INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Coming into Saturday’s Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Will Power was seen as the clear-cut favorite to win the race for his third time in five years. As the race unfolded the competition had other plans for the Penske Racing driver. A battle within the pits helped his effort on-track secure his third GP Indy victory.
With rookie Robert Wickens starting the race on the faster Firestone Red compound, Power was immediately at a disadvantage with his competition. Wickens was able to stretch his lead out to 6 seconds in the first race stint before stops. The strategy put pressure on Power and Team Penske to use their Firestone Reds to gain back the lost ground.
After the end of Green-flag pit stops at lap 24, Wickens 6 second lead had shrunk to 3 seconds. By lap 36, Power had reached Wickens bumper and by the last turn of the lap he had taken the lead on the faster tires. Beginning to stretch his own lead out to 4 seconds a caution flew when teammate Josef Newgarden spun on lap 55. The caution changed strategies of the lead teams and evened the playing field between Wickens and Power who both put on Firestone Reds.
After the stops, a new contender emerged that had been struggling all weekend: Scott Dixon. He struggled all weekend until Saturday morning’s final practice. He used an alternate pit strategy that put him in contention late. Restarting 3rd on the last restart Dixon overtook Wickens for 2nd and began applying pressure to the leader Will Power.
Getting Power’s lead all the way down to a second, Dixon forced Power to push his car to the limit while also using up his car in the process. With Dixon’s best effort behind, Power stretched his lead to 3 seconds before crossing the finish line for his second straight GP of Indy victory and Team Penske’s 200th Indycar win.
“What a great day for the team,” Penske said. “The greatest drivers have performed for us. IMS is the most special place to secure our 200th win. I could not think of a better setting. The most important win now is No. 201.”
The victory will carry more momentum through the month of May for Team Penske as they look to win their 17th Indianapolis 500 victory. Power will be looking for his first 500 victory Individually.