Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Australia’s Will Power won the second race of IndyCar’s Iowa Speedway double-header on Sunday, taking the checkered flag as a frightening last-lap crash sent backmarker Sting Ray Robb airborne.
Power held off series points leader Alex Palou by 0.3915 seconds to give Team Penske a second victory in as many days. Teammate Scott McLaughlin, who won the opener on Saturday night, finished third.
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“I’ve been trying to win this race for years — years,” said Power, who had started from pole seven times in 18 prior appearances but managed just five podium finishes. That included four runner-up finishes, most recently last year.
Power also notched his first oval-track win in almost five years, taking his tally to 10. He admitted the lack of oval victories was starting to weigh on him.
“I thought coming into this season, I’m going to win an oval this year,” he told broadcaster NBC. “I want to win an oval and I want to win multiple races and we’re still pushing and getting it done.”
The 43-year-old, who won IndyCar crowns in 2014 and 2022, climbed from the 22nd starting spot and got the jump on Palou in the final pit stop exchange under green flag racing conditions.
With his second victory of the season Power cut Palou’s lead in the standings to 35 points with six races remaining.
Power’s celebrations were just beginning when drama unfolded at the rear of the field. Robb ran up the back wheel of a slowing Alexander Rossi and went airborne, the car flipping and coming to rest upside down. The crash collected Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood, Carpenter’s car coming to rest partly on top of Kirkwood’s. Carpenter, Kirkwood and Rossi all exited their vehicles with the help of safety workers and walked away.
Safety personnel righted Robb’s car and he was taken on a stretcher to the on-site medical center, giving a thumbs-up on the way. IndyCar director of medical services Julia Vaizer said Robb was in good shape but would be sent to hospital for further tests.
“Sting Ray’s doing well,” she told NBC. “He’s awake, he’s alert, he’s in good condition. We’re going to send him to the hospital for precautionary measures.”
© 2024 AFP
