Despite Season Struggles, Power to 'Keep Pushing' in Contract Year

Fox Sports

12 hours ago

INDYCAR
Will Power enters Sunday's Java House Grand Prix of Monterey ranked ninth in points, but the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season has been anything but smooth.
Team Penske remains winless through the first 13 races of the year, its longest drought to start a season since 1973 when Gary Bettenhausen finally broke through in the 15th race of a 16-race campaign at Texas World Speedway. Team Penske has also gone winless in only four complete seasons: 1976, 1996, 1998, and 1999.
Scott McLaughlin delivered the team's most recent victory -- 15 races ago -- at last year's Milwaukee Mile doubleheader. He is 13th in the standings, while teammate Josef Newgarden is 16th.
At this point last season, the trio of Power, McLaughlin, and Newgarden had combined for six wins. They totaled just five finishes of 20th or worse in all of 2024. This year? They've already logged 16 with the most DNFs in a single season since 2000.
Power, a Team Penske mainstay since 2009 and one of the team's most decorated drivers, finds himself in a particularly difficult spot, with no contract extension yet signed.
'Can you believe the year I'm having, in a contract year?' Power said.
Power's 2025 campaign began with a crash on the opening lap of the season opener in St. Petersburg, relegating him to a 26th-place finish. In June, he crashed out of the lead at World Wide Technology Raceway and in July, consecutive race weekend engine failures at Mid-Ohio and the second Iowa race saw him finish 26th and 24th, respectively.
'Two engine failures in two race weekends,' Power said. 'Just one of those things. Not bad luck. It just happens at times.'
Amid the struggles, speculation around Power's future has intensified, especially after David Malukas scored a runner-up finish in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The 23-year-old drives the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing, which has a technical alliance with Team Penske.
Malukas downplayed the rumors entering the doubleheader weekend at Iowa Speedway.
"No matter the rumors or no rumors, I think everybody is trying to strive to always live in the present instead of stressing about the past and the future,' Malukas said. 'I've had a mental coach training me to always stay and live in the present, and as of right now, I'm with the AJ Foyt team, and we're focused on our successes and what we've accomplished so far this season.'
Adding to the turbulence, Team Penske underwent a major midseason leadership shakeup. On July 4, Jonathan Diuguid was named president of Penske Racing, with longtime sports car program leader Travis Law appointed competition director.
The promotions followed the release of three longtime executives -- Team President Tim Cindric, Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and General Manager Kyle Moyer – being released by team owner Roger Penske in May in the aftermath of penalties incurred during Indy 500 qualifying to Power and Newgarden's cars.
Despite the challenges, Power remains resolute in proving he belongs behind the wheel of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.
Of his 44 career victories -- fourth-most in INDYCAR history -- 41 have come with Team Penske, the most of any driver in the team's storied history. That total includes the 2018 Indianapolis 500 win. He has 11 victories more than Team Penske legend Helio Castroneves.
Power also leads all Team Penske drivers in road and street course wins (31), holds the all-time INDYCAR record for pole positions (71), ranks fourth in podiums (107) and is tied with Al Unser Jr. for fifth in top-five finishes (141).
A two-time series champion, Power claimed the title in both 2014 and 2022.
Perhaps the tide turns at this weekend's Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network).
Team Penske has a strong recent record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with three top-three finishes over the past three years.
Power has shown consistency at the California road course, recording three top-four finishes in his last five starts. He finished seventh last year and has three top-six finishes in five natural road course starts this season.
Next is Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 10, where Power claimed victory last year and finished runner-up in 2022. Following that, the series heads to Milwaukee Mile (Aug. 24), a track where Power won in 2014 and recorded three podium finishes in his last five starts on the historic oval. Nashville Superspeedway ends the season on Sunday, Aug. 31.
'Just keep pushing,' Power said. 'Still got (four) races to get great results. I've had great cars everywhere -- we're quick. (I) can only smile about it, because I've been in the sport a long time. I know these sorts of things come around. It's very typical of life that a bad year plays out when you're trying to get a contract.
'I love it here. I do. I really hope I'm back next year.'
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