Penske’s Will Power won his third race of 2012 and his third Sao Paulo 300 Sunday, stretching his points lead and raising the question, will this be the year when he finally wins the IndyCar championship?
“Very happy to get that third win here and third in a row. We need to make it four in a row at the most important race next,” Power said after the race, referring to the upcoming Indianapolis 500.
Power dominated in his first year with Penske, but some strategy and pit errors cost him the championship. In his second year, he won the most races, but his bad finishes pulled him down. He might have won the championship had he won the final race, but that race was cut short by the death of Dan Wheldon.
As for winning the championship this year, he told the post-race press conference that he and Team Penske aren’t really thinking about it.
“We’ve had some great starts to the season the last two years and fell short both times. So keep the head down, just try to enjoy it, enjoy my race.
“After Vegas last year, I’ve really changed my outlook on things. I try to just enjoy each race, and you know, just have fun with it rather than be so intense about it.”
Power came to Brazil knowing how to win in the wet or dry on the 2.536-mile, 11-turn course laid out on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Sunday’s race stayed dry, thought there was some moisture in the first corner at the start of the race. Regardless, the start was clean, and Power led 65 of the 75 laps of the race. He didn’t drive away from the field, but he was quick enough that no one ever had a shot at passing him.
Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second; he did his best to make Power’s race difficult, but even on Hunter-Reay’s best opportunity, the final restart with five laps to go, he could pull alongside Power but couldn’t get by.
That restart was the key to the race, power said. “Ryan [Hunter-Reay] got a really good jump. I knew I just had to go like you wouldn’t believe through the first complex of corners because I knew he could get a run on me. Ryan is one of the hardest guys you will ever race; he never gives up.”
