Will Power was having momentary difficulty managing the cumbersome laurel wreath and impressive Cameron Argetsinger Cup in Victory Circle at Watkins Glen International when he heard Penske Racing president Tim Cindric offer some advice - something to the effect of learning how to position the wreath when he got to Victory Circle following the Indianapolis 500.
“I’ll remember that when I get there,” Power said a few hours afterward as he followed tradition—including one of his racing heroes, fellow Australian Jack Brabham—by hanging the wreath behind the bar of the Seneca Lodge in the village. He was startled by the ovation as he entered the restaurant/hotel where auto racing stories flow as freely as the local red.
Power’s victory in the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen - the first by a pole sitter in the six years of the event and the 54th time the pole winner has won in 194 Indy Racing League-sanctioned events - wasn’t as easy as it appeared in the box score.
“It was a satisfying day because it was a hard-fought win,” the Team Penske driver said. “I really had to push, I had to pass, I had to save fuel. I had everything in that race. I had to qualify well.
“It’s funny. You have days where you win races and it’s sort of a luck thing. Then there’s days when you should have won. (This) was just a good race. It’s very satisfying when you fight for it and you got someone on your tail right to the end.”
Power overtook teammate Ryan Briscoe on Lap 44 of 60 and went on to his third victory of the season - the only IZOD IndyCar Series driver with multiple victories through nine of 17 races. He takes as 32-point lead in the championship standings over third-place finisher Dario Franchitti of Target Chip Ganassi Racing into the Honda Indy Toronto on July 18.
“That’s not that much (of a margin),” said Power, who also leads the Mario Andretti Road Course Championship standings. “You could have a bad race, somebody wins, you’re back behind again.”
Following the race on the streets of Exhibition Place is the July 25 Honda Indy Edmonton on the bumpy City Centre Airport circuit. The road/street portion of the schedule concludes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Aug. 8) and Infineon Raceway (Aug. 22) before the closing round of four consecutive oval races.
“I realize you actually have to win races to win the championship,” Power said. “The points spread—that extra 10 points you get for winning - is important. With the guys I’m competing against, it’s really tough. You can’t relax. (Scott) Dixon, Franchitti, Helio (Castroneves), Ryan are all as quick as I am. So you got to win and you can’t make any mistakes.
“It’s a tough championship. I’m really enjoying the competition.”
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