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IndyCar
MILLER: The Power Of One
When Derrick Walker put Will Power in his ChampCar in 2006, he wasn’t sure what he had other than an introverted Aussie who liked the loud pedal.
When Derrick Walker put Will Power in his Champ Car in 2006, he wasn’t sure what he had other than an introverted Aussie who liked the loud pedal.
“He never said much, it was hard to get a conversation going with him and it didn’t look like he was having a lot of fun,” recalled Walker of their first test for Team Australia at Portland.
“But, when you put him in the car, he was all about racing. He was a very fast learner and you could see he had talent. I also thought he looked like an orphan who needed a family, you know, he was a little insecure and just needed some confidence.”
It was evident early on that Power was brave and blindingly fast but lacked race craft. So Walker gave him a support group and a good car as they won races and pole positions together for two seasons before the longtime car owner lost his sponsorship and his treasure from Toowoomba to KV Racing in 2008.
But, last fall, Derrick did something even nicer for his former driver. When it was announced Helio Castroneves was under indictment for tax evasion, Walker went to Road Atlanta for the ALMS race to pitch Power to Roger Penske.
“I told Roger it looked like he might be needing a driver and had he ever considered Will?” said Walker, who spent 13 years with the Penske organization before striking out on his own. “I told him he reminded me of Rick Mears in many ways, quiet but focused on nothing but racing and a good guy.
“And very quick.”
Fast forward to last Sunday in Edmonton. Power is conducting his first post-race interview as a winner for Team Penske. He started on pole, dominated the race (leading 90 of 95 laps) and further endeared himself to the most successful team in North American motorsports for the past 35 years.
“That’s why it works so well at Penske, once they accept you, it’s the best place a driver can hope for,” continued Walker, who has fielded an Indy Lights car periodically this year for Justin Wilson’s little brother (Stefan) and still hopes to rejoin IndyCar in 2010.
“It’s the perfect scenario for Will and it’s all coming together and I’m really happy for him.”
It could be even more perfect if The Captain were to make the 28-year-old a full-timer in 2010.
“The last three years I was always stressing about not having a ride locked up and of course I’ve love to be with this team for all the races next year but we haven’t discussed anything yet,” said Power.
“I don’t have a full-time deal this season but I’m enjoying my racing more than ever.”
The IRL championship is a two team, four driver battle between Ganassi’s Scott Dixon/Dario Franchitti and Penske’s Ryan Briscoe/Helio Castroneves. But it could easily be a 5-man show if Power was a full-timer. He’s missed six races but amassed 187 points (leader Dixon has 380) on finishes of 1-2-3-5-6.
“I love working with this team because every time we are together we have success,” said Power, who was the class of the field at Long Beach for the first 16 laps before an untimely yellow caught him out.
“Next year is a long way off so I’ve just got to keep my head down and do a good job and, hopefully, next year I can end up with a full-time ride somewhere.”
Having said that, Will knows the power of being a Penske driver, whether it’s for 7 races or 17. It’s your best chance to win Indy, run up front and get rewarded for your efforts. Obviously, if The Captain can’t find another full-time sponsor for his latest star, it may not exist.
But R.P. is pretty clever when it comes to holding on to things of value.
In the meantime, Power has Kentucky and Sonoma to continue to impress. He doesn’t speak to the media like Alex Zanardi just yet, but he’s starting to drive like the two-time CART champion.
When asked if he thought he was passing his audition with Team Penske, Will laughed and said: “I’m not sure what more I can do mate.”
NOTES & QUOTES
The 2010 IndyCar opener may now be a street race at Rio de Janeiro instead of the course at Castroneves’ hometown in Ribeirao Preto. CART raced at Rio from 1997-2000 on a modified oval….. Hope Honda’s power assist creates a little separation Saturday night at Kentucky but can’t help wonder if 5-20 horsepower is going to make much difference when sometimes 50 HP didn’t when CART initiated push-to-pass…….Another IMS board meeting was held Wednesday at the IRL offices but nothing of consequence, just business so I’m told…….Line of the week: while holding a 7-second lead at Edmonton, Power radioed in and asked his crew: “When do you guys want me to start pushing it?”
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
“He never said much, it was hard to get a conversation going with him and it didn’t look like he was having a lot of fun,” recalled Walker of their first test for Team Australia at Portland.
“But, when you put him in the car, he was all about racing. He was a very fast learner and you could see he had talent. I also thought he looked like an orphan who needed a family, you know, he was a little insecure and just needed some confidence.”
It was evident early on that Power was brave and blindingly fast but lacked race craft. So Walker gave him a support group and a good car as they won races and pole positions together for two seasons before the longtime car owner lost his sponsorship and his treasure from Toowoomba to KV Racing in 2008.
But, last fall, Derrick did something even nicer for his former driver. When it was announced Helio Castroneves was under indictment for tax evasion, Walker went to Road Atlanta for the ALMS race to pitch Power to Roger Penske.
“I told Roger it looked like he might be needing a driver and had he ever considered Will?” said Walker, who spent 13 years with the Penske organization before striking out on his own. “I told him he reminded me of Rick Mears in many ways, quiet but focused on nothing but racing and a good guy.
“And very quick.”
Fast forward to last Sunday in Edmonton. Power is conducting his first post-race interview as a winner for Team Penske. He started on pole, dominated the race (leading 90 of 95 laps) and further endeared himself to the most successful team in North American motorsports for the past 35 years.
“That’s why it works so well at Penske, once they accept you, it’s the best place a driver can hope for,” continued Walker, who has fielded an Indy Lights car periodically this year for Justin Wilson’s little brother (Stefan) and still hopes to rejoin IndyCar in 2010.
“It’s the perfect scenario for Will and it’s all coming together and I’m really happy for him.”
It could be even more perfect if The Captain were to make the 28-year-old a full-timer in 2010.
“The last three years I was always stressing about not having a ride locked up and of course I’ve love to be with this team for all the races next year but we haven’t discussed anything yet,” said Power.
“I don’t have a full-time deal this season but I’m enjoying my racing more than ever.”
The IRL championship is a two team, four driver battle between Ganassi’s Scott Dixon/Dario Franchitti and Penske’s Ryan Briscoe/Helio Castroneves. But it could easily be a 5-man show if Power was a full-timer. He’s missed six races but amassed 187 points (leader Dixon has 380) on finishes of 1-2-3-5-6.
“I love working with this team because every time we are together we have success,” said Power, who was the class of the field at Long Beach for the first 16 laps before an untimely yellow caught him out.
“Next year is a long way off so I’ve just got to keep my head down and do a good job and, hopefully, next year I can end up with a full-time ride somewhere.”
Having said that, Will knows the power of being a Penske driver, whether it’s for 7 races or 17. It’s your best chance to win Indy, run up front and get rewarded for your efforts. Obviously, if The Captain can’t find another full-time sponsor for his latest star, it may not exist.
But R.P. is pretty clever when it comes to holding on to things of value.
In the meantime, Power has Kentucky and Sonoma to continue to impress. He doesn’t speak to the media like Alex Zanardi just yet, but he’s starting to drive like the two-time CART champion.
When asked if he thought he was passing his audition with Team Penske, Will laughed and said: “I’m not sure what more I can do mate.”
NOTES & QUOTES
The 2010 IndyCar opener may now be a street race at Rio de Janeiro instead of the course at Castroneves’ hometown in Ribeirao Preto. CART raced at Rio from 1997-2000 on a modified oval….. Hope Honda’s power assist creates a little separation Saturday night at Kentucky but can’t help wonder if 5-20 horsepower is going to make much difference when sometimes 50 HP didn’t when CART initiated push-to-pass…….Another IMS board meeting was held Wednesday at the IRL offices but nothing of consequence, just business so I’m told…….Line of the week: while holding a 7-second lead at Edmonton, Power radioed in and asked his crew: “When do you guys want me to start pushing it?”
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
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