Will Power: “I wondered if I was going to win it”

This time Will Power holds his triumph. Titled in IndyCar in 2014, the Australian had always failed in his quest for the Indianapolis 500 on his first ten attempts. His best result in the American temple of motorsport remained a second place acquired in 2015, but this year, the resident of Team Penske – Chevrolet seemed untouchable.

Starting third, Power never left the front with pole sitter Ed Carpenter (Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet) or his teammate Simin Pagenaud, going through the pitfalls and keeping his cool when Oriol Servia (Team Corsa / RLL – Honda), then Stefan Wilson (Andretti Autosport – Honda) or Jack Harvey (Meyer Shnak Racing – Honda) took turns in the lead with less than ten laps to go.

Author of a complicated start to the season with only a second place in Long Beach (California) as his best result before the month of May, Power won the road race and the 500 miles in quick succession.

“I changed my attitude a lot after Barber, Power comments. It was very positive, I had a very good month. I can't believe it. I have to thank Roger Penske, Verizon and my parents for getting me to this point. I want to collapse. I want to cry.

[At the last restart] I said to myself: “I have to pass them”. I don't know how much fuel they had, but it was the restart of my life. And both come into the pits, and I'm like, "Man, I think I'm going to win!" ". I was screaming on the last lap.

I wondered if I was going to win it, and such thoughts crossed my mind during the month. In my career, I have had so many victories, so many poles. But everyone always talks about the Indy 500. And I won it. »

Will Power also takes the opportunity to take the lead in the championship before the double meeting in Detroit this weekend.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Indianapolis 500, produced by our special correspondent in the United States, in issue 2167 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version, and this Wednesday on newsstands.