Will Power Dominates Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Will Power Winner of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Courtesy INDYCAR)

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – RIS – Will Power drove to victory 1.9 seconds ahead of Ryan Hunter-Reay in the season-opening race of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season. Power’s Team Penske teammate and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, 2013 IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud rounded out the top five.

Verizon Team Penske driver Power started his Chevrolet powered race car from fourth place. He worked his way up and passed Pole sitter Takuma Sato on lap 31. The 33 year-old Australian pulled away and led 73 laps in the 110 lap race. Sato finished seventh.

“I’m pretty tired,” Will Power said. “There was only one yellow. I’m tired mentally. But I’m stoked to get the Series first win for Verizon in the Verizon car.”

Michael Andretti was happy his driver Hunter-Reay came in second but wasn’t very stoked about Power’ slow restart on lap 82. The team owner blamed Power for a mess that ended his son Marco’s day after he collided with Jack Hawksworth. Power seemed to slow creating an accordion effect on the cars behind him. They braked hard but drivers could not slowdown in time. This caused mayhem at the end of the pack as cars dodged each other.

“They threw the green early,” Power said. “I was surprised. I don’t even know what happened. I lifted a little but I did not touch the brake at all.”

Marco Andretti saw things differently, “Yeah it’s hard to see because I was pretty far back, but Will just stopped. Once you go, you gotta go. It was a bit of an accordion effect, and I just got caught up. That’s what happens when you’re in the back, so I’ve really got no one to blame but myself.”

Andretti Autosport’s other driver James Hinchcliffe, winner of the 2013 race, finished 19th. Hinchcliffe suffered electrical problems and struggled in the last position for most of the race.

Tony Kanaan, winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500 finished sixth.

Juan Montoya also struggled in his first race back in an open-wheel car after his less than spectacular years with NASCAR. He finished 15th.

There were 7 lead changes among 4 leaders. The margin of victory was 1.947 seconds.

The IndyCar Series next race is April 13 on the Streets of Long Beach.

Dave Chess

Dave Chess has been writing for RIS since the late 1980s during the CompuServe days. His work has also appeared in Auto Week magazine, Chicago Gearhead News newspaper, ATA airlines in-flight magazine, National Speed Sport News and on many websites.

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Volume 2014, Issue 3, Posted 6:20 PM, 03.30.2014