ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Will Power experienced a troublesome 44th birthday on Saturday when he faced multiple setbacks during his preparations for the IndyCar season-opener.
His car lost power, struck a wall during practice, and required a hybrid engine replacement prior to qualifying.
All these issues culminated in a failure to progress beyond the initial round of qualifying, unlike his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden who advanced smoothly.
As a result, Power will line up 13th on the grid, while McLaughlin secured the pole position for the race set on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg.
Power expressed his frustration, mentioning that the intense competition within the series leaves little room for errors.
However, he remained hopeful, saying, “Maybe it’s a good thing and we can win on strategy.” Power is in the final year of his contract with Team Penske, a partnership that began in 2009 and saw him capture two IndyCar championships and an Indianapolis 500 victory.
Despite his accomplishments, contract negotiations with Penske have not commenced, and this uncertainty casts a shadow on his future in the series.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin announced an extended contract with the team just before the season’s first practice session.
The New Zealander took to social media expressing enthusiasm about his future with Team Penske, highlighting a long-term deal signed during the off-season. McLaughlin starts his fifth full season with the team and joins Newgarden, under long-term commitments with Penske.
As McLaughlin continues to solidify his standing, Power was undeterred by the news of his teammate’s extension.
Acknowledging McLaughlin’s youth and talent, Power stated, “He’s young, obviously a younger guy, it didn’t bother me, not at all.” Still, Power desires to remain in the competition, especially after winning three races in the previous season and challenging Alex Palou for the championship title.
Despite his contributions, he hasn’t received a new contract yet, saying, “I want to keep going as long as I’m competitive as I am.” Power believes he deserves a spot in the series given his performance last year.
He has not been informed of any reasons for the delay in contract discussions but noted that Penske team president Tim Cindric prefers to wait until May before talking about Power’s contract.
Power intends to use this period as a motivator, drawing upon past experiences when uncertainty pushed him to perform at his peak.
He noted, “I like it not being done, it’s good pressure and the sort of thing I enjoy.”
On the other hand, McLaughlin, who joined IndyCar from Australian V8 SuperCars in 2021, finished third last year and was the top Penske driver.
Having recently become a father, he prioritized finalizing his contract to ensure stability. “I just didn’t want to have any questions, move forward and get on with it,” he explained.
McLaughlin has embraced his role with Team Penske and aspires to remain with them throughout his career.
Emphasizing his commitment, he is currently applying for U.S. citizenship and hopes to establish his home and career in the country.
Penske has also allowed him to compete in sports car racing in the past two years.
Reflecting on the trajectory of his career, McLaughlin shared, “I’ve always trusted the process.”
He mentioned humorously discussing the possibility of racing fellow New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen in NASCAR, suggesting opportunities may arise if he continues to secure results in IndyCar.
