DETROIT — Will Power was putting on a dominating performance in the final IndyCar race on Belle Isle’s 13-turn, 2.3-mile street course Sunday afternoon, leading the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix by 16 seconds after returning from his final pit stop with 20 laps remaining.
The only question was could Power hold on to the lead in his No. 12 Chevrolet for Team Penske?
Power did, defeating Alexander Rossi who was driving the No. 27 Honda for Andretti Autosport by one second for his first win of the season and third on Belle Isle, matching the record three wins on the island by his former teammate Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon of Ganassi Racing.
The win marked the end of racing on the island as the prix will return to downtown Detroit next year. It had been on Belle Isle since 1992.
“Getting in the fountain was really rewarding," Power said of celebrating by taking a dive in the island's historic James Scott Memorial Fountain. "I can’t believe it actually happened because I knew it was the last race, what are the chances. I lost the chance last year (finishing Race No. 2 in sixth). I thought the chance of it happening again is pretty slim, especially after qualifying (16th).
"You can never give up. Never give up. Yeah, I was really excited to obviously win this race after last year. Had my eye on it for quite a while.”
Dixon finished third, followed by pole-sitter and Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren.
"I'm going to miss it," Rossi said of the Belle Isle course. "I love this track. It’s probably my favorite street course. I love coming here. I love the event. I love that it was a doubleheader for so many years (2013-2021).
"I will be sad to see it go, but I think this series thrives on events in cities. You see that with Nashville coming on, and obviously St. Pete, Toronto, Long Beach. It will be a great thing for the series, but from a driver’s standpoint, I will certainly miss this place.”
Defending series champion Alex Palou finished sixth, followed by Marcus Ericsson, who won last weekend’s Indy 500 for Ganassi, and entered the race as the points leader.
Power is now the points leader with 255, three ahead of Ericsson with O’Ward 12 points back. Palou is 14 behind, with Newgarden trailing by 47 and Dixon by 53.
It was Power’s 41st career win and Chevrolet’s 100th IndyCar win, with Power owning 26 of those victories. He had the perfect two-stop strategy.
“It’s very cool to have a partner like Chevy," he said. "(I have) been with them since 2012 and we’ve certainly had a lot of fun together, won a championship (2014), won an Indy 500 (2018) and we’re right in the game this year again so I can’t thank them enough, so I’m really proud to give them that 100th."
The race was all about strategy in what tire to use and when to use them with the alternate red tires having a softer compound than the primary tires, allowing faster speeds and better cornering, but quicker wear.
And, drivers had to have one stint with the alternate red tires with Power using his during that final run.
Power, 41, held that 16-second lead over Rossi, who was wearing the primary black tires that offer a competitive balance between speed, cornering and durability.
Rossi was reeling Power in, a second a lap at times, but Power was able to hold him off, at least for a while before Rossi made things interesting in the final laps of racing ever held on the island, pulling within 10 seconds, then nine seconds, then eight with four laps remaining.
Rossi continued to cut the deficit, definitely getting within eyesight of Power in the final corners.
“It’s obviously very satisfying, redemption from last year,” said Power, who was leading Race No. 2 last year with six laps remaining when the race was red-flagged due to an accident by Romain Grosjean, and Power couldn’t refire his car after the delay, ultimately finishing sixth.
“For one, I didn’t have to have a blistering outlap and destroy the (alternate red) tire. I was very conscious and drove it very straight and very focused. I could have pushed at the end; they didn’t like to die. It was a job well done by the team. I was a bit worried when they went black-black (primary tires), and I was like, ‘Man, we’re saving the reds for the end? I hope there aren’t any yellows.’ But a full green race? Crazy, huh?”
Yes, no cautions, a rarity for any IndyCar race.
“It was hard at the end, obviously with the three stops, we knew that it was basically a qualifying run for 70-lap type of thing,” said Rossi, who went with a three-stop strategy. “It’s good to get the car I think to where it should have been and have a shot to win there at the end.
“Obviously, Will did a fantastic job on a tire that has a lot of fall off at the end, and we did our best to kind of manage the pace at go for it at the end, but we were probably a lap short.”
Rossi, who won the Indy 500 in 2016 for car owner Michael Andretti and finished second in the points in 2018, was trying to end a 43-race winless streak. He will leave Andretti to compete for Arrow McLaren next season.
Dixon talked of his final race on the island, then talked about his memories of the island which held races since 1992 when Bobby Rahal won the first event.
“Probably not aggressive enough from the start I think,” Dixon said. “Both Alex and Will did a tremendous job I think on the first few laps to get track position. I think if anything I would change in the race, would be that, be a little more aggressive at the start.”
Dixon called Belle Isle "a fantastic track."
“My first race here was in 1999 in Indy Lights, so it’s been a while and I remember we were in a grass paddock somewhere out there, just wet on planks of wood,” he said. “I love this place. ... I think it’s very physical, it’s very technical. It’s hard to get everything right here.
“I’m looking forward to the next generation and going downtown. I think there’s always been some issue with that bridge connecting this place and getting people here, so hopefully that changes. I’ve had some great memories here and honestly sad it’s not coming back.”
Race chairman Bud Denker also will miss the track.
“I would just say it’s kind of melancholy to see how beautiful this track is," Denker said. I’m not sure if there’s many more beautiful tracks in the world, certainly there’s no more beautiful Winner’s Circle in the world. Now, we just look ahead.”
