Will Power Exits Early After Crash at Gateway

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

MADISON, Ill. — There will be no two-peat for defending Bommarito Automotive Group 500 winner Will Power.

Fresh off his first win of the season at Pocono, Power was having a composed race early in the going at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, trying to chase down his Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden.

Power was able to take the lead from Newgarden after he made his pit stop on Lap 52. He would pit a lap later and nearly had a shot of exiting ahead of his teammate, but that wasn’t meant to be.

Shortly thereafter, Power’s night was cut short on Lap 54 when he went up into the marbles and hit the wall before his car laid to rest in Turn 4.

A frustrated Power told his team that he was okay, but was frustrated after going into the marbles.

Power’s 22nd place result marked his second last-place finish result of 2019 with the first being at Circuit of the Americas earlier in the year.

“The car was great. The car was really good,” Power on his car performance. “I came out on cold tires and just got a little bit out of the groove. It’s like ice with so many marbles because they brought a new tire that really sheds the rubber.”

The Aussie commented that coming out on cold tires, he knew this issue was going to be a definite concern and felt he let his entire No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet squad down for not being able to run at the finish.

“That was going to happen in the race no matter what,” Power said. “It’s my bad for getting up there and you just can’t put an inch on that stuff because you go straight. It’s ridiculous. It sucks for the guys. I had such a good car. I just had to hang out all day and would’ve had a good chance.”