LONG POND, Pa. – It’s been a season to forget for Will Power, but he finally got something to smile about on Sunday afternoon.
Power was declared the winner of Sunday’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway after a storm stopped the event after 128 laps, 73 laps short of the scheduled 200-lap distance.
“I thought if this cloud cover comes over and it doesn’t rain then it’s just not my year,” Power joked after being declared the winner.
Power was leading the race aboard his No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet as an ominous storm cloud began to move in over the 2.5-mile track. A lightning strike with seven miles of the track resulted in a caution period and moments later the red flag was displayed.
After a short waiting period, NTT IndyCar Series officials made the decision to call the race and declared Power the winner. Power has now won an Indy car event for 13 consecutive seasons.
“I had a few issues during the race, but we just kept coming back,” Power said. “Full credit to the team. Great car. I kind of just hung there, saved fuel and when it was time to go I went. I was so determined. I really wanted to win.”
Scott Dixon was scored second when the race was declared official, continuing a streak of four consecutive top-two finishes for the reigning series champion as he battles to get back into the championship fight.
Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud finished third, followed by impressive rookie Santino Ferrucci and championship leader Josef Newgarden.
Newgarden more than doubled his championship lead with his fifth-place finish, largely because his main title rival Alexander Rossi was involved in an opening lap crash that collected four other cars. Rossi managed to get back on track, but finished 18th in the 22-car field.
More details to come.