Will Power likes his chances come race day at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. (Photo: Mike Moore | The Podium Finish)
LEXINGTON, Ohio – Although Will Power, two-time and defending NTT INDYCAR Series champion, has yet to score his first win of 2023, he may have a compelling case at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday.
For starters, the Team Penske driver was the highest qualifying Chevrolet racer as he will start seventh for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200. By all means, the 42-year-old Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia racer hopes to break through for the Bowtie Brigade.
Presently, the 41-time INDYCAR race winner has been knocking on the door for his first victory of the year. He has tallied podiums at Barber Motorsports Park and Detroit and tallied two additional top 10 finishes.
On the other hand, Power has placed 12th or worse on four occasions, relegating him to eighth in the championship standings, 190 points behind Alex Palou, the 2021 INDYCAR champion.
After a solid qualifying effort, Power, in his trademark candor fashion, considered what he could have improved upon in the challenging conditions in Saturday.
“Car felt really good,” Power said. “It’s obviously ultra, ultra tight. Everyone in front of us are Hondas, so maybe just (this condition) is suiting their engine being very humid.
“I could’ve done a bit better with the tire prep on the first lap. I didn’t anticipate having to back up in (Turns) 4, 5 and 6. But man, not me. I was quicker in the first round. Maybe the track slowed up. That’s everything I had.”
Power’s career statistics at Mid-Ohio are quite staggering for even NTT INDYCAR Series standards. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
As one of the series’ best qualifiers and all-time best open wheel racers, Power recognized how the competition has tightened up. In essence, it demands perfection from everyone, even someone with Power’s credentials.
“What am I off? Like three-tenths,” he said. “I’m off not even three-tenths and I’m seventh. Just INDYCAR. It’s so bloody tough. It’s no joke. It’s great, really. Still haven’t cracked that top-six this year, if you can believe it.”
Come race day, Power may be ready to rumble at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn FIA Grade 2 track. In 15 career starts, Power has a win in 2020, seven podiums and a staggering average finish of 6.2.
Suffice to say, Power knows his way around the renowned road course. If there is more reason to believe in Power’s chances, consider his performance last year. Starting deep in the field from 21st, the Australian charged his way to a podium finish, one of the main reasons he won the 2022 title.
Along with a car that is competitive in race trim, Power is confident about his chances, even if he ruminated further about his qualifying effort.
“I think our race car, our race, will be good,” Power said. “I think we had the ultimate pace as well. We had a theoretical as P3, but I just didn’t get a good enough prep lap on the tire there.
“Maybe we would have got through, but yeah. It’s been an interesting qualifying year for me.”
