Will Power is in contention to win his third IndyCar championship this weekend at the Music City Grand Prix but is 33 points behind Alex Palou.
The Team Penske driver missed an opportunity the close the gap further at the Milwaukee Mile after Palou had mechanical issues and Power made an error on the track in IndyCar.
Power may have a slight advantage as the championship leader is taking a nine-place engine penalty. Palou also hasn’t driven at the track, which the Chip Ganassi Racing driver believes isn’t fair.
The Music City Grand Prix will also be the first IndyCar race on the track since 2008, and Power was adamant that taking victory is vital when talking to David Land.
Will Power believes dominating the IndyCar race ‘is what we need to do’
Power has been very fast over the year, taking three victories and is in contention despite suffering from a 10-point penalty at the season opener at St. Petersburg.
It has been a very impressive campaign, with the Australian driver consistently standing on the podium and bouncing back quickly from difficult weekends such as at Gateway.
The Team Penske driver is under pressure to deliver a good result and finish ahead of Palou, but is aware that his rival is still in control.
When asked if he can dominate the race, Power said: “This is what we need to do. We need to start at the front and lead a lap. If we can get a pole, get a pole, lead the most laps.
“Like, suddenly you got three points or four points. Winning the race puts it in his hands at that point. What he does is determine where I finish the championship.”
The Music City Grand Prix is an unknown quantity in the IndyCar campaign
The Nashville Superspeedway is returning to the calendar for the first time since 2008. Firestone’s alternate tyre will be available, a rarity on an oval.
This added tyre compound will add an extra layer of strategy over the 206-lap race at the event with the most pressure on it over the year.
The teams will need to be strategic about how they use the tyres on a circuit the drivers haven’t even tested at in IndyCar.
Fine margins may decide IndyCar’s final race of the year on a new circuit for a lot of the field and just one practice session.