Power turns attention to Indianapolis 500 breakthrough

The punch line of any joke that begins with an Aussie, a Brazilian, a Colombian and a Frenchman walking into an IndyCar garage is rarely on Will Power, though his Team Penske teammates generally are chief among the obstacles standing between him and his unchecked bucket list of career achievements.

After three runner-up finishes, Power, the Aussie, finally captured his first career series championship a year ago by besting international Penske peers Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya and Simon Pagenaud, who filled out three of the next four spots in the final standings.

Power has been one of the most dominant drivers on his circuit with an IndyCar-best 21 victories and 30 poles since 2009.

With the series title, Power’s full focus in 2015 is on the elusive IndyCar major he hasn’t won, the Indianapolis 500, the race every driver dreams of winning.

“It’s something that has been on my mind in the off-season,” Power said Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway’s media day at the House of Blues. “Yes, I’m very focused on that race this year and winning.

“That’s the last box I need to check as an IndyCar driver.”

Power on Tuesday joined Daytona 500 champion Joey Logano, among others, as a lead-up to next week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Duck Commander 500, the TMS season opener.

TMS’s IndyCar Firestone 600 is set for June 6. Power wants to win that one, too, after winning the pole last year and following with a second-place finish, one of eight top-fives in 2014. In addition to three victories, Power had 15 top-10 finishes.

Power, who has led in each of the last four races at TMS, won the second of the twin races at the Fort Worth track in 2011.

He appeared poised to win a year ago until a costly pit-road penalty.

This year, Power is No. 1 in name and number, changing from the No. 12 that has adorned his car in past years.

He’s confident the new number will be more than symbolic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24. Power’s best finish there was fifth in 2008. He admitted Tuesday that the Brickyard and its history and tradition make him feel like a nervous groom.

Overcoming that emotion might be the last impediment standing between him and a glass of milk.

Winning a series title took years, he said, while he learned to become a complete driver capable of competing in “so many different disciplines” of IndyCar, from the road courses he was accustomed to to the short ovals and super speedways.

“Putting that whole package together made the difference,” Power said. “It took some time to get used to the ovals, but I became very strong in the ovals.

“I’ve got more motivation than ever, and I don’t have that question in my mind: Am I ever going to win a championship? I can just focus on racing.”

In the series season opener at St. Petersburg, Fla., last week, Montoya edged Power for the victory. Castroneves and Pagenaud, who is new to Penske this year, were fourth and fifth. The Team Penske drivers started 1-4.

Though it’s early, most expect a trend of top finishes to develop out of the Penske drivers.

Penske has “always been a step ahead in so many ways,” TMS president Eddie Gossage said. Team owner Roger Penske “isn’t going to spare any expense. He never has. He wants to win and will do whatever it takes to win.”

Power said his problem — his teammates — is a good problem to have as a team.

An atmosphere has been created at Penske “where we push each other so hard. That’s a big part of our doing well,” Power said.

“A lot of fireworks in the engineering office,” joked Power. “A lot of miscommunication. A lot of accents.”

No doubt, also, a lot of titles in view for 2015, including at TMS and Indianapolis.

As it pertains to Indianapolis, Power said, “It’s become the easiest it ever has to drive around it, but it’s become as difficult as it ever has to win it.

“There are so many cars capable of winning it. That’s the nature of it and you have to work out how you put yourself in that position at the end of the race to be the first across the line.”

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Power turns attention to Indianapolis 500 breakthrough."