“You have four session during this month that you want to be (at the front) in,” Power said. “One is qualifying for the GP, winning the GP, qualifying for the 500 and winning the 500.”
Now that he has accomplished two of the four, qualifying on the pole for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis then winning the race, Power can concentrate on the next two.
“My focus, nowadays, is so much on the 500 more than it ever was now that I’ve won a championship,” he added. “But you can imagine just winning the GP and the 500. It would be unbelievable.”
Power won’t have to wait long. The Indianapolis 500 goes in tow weeks.
“The Indy 500 is on my mind and I am very determined to get it done,” he said of his goal to become the first Verizon IndyCar Series driver to win on the road course and the giant oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I’m halfway there.”
Power held off charging Graham Rahal to win the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis by 1.5 seconds. Power led the race for 65 of its 82 laps. Rahal led the second most laps on the afternoon. He was out in from for a total of nine laps. But Power had the race well under control and led the final 19 circuits of the road-course track.
“My crew did an awesome job and saved enough fuel there at the end with Graham coming hard,” said Power. “I’m really happy to win here at this awesome facility. I just want to get one two weeks from now.”
Power is the fifth different winner in five IndyCar races this season.
Rahal said there was little he could do to catch the race winner.
“I gave it everything I had to catch Power,” said Rahal, who was runner-up for the second-straight race. “The pit stops were good, we were able to make some moves when we had to. He was just a little too strong.”
Juan Pablo Montoya finished third in the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and continues to lead the Verizon IndyCar Series. Power climbs into second place, five points shy of Montoya, and Helio Castroneves drops to third place, five points further back in the standings.
A three-time Indianapolis 500 champion, Castroneves said he was fortunate being able to overcome a first-lap incident to finish sixth, though a bit disappointed he came up short.
“It was a great comeback by the team. The car was really fast,” said Castroneves, who was tired from fighting bronchitis. “Unfortunately, that first lap hurt us quite a lot, but we were able to recover.”
The showcase event of the Verizon IndyCar Series season, the Indianapolis 500, is next on the schedule. Practice for the race starts on May 11, with qualifying starting on May 16 and the pole sitter will be determined on May 17. Festivities begin on May 20 and the race itself on May 24.
The first Indianapolis 500 was held in 1911 and every year since, except in 1917-1918 and 1942-45 due to the two world wars. Four drivers have won the race 4 times and seven have won it 3 times, including Castroneves who is the only active driver on the top winners’ list.
