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IndyCar contenders: Will Power talks hunt for second championship

By Brittany Frederick

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 19: Team Penske driver Will Power (12) of Australia during driver introductions prior to the IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 on August 19, 2018, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 19: Team Penske driver Will Power (12) of Australia during driver introductions prior to the IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 on August 19, 2018, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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As the 2018 IndyCar season concludes, Team Penske’s Will Power speaks about adding a second Verizon IndyCar Series title to his Indy 500 win.

Will Power is no stranger to the Verizon IndyCar Series championship battle. The Team Penske driver won the Astor Cup in 2014, and now he’s aiming to add a second title to his resume in the 2018 season.

Power sits fourth in the IndyCar standings going into Saturday’s race at Gateway Motorsports Park, having narrowly missed out on a third consecutive victory at Pocono Raceway last Sunday.

But after finally having achieved his dream of winning the Indianapolis 500 in May, he’s driving as well as he ever has, and is ready to follow that up by taking the ultimate trophy.

FanSided spoke to Will Power ahead of Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 to get his thoughts on the remainder of the 2018 IndyCar season. Read what he had to tell us below, and then watch him race Aug. 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

FanSided: You accomplished another bit of history at Pocono, tying AJ Foyt for second all-time in career pole positions. It was also your sixth consecutive Top 10 finish at the track. What is it about Pocono that works for you?

Will Power (WP): (laughs) I don’t know. I like the track and honestly, it just clicks for me. It’s one of those tracks that works for me in the race. I just really enjoy the track. It’s a lot of fun.

FanSided: You picked up valuable points in the standings. But right ahead of you is your teammate Josef Newgarden. How do you approach a championship battle with a teammate?

WP: I think the focus is more on Scott Dixon than anyone else. We’re all pretty close up to the second in point standings and hopefully it’s a good problem to have if we’re fighting as teammates as we head into the last race for the championship.

FanSided: Four of the Top 5 championship contenders, including yourself, are past IndyCar champions. Is that experience being at the top an asset as you strive to get back there again?

WP: I think being through it a few times, you would understand how it goes but every season is different. It all plays out in a different way. You can only focus on what you can control and that’s it.

FanSided: The level of competition overall has risen again in the 2018 season. Is there one driver that you would consider your biggest challenge, or who you really enjoy competing with?

WP: Right now, there’s more guys than ever that are serious championship and race-winning contenders than ever. You can’t really single out one guy that’s dominated this year. There’s multiple winners. Obviously, Scott Dixon has been the most consistent with Top 5 finishes. As far as guys to beat in the last four races, it’s just impossible to pick one. They’re all good.

FanSided: You recently re-signed with Team Penske and have been with the organization for near a decade. How valuable has that consistency been in your career?

WP: It’s pretty much been my whole career because of being able to drive for Team Penske. You’re given the best guys to work on the car and prepare the car. And they give you a car where you can win every weekend. It’s the best opportunity you can have if you want a career in IndyCar.

FanSided: How would you characterize the 2018 IndyCar season for Will Power? How does it compare to those past championship runs?

WP: It’s been very up and down for me, but very fast everywhere. My qualifying average is 2.6; DNFs have just made a big dent in my points tally. But winning the Indianapolis 500 was awesome, so everything else from here on out is a bonus for this season.

FanSided: From being a champion to now an Indy 500 winner, you’ve seen a lot in IndyCar. What’s the biggest thing that you’ve taken away from your career?

WP: Never expect anything. You never know what to expect with any race in IndyCar. It’s very unpredictable. Honestly, never give up. Never give up with [how] the races go, [however] the championship goes. Just keep fighting until the last lap of the last race.

Next. Stefan Wilson out for more than IndyCar glory. dark

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