Motorsports Venues - Power Comes To His Favorite Oval Track This Week

WEST ALLIS, June 14, 2011: Will Power, the current IZOD IndyCar Series point leader, has been known as a road racing specialist in his four years in the open-wheel campaign.

All that changed last Saturday night in Texas for the Verizon Team Penske driver.

The personable Australian native recorded his first oval track victory at Texas Motor Speedway in the second of Twin 275-kilometer events on the fast 1.5-mile high-banked track north of Fort Worth. Power, with two victories on the road circuit in Alabama and Brazil, scored a third place finish and a first place Saturday to extend his current point margin over two-time defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. Power’s advantage is 239-218 over the Scotsman.

"This (win) means so much to me and the (Verizon Team Penske) boys,” said Power in victory lane Saturday. “We've been chasing this for so long. It was a fun race and great day. It was a good battle with (Tony) Kanaan at the start and then (Scott) Dixon came on strong. This is what we need for the championship."

Power, who placed second to Franchitti in last year’s IndyCar Series point chase, now comes to his favorite oval track in the 17-race schedule, the Milwaukee Mile, for the Sunday’s Milwaukee 225.

“Milwaukee is my favorite oval track,” said a smiling Power. “I have raced there in ChampCar as well as the IndyCar Series. I have run well there before. The track is flat and you can really race there. I just enjoy racing at the Milwaukee Mile. There is always good racing at the Mile. I think every driver on the circuit loves racing in Milwaukee.”

Power has had some good runs at the Mile but misfortune has caught the Aussie driver in previous outings.

“I qualified fourth there in 2008 for KV and I was looking good in ChampCar races and I lost a driveshaft. I’d really like to run a good race at Milwaukee. The race is important in the points too.”

The victory at Texas was Power’s 12th in his career in the IndyCar Series but the win also changes the mindset of the IZOD IndyCar Series drivers who thought of Power as only road racing star. Power led the 2010 point standings into the season finale at Homestead before losing the title to Franchitti. He also won the Mario Andretti Trophy for the top road racing driver in 2010.

Power’s return to the top of the IndyCar Series is more remarkable considering his frightening crash in 2009 at Sonoma, Calif.when his machine was struck broadside by another driver’s car. Power had months of rehabilitation with two broken vertebrae in the crash.

Prior to last Saturday’s victory, Power’s best oval performance was a third at Motegi, Japan last September.

"Going into the ovals last year I just didn't feel I knew what to expect," said Power. "I didn't have the experience. I'm working on building what I did last year, and I know I'll be quick and be challenging for wins."

Power knows to win the coveted IZOD IndyCar Series title he must be consistent on ovals as well as road and street circuits.

"I gained points overall. That was the objective," said the driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine. "It was great to get my first oval win."

"The last four races last year, we shouldn't have lost that many points," Power explained. "We were knocking on the door all the time there for a race win. Now we just put it all together, no mistakes. I really think that we'll be running up front on all the ovals."

And Power plans to continue that trend at his favorite oval track this Sunday.

But the competition will be tough for the point leader. Sunday’s Milwaukee 225 will feature for Milwaukee Mile winners Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay. Other contenders will include Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Oriol Servia, Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, Simona de Silvestro and rookie JR Hildebrand.