Will Power, the 43-year-old Australian driver, clinched a remarkable victory in the IndyCar Series race at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, July 14, 2024. This win marks Power’s first at the 0.875-mile Iowa oval and his 43rd career IndyCar victory, moving him into fourth place all-time in the series.Power’s triumph was a testament to his strategic prowess and Team Penske’s execution. Starting from 22nd position due to a qualifying incident, Power employed a fuel-saving strategy that paid off when a caution flag appeared on lap 101. This allowed him to overcut the field, emerging in second place after pitting under yellow. Power then stalked race leader Alex Palou before executing another overcut to take the lead.The race concluded dramatically with a four-car crash on the final lap, but Power held on to win by a margin of 0.3915 seconds over Palou. Scott McLaughlin rounded out the podium in third place.This victory, Power’s second of the season and his first on an oval since 2019, has significant implications for the championship standings. Power has now moved up to second place overall, trailing Palou by 35 points with six races remaining in the season. Pato O’Ward sits in third, 52 points behind Palou.Power credited his Team Penske crew for their swift pit stops and his engineer for an excellent car setup. ‘I had a very fast car, saved fuel, and knew I could pass when I saw the yellow flag. I’ve been waiting for this win for years. We’re in the championship fight with Palou,’ Power commented after the race.The victory at Iowa completes a weekend sweep for Team Penske, following Josef Newgarden’s win in the first race of the doubleheader. It also marks a strong comeback for Power, who had a challenging 2023 season due to personal issues.
Key points
- Will Power won his first IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway, his 43rd career victory.
- Power’s strategic fuel-saving and Team Penske’s excellent pit stops were crucial to his victory.
- The race ended dramatically with a four-car crash on the final lap.
- Power has moved to second in the championship standings, 35 points behind leader Alex Palou.
Contradictions👾There is a minor discrepancy in reporting the number of Will Power’s career IndyCar wins.
Most sources state it as his 43rd win, while one source mentions it as his 41st.
