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BIRMINGHAM (Alabama), April 11: Australia's Will Power started from pole and never trailed on Sunday as he piloted his Penske to victory in the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.
Power, who missed a chance at victory here last year because of an ill-judged pit strategy, pulled away in the final laps to finish 3.38 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Scott Dixon.Scotland's Dario Franchitti, the two-time defending IndyCar champion who won the season-opening race at St. Petersburg, Florida, was third.
Power became the first IndyCar driver to lead wire-to-wire since Franchitti did so at Sonoma in 2009.
Power had dominated in practice and qualifying the past two years here on the 2.38-mile road course at Barber Motorsports Park.
He admitted his disappointment last year –– which proved so costly in his pursuit of the series title –– left him hungry for an Alabama victory.
Ryan Briscoe, Power's fellow Australian and Penske teammate who also started on the front row of the grid, was among six drivers knocked out of a rough and tumble race that saw six full-course cautions.
It marked the second time in as many races this season that Briscoe was involved in a crash. He was among the six-car first-corner accident at St Petersburg.
Ryan Hunter-Reay bounced off a curb trying to pass and sent Briscoe spinning on the 57th lap.
Hunter-Reay was penalized for avoidable contact, dropping from fifth to 18th, but Briscoe wasn't sympathetic.
“He's sticking his nose into where it doesn't belong,” Briscoe said. “It's not a passing zone.”
Power stayed out of trouble by staying in front.
“It was one of the most relaxing races I've ever had,” Power said. “I was just really cruising.”
Marco Andretti finished fourth and Spain's Oriol Servia was fifth.Last year's winner, Helio Castroneves, was seventh, behind Brazil's Tony Kanaan.
Results:
1. Will Power (AUS) 90 laps in 2hr 14min 42.9523sec (average speed: 92.194 mph); 2. Scott Dixon (NZL) at 3.3828sec; 3. Dario Franchitti (GBR) same lap; 4. Marco Andretti (USA) s.l; 5. Oriol Servia (ESP) s.l; 6. Tony Kanaan (BRA), s.l; 7. Helio Castroneves (BRA) s.l; 8. Simon Pagenaud (FRA) s.l; 9. Simona de Silvestro (SUI) s.l; 10. Charlie Kimball (USA), Honda, 90, Running; 11. Sebastien Bourdais (FRA) s.l.—AFP
