Will Power is the NTT IndyCar Series “Master of Faster.”
The 2014 IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner once again saved his fast for last, winning the pole for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on his final lap after the six-minute clock expired Saturday. Power’s Chevrolet whipped around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit in 1:00.4594.
It was Power’s eighth pole at St. Pete, with all eight coming in the last 10 years. It was the 55th pole of his IndyCar career. Mario Andretti is the leader with 67 poles.
“I was really surprised when they said over the radio, ‘P1’ and I said, ‘What?’” Power said on pit lane. “We were on used tires. I was surprised and thought we had another run to do. It’s an awesome job, awesome job.
“To get pole for the first race of the season is awesome.
“Chevrolet has done a fantastic job in the offseason and we have worked on our street car performance. It was not good enough last year. You have to remember, it’s a long race. It’s 110 laps It’s one of those great starts. Being on pole really helps.
“Do what we can, man, to win another race.”
It was also Team Penske’s ninth pole at St. Pete and Power’s 12th straight Fast Six in this event.
Power is a two-time winner of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, most recently in 2014. He won the pole in 2016 but missed the race because of concussion-like symptoms that turned out to be neck strain and an inner-ear issue from a crash in warmup.
Team Penske teammate and 2017 IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden had the pole for much of the session, until Power nipped him at the end. Newgarden was second at 1:00.5570 for an all-Chevrolet front row.
“We found our footing this morning and made our cars really good,” Newgarden said. “We did a great job getting into the Fast Six as a team. Team Chevy did a great job giving us everything we need. It’s hard to not be disappointed when you are quick.
“I messed up that first lap but overcooked it at the end.”
Rookie driver Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden was third in a Honda at 1:00.6884 in the first race of his IndyCar Series career.
“It didn’t come easy,” he said. “It was a messy first group where we didn’t get a good lap in at all. Then, I made the Firestone Fast Six. It didn’t come easy. It was a lot of hard work. Amazing start. With a little luck, we can be up there in the race.”
Scott Dixon’s Honda was fourth at 1:00.8544 followed by Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay at 1:01.0784.
Alexander Rossi rounded out the Fast Six at 1:01.7739 in a Honda.
The segments leading into the Fast Six had plenty of interest as the first segment was interrupted by two red flags because of crashes by Marco Andretti and Santino Ferrucci. Charlie Kimball was the fastest in the first segment at 1:02.9944, but two-time defending St. Pete winner and four-time Champ Car Series champion Sébastien Bourdais did not advance.
Once again, he will have to try to win the race by starting from behind.
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