Will Power survived a spectacular opening-lap crash and then endured heavy rain before making a winning pass on Ryan Hunter-Reay in the closing minutes to win Sunday’s season-opening Sao Paulo Indy 300 on the streets of Sao Paulo.
Power and Hunter-Reay battled for the lead before the Aussie took the top position for good with three-and-a-half minutes remaining. The inaugural race in Brazil was scheduled for 75 laps, but Indy Racing League officials placed a two-hour limit on the event due to numerous cautions for accidents and a brief halt for a thunderstorm that moved over the 2-6-mile, 11-turn street course just before the halfway point. MiamiHerald.com
Power, whose other victory was last year in Edmonton, got out of his car and celebrated with the thousands of fans packing the grandstands of the stadium-like Sambadrome where the race took place.
“I feel awesome,” the Penske driver said. “We battled it out, it was a great day.”
The win was extra special for Power, who last year sustained a season-ending back injury in a crash in Sonoma and only landed a full-season deal with Penske late.
“It’s been a tough recovery,” he said. “I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity. I laid in bed at the hospital and never thought it was going to happen.”
Hunter-Reay dominated much of the race with his Andretti Autosport car, but was not able to contend at the end.
“I had a blast all day,” said Hunter-Reay, who led for the first time since Watkins Glen in 2008. “I had so much fun with conditions changing all the time, that’s what racing is about.” The Associated Press
Raphael Matos ran fourth and was followed by Dan Wheldon, Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Mike Conaway and Helio Castroneves.
Eight of the 24 starters were out by the end of the race, which was halted by rain at one stage and plauged by puddling at times.
Marco Andretti avoided injuries on the first lap when Mario Moraes smashed into the back of him during a five-car pileup. Moraes’ car came to a rest on top of Andretti’s after both drivers slid off the course.
Safety officials spent more than five minutes removing Moraes’ car before Andretti could exit the vehicle under his own power.
“I needed a minute to get my bearings anyway,” Andretti said. “I hit my head pretty hard, but fortunately I’m alright.”
Andretti started from the rear of the field after he was involved in an incident with Matos during qualifying earlier in the day. It’s the first time the series held qualifying and the race on the same day. MiamiHerald.com
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