For the third year running, the IndyCar Champion was crowned at the season finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. And after finishing IndyCar runner-up three times, it was finally Will Power’s time to take the crown.
Will Power came to Auto Club Speedway with a lead of 51 points over Penske Racing teammate Helio Castroneves and 81 points over Simon Pagenaud. Helio’s pole reduced the lead to 50 points entering the race, and with the finale awarding double points – up to 103 with all the bonuses – Power’s lead was anything but secure, especially with his starting position on the last row.
In the first 10 laps, Pagenaud was losing places while Power gained a few as his teammates Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya ran at the front.
At the halfway point, Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay was leading from Montoya and Castroneves. Power was running 7th in the thus far caution free race. Hunter-Reay was steadily pulling away from Montoya just before pit stops around lap 140. On lap 145, just after most had cycled thru the pits, Castroneves lead Tony Kanaan and Montoya.
On lap 175, Ryan Hunter-Reay spun, bringing out the first caution – a record run of green flag laps. On the ensuing green, Will Power drove aggressively to the front from 5th like a man possessed. He took the lead on lap 189.
On laps 198 thru 200, the Ganassi Racing pair of Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon both passed Power. Late pit violations for Helio Castroneves and Ryan Hunter-Reay put them both out of race contention and also ended Helio’s title hopes. On Will Power’s last stop, a mistake was made on his front wing adjustment that made his car very difficult to handle. Since Helio’s penalty essentially eliminated him from championship contention and Pagenaud had gradually lost several laps throughout the night, Power was able to nurse his car home while Tony Kanaan took his first and well-deserved win on the last race of the season.
We’re lucky in SoCal to host two of North America’s premier open wheel races – the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the season ending 500 miler. For the third year in a row, we were treated to an exciting finale that crowned the IndyCar season Champion. Not sure I am a fan of ending the season so early – it seems like we should be seeing these guys for at least another month. That makes the off-season just that much longer as well. I can’t wait until Long Beach in the Spring!