To begin the tripleheader race weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Will Power delivered for his team owner, NTT IndyCar Series owner, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway track owner Roger Penske. Power led 56 of the 85 laps en route to winning the 2021 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Grand Prix Saturday (Aug. 14).
It is his first win this year, 37th of his career and his fifth win at the 2.439-mile road course.
“We needed it as a group,” Power said after the race. “I can’t tell you how good these guys have been this year, flawless in pit stops and just giving me the car. We just obviously had some bad luck, obviously I made some mistakes as well. So stoked to get a Verizon 5G car in victory lane because we haven’t done that ever. I’ve been thinking about that coming into this weekend.
“What a relief, man. When a yellow came, then another one, you gotta survive those yellows. But we had a really good car, a really good car, it was tough to get by lapped traffic but the car was solid out front.”
Romain Grosjean finished second, tying his career-best finish also set at the Indy road course earlier this year.
After leading the most laps but crashing out in the series’ previous race at the Streets of Nashville, Colton Herta finished third to round out the podium.
Power took first place fairly quickly, and never relented the lead after two restarts in the final quarter of this 85-lap race.
"This is my sixth time in victory lane here. It's a pretty special place for me."
@12WillPower soaks in another big win at #IMS.
#INDYCAR // #BigMachineGP // @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/7EJZOMW4vo— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 14, 2021
On lap 68, the first caution flew to the dismay of points leader Alex Palou. Palou’s engine blew, ending his race with a DNF and a subsequent 27th-place finish.
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, @ConorDaly22. @IndyCar x @IMS
?: NBCSN
?: https://t.co/T78I3Vpd2f pic.twitter.com/TDW5XNOisF— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) August 14, 2021
Unofficially, Palou maintains his points lead by 21 over today’s polesitter Pato O’Ward. O’Ward finished fifth after leading 16 laps.
When the race restarted, while Power kept the lead, the intensity throughout the field ramped up.
Hunter-Reay and Borudais have contact! They’re both off at Turn 14 but keep going.#IndyCar #BigMachineGP
— Christopher DeHarde (@CDeHarde) August 14, 2021
With less than 10 laps to go, Scott McLaughlin used the chrome horn to spin Rinus VeeKay.
Full course caution is out for @rinusveekay.
He's been restarted and we're about to go back to green.
#INDYCAR // #BigMachineGPWATCH LIVE:
?: NBCSN
?: INDYCAR APP powered by NTT DATA – https://t.co/vyuISIgHnX pic.twitter.com/4BJdzMDHvQ— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 14, 2021
As a result of the contact, IndyCar officials penalized McLaughlin by sending him to the tail end of the lead lap. McLaughlin ultimately finished 23rd, one spot ahead of VeeKay.
IndyCar Results from Indy Road Course
With only four races remaining this season, IndyCar next travels to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will take place next Saturday (August 21) at 8 p.m. ET with TV coverage provided by NBC Sports Network.
About the author
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.
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