involved when Newgarden ran into the back of Herta’s Honda.
Armstrong was penalized by IndyCar for avoidable contact.
Kirkwood was the leader on the restart on lap 4, a single file clean restart through turn one. McLaughlin passed Kirkwood for the lead.
Debris on the track meant another caution when diffuser strakes came off the rear of Herta’s car.
The race restart was on lap 5 with McLaughlin in front, and Newgarden went after Alexander Rossi for position. Kyffin Simpson crashed at the end of lap 5 after he was tagged by Christian Rasmussen, sending him into the gravel. Rasmussen was later assessed a stop-and-go penalty by IndyCar.
On lap 18, McLaughlin and Kirkwood led a group of cars onto pit lane. That put Newgarden into the lead.
One lap later, Newgarden pitted and came out ahead of McLaughlin, but McLaughlin was able to pass him.
Palou made it to lap 20 before he came into the pits. That is one lap further than the other drivers on that strategy.
Dixon had blistered rear tires after his pit stop, a troublesome sign because he had to pit off sequence. That put him back in 24th place.
At the halfway point, McLaughlin led Newgarden by 3.0353 seconds. Power was third, Palou fourth and Kirkwood fifth.
Dixon remained 24th, over one minute behind the leader.
McLaughlin was the first of the Penske drivers to make a second pit stop on lap 31. He was in and out quickly with Firestone Red alternate tires. Power pitted one lap later along with Newgarden, who switched to the primary Firestone Black tires.
McLaughlin was up to speed when his teammates exited pit lane and the driver from New Zealand took the position. Newgarden nearly lost control of the car in the same area where he had his crash on Saturday.
Newgarden’s Chevrolet got a run on McLaughlin coming down the hill and passed him for the lead in turn one on lap 36.
On lap 42, McLaughlin got a very late call from race strategist Kyle Moyer to pit and get off the alternate red tires. Power and Newgarden remained on course to complete another lap.
One lap later, Newgarden dove onto pit lane and Power remained on course for another lap, this time as the leader.
Power pitted on lap 45 and he was able to push on the out-lap while Newgarden was cresting the hill. Power was able to get up to speed and widen the gap over his teammate.
Herta was listed as the leader with Power second followed by Newgarden, McLaughlin and Lundqvist.
Herta had a 10.5080-second lead over Power but would ultimately have to pit. He came onto pit road on lap 48 and that put Power back in front ahead of Newgarden and McLaughlin as the three Penske drivers battled it out for the victory over the final six laps.
