Will Power looks poised to finally claim his first IZOD IndyCar Series championship.
The Team Penske driver, who has finished runner-up for the title in three consecutive seasons, topped the charts during pre-season testing last week, sweeping all four sessions at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
Power is coming off a frustrating 2012 season where he entered the last race of the season first in the standings but a crash at the finale in Fontana saw him lose the title to Ryan Hunter-Reay by only three points.
After a long, relaxing off-season, the 32-year-old from Toowoomba, Australia, could finally make that surge to win the championship in 2013.
KEYS TO SUCCESS: There’s no question Power is the king of road and street courses. Since IndyCar introduced the Mario Andretti Road Course Trophy in 2010, awarded to the driver with the most points on street and road courses, Power has won it all three seasons.
Power was victorious in three consecutive road/street course races last season at Alabama, Long Beach and Sao Paulo and earned trips to the podium in Edmonton, Mid-Ohio and Sonoma. His “worst” road/street course performance last year was 15th place in Toronto, where a piece of his front wing punctured his tire and derailed his performance. Power was also strong during qualifying, securing pole position five times last season.
With 17 career wins on road and street courses, the only ones Power hasn’t earned victories at are Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, Mid-Ohio and Reliant Park in Houston. Both Detroit and Houston host doubleheaders this year, giving Power twice the opportunities to score his first wins there.
If the tests at Barber Motorsports Park are any indication, Power will continue his reign over the road and street courses this season.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: It is no secret oval races are Power’s weak point with only one career victory on the left-turn-only tracks.
Power’s best finish on an oval last season was eighth place in Texas. Crashes at Indianapolis, Iowa and Fontana could have been the difference as a couple positions in any of those races would have given Power the four points he needed to claim the championship.
Power will need to achieve better results on the oval races this season in order to prove he’s the best in the series.
CANADIAN CONNECTION: Power is actually part Canadian as his paternal grandmother was born in Brandon, Man., and she grew up in Lethbridge, Alta. He is also a two-time winner in Toronto and was victorious twice at the former Edmonton track.
OUTLOOK: Power could be at the top of the standings as early as the opening race through the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., and perhaps 2013 will be the year he finally wins the IndyCar championship.