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INDYCAR: POWER WINS AT POCONO

Will Power wins at Pocono - Photo: LAT

By Bruce Williams

Will Power wins at Pocono - Photo: LAT

Will Power wins at Pocono – Photo: LAT

Australian Will Power has taken his first win of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series in a rain-shortened race at Pocono Raceway.

The Team Penske driver was leading this race at Lap 128 (of 200) when the inclement weather arrived. Power had taken the lead from Scott Dixon on Lap 115 and pushed the advantage to 6.1 seconds before the caution waved for lightning in the area.

Power said this win came amid “the toughest season of my career.”

“I had a few issues during the race but we just kept coming back.” said Power after the race.

“Full credit to the team. We had a great car and we just kind of hung there and saved fuel and when it was time to go, I went.”

“I was so determined and I really wanted to win. This is my 13th year in a row of winning races and I have been thinking about that. I just wanted to win a race for Verizon and these guys who have worked their butts off all year and just haven’t had the results.”

Dixon held on to finish second, the best of the Honda’s, ahead of Simon Pagenaud and rookie Santino Ferrucci tied his career-best finish in fourth.

“Definitely gets exciting in that situation. We definitely had some luck.” said Dixon.

“Today the car went through some good changes. The car was pretty quick. Not sure really what happened on the last stint there.”

“We put more front wing in there, more pressure on the right rear tire. Couldn’t turn the car. We were running 213, 214 (mph), struggling to do 208. So much understeer.”

“Will was definitely extremely strong today. It was good to see him get another victory this season. Had we gone back out, even with headlights on, I think Will was going to take the race. Congrats to him and Team Penske. We’ll keep our head down and see what we can come up with for the last three races.”

A multi-car accident on the opening lap delayed the race by 45 minutes - Photo: LAT

A multi-car accident on the opening lap delayed the race by 45 minutes – Photo: LAT

The championship battle tightened up, with Dixon’s rivals having a mixed weekend. Josef Newgarden, who started from pole position, finished fifth, while Alexander Rossi, was collected in a first-lap, multi-car accident in Turn 2.

“Obviously, I didn’t get a good start – so that’s on me. But we were three-wide; Ryan was on the inside, I was in the middle and Takuma was on the outside.” said Rossi after the race.

“I can’t even begin to understand how after last year Takuma thinks that any sort of driving like that is acceptable. To turn across two cars, at that speed, in that corner at a 500-mile race is disgraceful, upsetting and may have cost us a championship. It’s upsetting. This team works too hard to have something like that happen.”

Rossi’s Andretti Autosport crew were able to get his car repaired during the subsequent 45-minute red flag race stoppage, but he was unable to gain any positions and finished 18th.

“The whole team worked tirelessly to get the 27 car back on track.” Rossi continued.

“Once we got out there, the car just didn’t have the handling we needed so we held on to make up as many points as we could. Unfortunately, the weather came, and the race was called one lap before we could gain another spot. We have a couple days to rebound and go for race wins now – that’s all that matters.”

The NTT IndyCar Series is back in action later this week with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

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