By INDYCAR
DETROIT – In an intriguing race that blended strategy and speed, Will Power earned his first victory of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, holding off Alexander Rossi to win the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday.
Power used a two-stop strategy to perfection in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, warding off a charging Rossi – on a three-stop strategy in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS/AutoNation Honda. Power led 55 of 70 laps in a race that ended under caution.
SEE: Race Results | Race Highlights
Team Penske opted for the different strategy to try to help Power gain track position on the bumpy, narrow temporary street circuit from his 16th starting position. Power drove the final 20 laps on Firestone alternate “red” tires, which initially have more grip but lose traction quickly with time. Rossi was on the more durable and consistent Firestone primary “black” tires for his final stint.
“I drove it as straight as I could,” Power said about his tire preservation strategy over the last 20 laps. “I never put any slip (angle) into it. I was just driving it really straight and really nice on the brakes and the throttle. I knew if I could keep a reasonable gap until the end, we’d be OK.”
Power’s win was the 41st of his INDYCAR SERIES career and first since August 2021, when he triumphed on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His victory today also was the 100th for a Chevrolet engine since the 2.2-liter V6 powerplant era started in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012.
Australian native Power also returned to the series lead by three points over Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Marcus Ericsson.
Six-time series champion Scott Dixon finished third in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to round out the podium finishers on the 14-turn, 2.35-mile course. It’s the last time the INDYCAR SERIES is competing at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park, as the event is…
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