Will Power

Start of Power’s Motorsport Career

Will Power's motorsport career began impressively in Australia with successes in Formula Ford, Formula 3, and the title in Formula Holden. However, he was unable to continue this form in British Formula 3 and experienced two lean years. He made up for this difficult period in the World Series by Renault, where he ran strong races and scored two victories.

Debut During His Home Race in Surfers Paradise

In 2005, the young Australian made his Champ Car debut at Surfers Paradise for Team Australia/Walker Racing. Power qualified well and was having a good race until he was hit by his teammate Alex Tagliani. He remained with the team in 2006 and 2007. In Mexico City 2006, Power secured his first podium finish, and he began the 2007 season with his first-ever win on the streets of Las Vegas.

Switch to KV Racing and First Victory

With the ‘reunification’ of the IRL and Champ Car, Power transitioned from Walker to KV Racing under the ‘Team Australia’ concept. During the Champ Car finale in Long Beach, Power claimed the first victory for KV Racing, but he struggled to shine consistently with the IRL equipment.

Strong First Year at Penske Ends with Heavy Crash

The year 2009 would be an interim year for Power, serving as a reserve driver for Penske. He replaced Castroneves in the first two races while the Brazilian was embroiled in a legal case. Power impressed by taking pole position in Long Beach and finishing second. Penske gave him additional races to prove himself, which he did with a fifth place in Indianapolis, a third in Toronto, and a win in Edmonton. However, things went wrong in Sonoma when Power collided heavily with a spun Nelson Philippe, breaking his back.

Return to Penske and Championship Battle

From 2010 onwards, Power returned to Team Penske as a full-time driver. He quickly became a formidable championship contender, fighting for the title every year until the final race. Despite winning five races in 2010, six in 2011, and three in 2012, he finished second in the championship each year. The 2013 season started with little success, but with three wins in the final five races, he managed to finish fourth.

First IndyCar Title in 2014

In 2014, Will Power drove once again for Team Penske, and this time he achieved what had eluded him in the previous three seasons: his first Verizon IndyCar Series title. He achieved this in a season where he finished almost every race in the top ten and secured three victories.

In 2015, Will Power chose to drive car #1. Unfortunately, he only managed one win that season on the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Power was still one of the six title contenders heading into the finale at Sonoma Raceway, ultimately finishing his title defense season in third place. The 2016 season started off difficult for Power; after taking pole position for the season opener in St. Petersburg, he was not allowed to start the race due to a concussion.

Inconsistent Results

Despite missing the season opener, Power drove a strong season, winning four races and finishing second in the standings. The 2017 season was marked by inconsistent results, and it quickly became clear that Power was not a serious title threat. However, the Australian managed to win two of the three superspeedway races, including Texas Motor Speedway and the 500-mile race at Pocono Raceway.

Victory in the Indy 500 and Second IndyCar Title

In 2018, Power once again showcased his talent on ovals by winning the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in his career. In 2019, the Australian had a less successful season but still managed to win two races, including those at Pocono Raceway and Portland International Raceway.

After finishing only ninth in the championship in 2021, Power bounced back in 2022 to claim his second title. He achieved this by being remarkably consistent, finishing outside the top six in only three races. The streak of Power winning at least one race every season since 2007 ended in 2023. He finished on the podium four times but ended the season in seventh place, which was below the Australian’s expectations.

After a difficult 2023 season, Will Power once again played a key role in the championship battle in 2024. The driver from Toowoomba, Australia, won three races and remained in contention for the title until the final race of the season. However, a loose seatbelt after twelve laps at the Nashville Superspeedway dashed his hopes. Not only did he miss out on a potential championship, but he also dropped from second to fourth in the standings.