Andretti Global Charges Forward With Kirkwood Freedom 250 Grand Prix Victory After Markham Momentum

FREEDOM 250 Grand Prix Podium >>> CONGRATULATIONS to Kyle Kirkwood - Andretti Global P1, Christian Lundgaard - Arrow McLaren P2, and Will Power - Andretti Global P3 (complete with Bald Eagle) for making HISTORY as the PODIUM of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks via FOX Sports and Gemini AI (2026)

Andretti Global Charges Forward With Kirkwood Freedom 250 Grand Prix Victory After Markham Momentum 

The Freedom 250 GP could not have been a better race. This race actually surpassed Markham, and that is saying a lot. It may never happen, but this venue needs to be a regular on the annual schedule - if for no other reason, to take some of the politics out of the impression of Washington DC as a city.

Freedom 250 Grand Prix starts heading down Pennsylvania Avenue - which was wide enough to be both the track - left - and pit lane - right, with the nation's capitol in the background, in a celebration event to honor the 250th birthday of the formation of The United States Of America. This race event may be the only one of these INDYCAR SERIES events (which would be a shame). Image Credit: James Black - NICS (2026)

Andretti Global arrived in the nation’s capital already carrying serious late-season momentum. Just one week earlier in Markham, Ontario, Marcus Ericsson had delivered a victory while teammate Will Power clawed from last on the grid all the way to third. That Canadian double-podium set the stage. On the brand-new 1.6-mile street circuit threading past the Capitol, museums, and Pennsylvania Avenue, the team completed the statement: Kyle Kirkwood dominated for the win, Power finished third, and Ericsson fourth. Three of the top four positions. The organization’s 80th all-time IndyCar victory. A sweep of the year’s new street courses.

Kirkwood made the day look almost effortless from the outside, leading 128 of 147 laps. Inside the cockpit it was a different story. The Florida native later noted that his biceps were fine, but his hands and left calf were the ones complaining after nearly two hours and forty minutes of absolute maximum braking into every corner. He called the victory “huge,” especially after mistakes the previous weekend that “flipped a switch.” Those errors, he said, pushed him to work harder in preparation than he ever had. The payoff arrived on a morning when he woke with his heart already racing, the same sensation he feels only at the Indianapolis 500. “Outside of the Indy 500, I don’t think there’s another race that you’d want to win,” Kirkwood observed. As an American driver taking the Freedom 250, he added that the win “might top the first win for me.”

Focus was non-negotiable. A hundred laps in he caught himself thinking about the victory and forced a reset. Even on the final lap, with a four-and-a-half-second cushion, he allowed himself only a measured breath. The late restart, when Scott McLaughlin launched a dive-bomb while Kirkwood sat alone among the top six on primary tires, tested that discipline. Wheelspin on the primes, a momentary concession of the line, then a cross-over on exit to hold off Christian Lundgaard - execution under fire. “If last weekend is any indicator,” Kirkwood said, “as soon as you lose a little bit of focus, small mistakes are very consequential.”

<<< PRESIDENTS RACING GO KARTS >>>

Team principal Ron Ruzewski spoke of a group that had begun to gel, drivers pushing one another, engineers and crew delivering the tools. The pit-lane stumbles of earlier months had been systematically addressed. 

Love this shot just at race end when Will Power is out of the car and was asked, "What do you think?" - He turned his head and waved his hand behind him while looking at the Capitol dome, then turned back to the camera and said (paraphrased), "Yeah, what about this?" Image Credit: Edmund Jenks via FOX Sports screengrab (2026)

Power, collecting his third consecutive podium, described the progression plainly: weaknesses were being eliminated, strength was appearing everywhere, and the expectation each weekend was now to fight for the podium or the win. “It’s just becoming normal for us to do this,” the Australian said. From a small town in Toowoomba to standing with an American president before racing past the Capitol ... he called the entire experience “surreal.”

"From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue"
THEME SONG

Lundgaard, who finished second for Arrow McLaren, admitted he had only a couple of laps where he was genuinely faster than the leader. The Dane still called the weekend the best background he had ever experienced on a racetrack and declared the result better than expected. He was simply happy, he smiled, to see Alex Palou not win for once. Both Lundgaard and Power agreed the circuit should return; the racing was real, the on-track passes plentiful (155 in total), and the spectacle unmatched. Power noted that President Trump was still watching when the cars returned to the grid - evidence, he felt, that the race itself had stayed engaging.

The magnitude hit the podium finishers at different moments. For Kirkwood it was that early-morning pulse. For Power and Lundgaard it came in the truck on the way to the track, the pageantry already carrying an Indy 500 vibe. Views from the cockpit stayed with Kirkwood long after the burnout: walls of fans five deep, the bombers overhead, the wall he faced after a less-than-perfect celebratory spin.

Andretti Global leaves Washington with the points gap to Palou still large - ninety-one - but with tangible belief. Ruzewski’s message remains straightforward: put all three cars in front of the championship leader every week. Kirkwood’s approach is simpler still - win every race possible and let the math sort itself out. 

After Markham’s resilience and DC’s dominance, the charge is no longer theoretical. It is visible, measurable, and gathering speed as the series turns toward Milwaukee and the final stretch.

The Freedom 250 delivered more than a race. It delivered a statement of place, of preparation, and of a team that has found its late-season gear.

... notes from The EDJE

FOOTNOTE:

"Front Page" - Image Credit: Andretti INDYCAR & INDY NXT via GEMINI - for blue sky (2026)

TAGS: #IndyCar, #Freedom250, #AndrettiGlobal, #KyleKirkwood, #WillPower, #MarcusEricsson, #ChristianLundgaard, #WashingtonDC, #MarkhamOntario, #StreetCourse, #LateSeasonCharge, #IndyCarOnFOX, TheEDJE, MotorsportsJournal

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Mark'em, err, Markham Came Off With Excitement & Hitches

First ever race start for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on the streets of a town just North of Toronto,
Markham, Ontario, Canada. Qualifications were impacted by many on track incidences where walls bit cars (as Foster would later say, "like Crocodile teeth") leaving RLL Racing's No. 45 Louis Foster to lead the 25 contenders to the Start/Finish Line for the Green Flag. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks Oil Painting of FOX Broadcast TV program (2026)

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Mark'em, err, Markham Came Off With Excitement & Hitches

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, long a fixture at Exhibition Place in Toronto, shifted to a newly constructed temporary street circuit in downtown Markham, Ontario, for the 2026 season. Organizers pointed to the logistical pressures of Toronto’s FIFA World Cup hosting duties at BMO Field, ongoing development, aging infrastructure, and limited expansion options at the old lakeshore site. Those realities made continued one-year deals there impractical. Promoters instead secured a five-year commitment with Markham covering 2026 through 2030, drawn by better highway and GO Station access, proximity to much of the existing fan base across the Greater Toronto Area, and room for a fresh 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout.

The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham unfolded August 14–16 with both excitement and unmistakable ... hitches. 

Start-up difficulties on the brand-new circuit complicated opening day. Track construction, especially tire barriers and related safety elements, lagged. The Friday practice session, first set for mid-afternoon, was postponed later into the evening and then cancelled outright. All series activity shifted to Saturday, where two practices and qualifying were compressed into one extended program once officials cleared the circuit. Anyone familiar with the highest levels of motorsports competition recognized how that squeeze, on an entirely new street venue, amplified challenges for teams and drivers alike.

It was not a gentle introduction for several first-year series drivers. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet made contact with Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian on the opening lap, while Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher brought out the first caution on Lap 15 after pounding the Turn 4 wall.

The new circuit delivered the expected mix of action and reaction, producing 258 on-track passes, 242 of them for position—the highest total in an event dating to 1986. Turn 5’s hairpin proved a particular hotspot. Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel dove too deep into the braking zone and struck Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, drawing a penalty for avoidable contact. Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger, the previous year’s INDY NXT by Firestone champion, started fifth and was still there when a two-lap slide began: Alex Palou passed him, then David Malukas, and soon he sat 20th. Later Hauger clipped the rear tire of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who in turn hit Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen, triggering a caution. Hauger’s Lap 20 contact with Rasmussen and then Pato O’Ward formed part of that fade through the field.

Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson pose for a Power Selfie as this team is beginning to gel after a fairly rough start to the 2026 season. Image Credit: Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)

That same section claimed Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, running third behind his two teammates, in a fierce impact that left him 21st. Moments earlier, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster had suffered a sudden end to his afternoon. Starting from the pole for only the second time in his career - the previous occasion at Road America the year before - Foster built a lead of nearly three seconds while leading the first 32 laps. A caution shuffled him to 12th after the other frontrunners had pitted a couple of laps earlier. Undeterred, he charged back, gaining eight positions and stalking Marcus Ericsson for third when they reached Turn 3 on Lap 43. Foster went to the inside, clipped the left-side wall, and was shot straight into the concrete barrier on the right in a virtually head-on shunt. Fortunately he escaped injury.

Kirkwood’s result allowed series points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing to stretch his advantage still further in pursuit of a fourth consecutive championship and fifth in six seasons, despite starting outside the top 10 for the first time in 30 races. With four rounds remaining, Palou now leads Kirkwood by a nearly insurmountable 133 points, with Team Penske’s David Malukas third, 137 points back after finishing a lap down in 17th.

Biggest Mover Award - Fully Earned - Image Credit: Andretti Global (2026)

Romain Grosjean settled for second ... his best result since Barber Motorsports Park in 2023, while Will Power took third - starting P24 of 25 cars on the grid, Palou fourth and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward fifth. Grosjean, who led 28 laps and recorded his first top-five of 2026, later reflected that the team had done everything possible. He had hoped to keep Palou at bay with a safe gap, only for Ericsson to arrive and turn the day against them. Several other drivers could say the same.

Ontario INDY unveiled its all-new Herend Canada Official Ontario Honda Dealers Indy trophy at Markham trophies. Image Credit: Ontario INDY via FB/META (2026)

Ericsson’s victory arrived 10 days after confirmation of his return to Andretti Global for a fourth season and ended a 63-race drought dating to his 2023 season-opening win in St. Petersburg. It marked his fifth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES triumph and denied Grosjean a first, leaving the latter one step short of the top of the podium for the sixth time. 

Coincidentally, Grosjean’s last win of any kind had come in a GP2 race in Hungary in 2011, a race in which Ericsson finished fifth. Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, now owns four street-course victories; he had previously emerged from a trouble-filled 2021 Nashville street race in similar fashion, even after his car went airborne.

In the post-race interview his voice cracked, which he attributed to screaming after the checkered flag. He described a bold and aggressive drive over the challenging street-course laps, insisting the car had been the fastest all day. Multiple cautions forced a longer final stint, yet the gamble of staying out paid off. 

Emerging seventh after the Lap 69 stop, Ericsson used the car’s pace to slice through the leaders. That charge included contact in the Turn 5 hairpin with Andretti Global teammate Will Power while fighting for third. Ericsson called the hard bump unfortunate but necessary; Power indicated he understood. Ericsson later noted that one never wants such contact, yet he knew the race was there to be won. 

Mark'em, or Markham ... you make the call.

... notes from The EDJE

NEXT RACE >>> Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC

FREEDOM 250 Grand Prix - Theme 

The last race to officially take place on Pennsylvania Avenue was a Horse Race in the sweltering summer of 1801. This was the idea of President Thomas Jefferson. 

Fast-forward 225 years to January 30, 2026. President Donald Trump, flanked by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and racing impresario Roger Penske, signed an executive order launching the Freedom 250 Grand Prix - an IndyCar street race set for August 23, 2026, as the centerpiece of America250 celebrations marking a quarter-millennium of independence.

"From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue"

TAGS: #IndyCar, #Markham, #OntarioHondaDealersIndy, #EricssonWins, #Palou, #Grosjean, #StreetCircuit, #IndyMarkham, #NTTIndyCar, #HondaIndy, #MarcusEricsson, #AlexPalou, #WillPower, #PatoOWard, #NewTrack, #IndyCar2026

Will Power, Andretti Global, And The Parity Push At Barber – Four Races In March And A 25-Car Field That Refuses To Settle

Human ingenuity amplified by AI - Andretti INDYCAR has partnered with TWG AI as the primary sponsor for the #26 Andretti Honda driven by first year Honda & Andretti Global Driver, Will Power. Image Credit Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)

Will Power, Andretti Global, And The Parity Push At Barber – Four Races In March And A 25-Car Field That Refuses To Settle

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES rolls into one of its most picturesque and physically demanding venues this weekend for the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park, and the early-season script keeps getting more interesting.

In just three races held so far in 2026, the series has produced three different winners from three different teams. That kind of spread-out victory lane is exactly what fans love to see, and the fourth race of the month crammed into a 29-day window offers another prime opportunity for the competitive balance of this 25-car field to assert itself even further.

It has been more than 50 years since the series packed March this aggressively. In the past decade, only the month of July has hosted as many events across different locations. The pace has been relentless, the racing sharp, and the storylines fresh.

Andretti Global dominates the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington weekend! Kyle Kirkwood capped the day in style by driving the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda to the win in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. Marcus Ericsson led the field to green from pole position, while Will Power delivered a strong run to finish third, giving Andretti Global three cars in the top four on the new 2.73-mile Arlington street circuit. The victory marks Andretti’s 78th INDYCAR win and their 21st on a street circuit. With the win, Andretti Global now leads the INDYCAR driver championships as the series heads to Barber Motorsports Park after a short break. Image Credit: Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)

Will Power, now in his first campaign with Andretti Global, sat down for a press conference this week and delivered his usual mix of blunt honesty, dry humor, and quiet confidence. The veteran corrected the moderator early on: he finished third at the Streets of Arlington, not fourth, behind teammate Kyle Kirkwood's impressive victory and Alex Palou in second. It was a strong weekend for the team overall.

Power acknowledged the slow start in the points incidents at St. Petersburg and Phoenix hurt but stressed the underlying speed has been there. The team led at Phoenix before the trouble, and he believes a top-five finish was likely at St. Pete. "The capability to contend for the championship is there," he said. "It's a very good team."

This weekend at Barber carries extra weight for Power. He owns two wins and five podiums at the Alabama rollercoaster, a flowing, elevation-heavy road course that rewards rhythm and precision. Yet it marks his first time piloting the current Andretti car on a proper fast-flowing road course. Friday practice will be critical as he evaluates setup and where the package stacks up in a field that grows tighter every year.

High commitment series of corners and an elevation rise at the end of a high-speed practice run by Will Power has him finishing day one in the top ten drivers in a field of twenty-five. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski - Penske Entertainment (2026)

Power made it clear he expects to be at the pointy end again, but he also knows this stop will reveal plenty about whether Andretti has closed the road-course gap they identified last season.

No discussion of the 2026 title chase skips Alex Palou. Power, the last driver to win a championship against the Ganassi star, described him plainly as the standout and the one setting the standard. While other Ganassi entries haven't matched that level, Palou remains consistently at the front no matter the track type.

To beat him, Power noted, a team and driver cannot afford a single glaring weakness not in qualifying, race pace, strategy, or pit stops. "You can't have a weakness ultimately 'cause he will get you," Power observed. He even joked (mostly) about wanting an in-car camera of Palou on a road or street course just to study the man's technique.

Pitlane ponderings run through Will Power's mind while in his box at Practice 1 of the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski - Penske Entertainment (2026)

Power drew a parallel to his battles with Dario Franchitti years ago but noted the modern era is tougher: a misstep today drops you to 17th, not third, thanks to the depth in the field. Still, he sees Andretti currently led in the standings by teammate Kirkwood as right in the mix.

Power has been impressed with his new squad. He described their debriefs as very military like more structured than what he experienced at Penske with strong processes and ample resources. "They've got everything they need to win a championship," he said. He's providing feedback drawn from years at another top organization, and the team is already making directional improvements.

The whirlwind of adapting to new people, procedures, and car feel has been intense. A recent weekend off helped him catch our breath and digest lessons, especially valuable while prepping for the Indianapolis cars. Power believes the ingredients for a title fight exist right now, not in three years as he once projected. Arlington showed the pace; Barber will test it on a classic road course.

He also tipped his cap to the late George Barber, praising the passion and presentation that turned the venue into one of the series' best from the museum to the sculpted grounds and flowing track layout. Tributes and stickers honoring Barber will feature prominently this weekend.

Full ZOOM Call:

Power sounded genuinely upbeat about the health of INDYCAR. Ratings, crowds, and event quality are rising. He credited the new Arlington layout, partnerships with major sports owners like Jerry Jones, and the overall push for bigger, better spectacles. "From when I first started to now, it's only progressively got better and better every year," he remarked.

Looking ahead, Long Beach remains a traditional strength for Andretti, and Power expects the car to shine there. Indy 500 preparations continue, with focus on building a qualifying-fast machine to complement the team's noted race-handling strengths.

With three different winners from three different teams already on the board, Barber represents another chance for the parity narrative to deepen or for someone to stamp authority. Power and Andretti arrive optimistic but realistic: the road course will be telling. Palou lurks as the benchmark. The 25-car field remains deep and unpredictable.

Four races in March. A sport showing renewed vitality. And a veteran driver in a new home still chasing that championship feel while enjoying the ride.

The Alabama hills are calling. The pointy end awaits. And the early-season story of balance and opportunity has every reason to continue.

As this article is sent to the web to be published, the first practice session is in and Will Power unloads and finishes, during the last and final session of Practice 1, as the 4th quickest Honda and nearly one-half of a second behind the top Chevy driven by former teammate Scott McLaughlin.

POST RACE UPDATE - From P23 to P12 & Biggest Mover:

... notes from The EDJE 

TAGS: #IndyCar, #BarberMotorsportsPark, #WillPower, #AndrettiGlobal, #AlexPalou, #NTTIndyCarSeries, #IndyCarParity, #ChildrensOfAlabamaIndyGrandPrix, MotorsportsJournal, #TheEDJE

David Malukas Tops Day One At Phoenix As Penske Era Kicks Off With A Bang

David Malukas - The Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway - Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via NICS (2026)

David Malukas Tops Day One At Phoenix As Penske Era Kicks Off With A Bang

David Malukas arrived at Phoenix Raceway on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and promptly turned the Unser INDYCAR Open Test into his personal welcome party for the Team Penske era. Slotted into the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet - freshly vacated by Will Power - he dropped a 172.605 mph lap that topped the timing screens, edging teammate Josef Newgarden for a clean 1-2 Penske punch on day one of the two-day shakedown.

At the end of the day, Malukas led Penske teammate Newgarden and the man he replaced, now driving for Andretti Global, Will Power. Andretti's Kyle Kirkwood and Ganassi's Alex Palou round out the top five; strong showing for MSR 6th and 7th with New Zealander Marcus Armstrong and Swede Felix Rosenqvist.

The Chicago native stepped to the microphone sounding like a man who'd just discovered a new favorite toy. Phoenix, he declared, feels eerily akin to Gateway ... those mismatched ends of the track, turns one-two demanding one setup flavor while three-four beg for another, forcing quick swaps via weight jacker and the cockpit arsenal in the razor-thin window down the back straight. Wind played its usual desert games, subtle but present, keeping the ADHD brain stimulated as he described it with a laugh - every lap a chess move, tweaking, counter-tweaking, chasing grip that never quite settles the same way twice.

He loves it here already. The sheer velocity through one and two pinned him back initially - "Man, I don't know how Josef's doing that" - until he leaned harder, trusted the downforce, and watched the car devour speed like it was nothing. One of his favorite tracks to drive, full stop; racing it will be another beast entirely, no long runs logged today, but hopes run high that the Good Ranchers 250 in March will deliver the pack racing goods.

Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway End of Day 1 News Conference - Kyle Kirkwood | David Malukas

Post Test Transcript - NTT INDYCAR - Phoenix Raceway

Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal: Every track has a different feel or personality, giving visual cues and so on. How does Phoenix strike you, given you got the mountain on one side and then obviously the stands coming into three and four? How does it all feel to you, and what's your impression on the whole thing?

DAVID MALUKAS: Well, surprisingly, watching it on TV, it seems a lot longer than what it is. You see the beautiful mountains and things.

I think I saw that once I pulled in, but once you're on track, it feels so fast-paced to me. I didn't even notice that you have the hills and everything going on because you just have to be so focused on what's in front.

I don't know. The track just feels very short, very quick. There's a lot going on. Again, having that difference between one, two, three, and four, there's so, so, so busy.

I love it. It's amazing. I think that's why it's one of my favorites so far for ovals. Yeah, I think the characteristic would be busy. That would be its characteristic for me.

Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal: Also, a comment was made earlier about pit lane and how in some ways it might be challenging, especially with the rise towards the end and so on. What is your reaction of pit lane and where you're set up?

DAVID MALUKAS: I mean, there was talks. I can see the concerns over it. It's just going to be, again, a question mark for now until we can see what marbling is going to happen.

Is there going to be quite a lot of marbling once you get down into pit lane, especially with the pit commitment and pit out. We're going to have to see how that plays out.

So far of a whole day of running, and it doesn't seem like there wasn't that much marbling, but a race is a different beast in its own. I think a lot of these questions will get answered once we get closer to race weekend.

ENDS

Settling into Penske has been seamless bliss. Chemistry with the crew clicks; the car looks beautiful, feels right; every pit in-and-out draws a grin he can't suppress. Teammates Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin? Gold. Driving styles align close enough that data swaps carry real weight—Josef's change today becomes tomorrow's known quantity for all three cars, tripling test efficiency in tire-limited days. The engineering depth hits different too: smart people everywhere, everyone grinding 110%, all feeding into one perfectly tuned machine. Best environment he's known, hands down.

Test days mean running plans over outright glory, but topping the sheet? Feels good, confidence boost undeniable. Newgarden's oval mastery provided instant reference—pushing limits he didn't know existed. Interaction with Penske's NASCAR contingent looms too; they've run this place plenty, data exchange on the horizon despite the different machinery.

Phoenix's quirks - sandblasted surface, potential Goodyear marbles, wind shifts—add unknowns for race day, but Malukas isn't fazed. Momentum matters early in '26: back-to-back-to-back opens the calendar, building rhythm fast, keeping fresh eyes on the sport instead of the usual mid-season lull. New team, new ride, but the core IndyCar feel remains familiar—minuscule tweaks, same driver game.

Day one closed with Malukas smiling widest, lap record in pocket, Penske humming. Tomorrow brings more laps, more learning, more proof that this move might just be the spark the championship chase needed. The desert oval listened; the new No. 12 answered loudest.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #IndyCar, #UnserOpenTest, #PhoenixRaceway, #DavidMalukas, #TeamPenske, #172605MPH, #PenskeEra, #ShortOvalChess, #GatewayVibes, #IndyCarTesting, #Penske1-2, #Newgarden, #WillPower, #ShortOvalSpeed

Will Power Embraces Daytona Sportscar GT3 Debut With Enthusiasm, High Hopes

For the second day in the row, the No.75 75 Express AMG of Kenny Habul/Maro Engel/Will Power/Chaz Mostert (1:47.612) set the best time of the day.. Image Credit: Chaz Mostert via FB/META (2026)

Will Power Embraces Daytona Sportscar GT3 Debut With Enthusiasm, High Hopes

For Will Power, the iconic banking of Daytona International Speedway has long represented unfinished business. The veteran IndyCar star, about to start in his first full campaign with Andretti Global, finally checked a major item off his personal bucket list this week, making his debut appearance at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 in the No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Power, sharing driving duties with team owner Kenny Habul and a strong lineup, described the experience as everything he had anticipated - and more.

"I'm really enjoying it," Power said following a busy day of on-track running and fan engagement. "It's a very big event that I've wanted to do for a long time. So, really happy to be here, and doing it with Kenny Habul. We raced against each other years ago in Australia in Formula Ford and Formula Three, so we've talked about it actually for a while."

The Australian Indy500 Champion driver admitted that previous commitments and scheduling conflicts had repeatedly delayed his sports car debut at the "World Center of Racing." But after gaining valuable experience in an eight-hour race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway late last year, the timing finally aligned perfectly with Habul's program.

"I've always been a bit too late to the game of talking to teams," Power explained. "But I had that experience in Indy, so it was a lot easier to ask Kenny, 'Hey, can I run with you?' And he [Kenny Habul] immediately said, 'Yeah, absolutely'."

Will Power also praised the sprawling facility, noting its sheer scale and rich heritage in both NASCAR and sports car racing, "It's just an amazing facility. The first time I drove in here, it was just crazy how big it is. I feel Indy was big - this has got to be bigger. It's an iconic track with a lot of history."

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 machines carve through traffic on the legendary 3.56-mile road course during practice sessions at the Roar.

Competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark Will Power’s second GT3 appearance after taking part in last year’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS. Prior to that, his only other sports car experience came in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hours at the wheel of a Porsche 996 GT3-RS. The Australian, who also won the Indianapolis 500 in 2018, has set his sights on a debut victory, which would also mark Mercedes-AMG’s first GTD Pro class win at Daytona since 2023. Image Credit: 75 Express (2025)

Adapting from the open-wheel precision of IndyCar to the closed-cockpit world of GT3 racing has come with its challenges, though Power downplayed the difficulty.

"The first couple laps in Indianapolis felt very strange ... the amount of roll and everything," Power recalled. "But they're not that hard to drive. They're probably very difficult to extract the time out of. You've got ABS and traction control, so it requires a specific driving style."

Will Power was quick to credit the seasoned GT3 competitors around him, calling them "top-level drivers" and valuable teammates from whom to learn.

Power topped at least one GTD Pro practice session during the Roar, a result he greeted with the same satisfaction that has defined his career, even while acknowledging the gamesmanship often at play with Balance of Performance.

"Always," Power said when asked if leading a session felt good. "When you're quick, it's a nice feeling."

The 24-hour endurance format itself has brought a refreshing change of pace.

"It's really nice to get practice without pressure," Power noted. "You've only got 30 minutes, and then you're gonna qualify something. So plenty of time to get comfortable and find the limits at a slow rate. The racing will be a little bit that way as well - it's obviously 24 hours, so it takes a lot of desperation out of it."

The No. 75 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3 in action, highlighting the car's aggressive stance as Power and his co-drivers prepare for the Rolex 24.

Away from the track, conversation inevitably turned to Power's high-profile switch to Andretti Global for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. He fielded numerous questions from fellow drivers about the team, the car, and the engine, responding with measured optimism.

"Everyone wants to know, 'What's it like, man? How's Andretti? What was the car like? What's the engine like?'" Power said with a grin. "I tell them it's a good team. These guys are gonna be tough. They've got all the ingredients to win a championship. No question. And they're very proactive ... they really want to win."

Looking ahead, Power expressed strong confidence in the program's potential. "I really believe this team will be the top team in the next three years."

For now, though, the focus remains squarely on Daytona. With the Rolex 24 At Daytona fast approaching, Will Power is savoring every lap in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, thrilled to finally compete on one of motorsport's most storied stages.

[Quotes Resource: IMSA Transcript]

... notes from The EDJE

Featured Article >>>

TAGS: #WillPower, #Rolex24, #Daytona, #IMSA, #RoarBeforeThe24, #MercedesAMGGT3, #75Express, #KennyHabul, #GT3Racing, #EnduranceRacing, #AndrettiGlobal, #IndyCar, #IndyCarOnFOX, #MotorsportsJournal

Bets Placed, Cards Played, Will Power Takes The Pot!

Winner Will Power shares podium with P2-Robert Doornbos and P3-Paul Tracy. Will celebrates by sailing a hat into the crowd. Image Credit: Jalopnik's Las Vegas local, Curtis Walker

Bets Placed, Cards Played, Will Power Takes The Pot!

The race starts on a clear, sunny Las Vegas spring day with the temperature in the mid to upper 80's.

The attitude of game was made at the very beginning of the race when it saw Paul Tracy pass pole winner Will Power and take the lead of the race from the very first turn.

Bobby Rahal's son, Graham, did not fair so well in that he found the wall before he was able to make it to the Start-Finish line.

By lap 11, Will Power found his legs and took the lead back in a clean but contested pass. What would one expect from Tracy?

The races for Champ Car this year are all "timed" races, in that the cars race for a specific period of time as opposed to a specific distance regardless of time.

Las Vegas is a great street course - it has every thing - A wicked fast, curved, 195 MPH front straightaway - Elevation change - Tunnels - Rhythm corners - A great mix of professional international experience rookies and series regulars - Lots of room to pass. The new DP01 car looks very racy as well. The louvered ground effects air escape ports just in front of the rear wheels look intimidating.

At lap 28, Tracy and Power pit while being very close to each other - Tracy played it straight and took full fuel ... Power out a little earlier and may have taken a little less on board to insure a quick turnaround.

Lap 32, after suffering three cut tires early on, Sebastian Bourdais (three time series Champion) goes out after he clips a wall and tucks his wing under the driver’s side front wheel. With that, CCWS' winnings team, Newman-Haas, folds for good.

Doornbos and Tracy speed past the parked and damaged McDonald's DP01 of Bourdais. Image Credit: Jalopnik's Las Vegas local, Curtis Walker

Tracy in for additional fuel on lap 34 - telemetry indicated that he did not get a full tank. This will put him back but the question remains ... Did Will Power get enough fuel? Reports are that he did.

Lap 40 - Alex Tagliani leads but is getting ready to pit.

Paul Tracy navigates the Las Vegas Grand Prix street course with the Stratosphere looking over his shoulder. Image Credit: Jalopnik's Las Vegas local, Curtis Walker

Lap 41 - Power, Doornbos, Jani, Junqueria, Tagliani, and Tracy

Will Power in the pits on lap 45 so it turns out he did not get a full load of fuel last time in. Power has a sloppy pit stop. These new pit stops on the DP01 car are a lot slower than the previous cars the Champ Car World Series ran last year. What used to be quick 7 second fuel fill-up is taking at least a third longer and it is confusing some of the members of the pit crew. It was causing the pit "captains" to wave drivers out before they were full of fuel.

Lap 50 - Finds Junqueria in for a pit stop and the fuel man indicated that the valve in the fuel tool never opened – Bruno’s Sonny’s BBQ White & Red DP01 is out of contention with a second fuel stop. Paul Tracy leads followed by Power, Tagliani, Doornbos, and Brit Kathryn Legge.

Will Power is fastest on the track and is pacing about one second per lap faster than leader Paul Tracy.

Tracy in on lap 55 for his final fuel with Power taking the lead at 18 minutes left in the race. Power may or may not need fuel to the end.

Tagliani in on lap 59 after 18 laps on the tank. Reports state that Power is running with 13 laps on his tank at this time. Telemetry shows that Paul Tracy is good to the end.

So this is the bet on the table - Does Will Power and the Aussie Vineyards Green & Yellow painted livery have enough to hold off the rest of the field ... Robert Doornbos' Black & Red Muermans machine, Paul Tracy's Dark Blue & White fully fueled Indeck DP01, and Alex Tagliani's Black & Red at eight minutes to go.

Bets placed, cards played, and Aussie Will Power takes the pot and his first win for CCWS 2007 season in the Inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix temporary street race course!

Next week, the granddaddy of all temporary street race courses, The 33rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. It will be a rockin' party in LA ... especially if the teams can sort out the fueling procedure required for the new DP01 formula Champ Cars!

Excerpts from Champ Car World Series, Eric Mauk - Sunday, April 8, 2007 -

QUOTES FROM THE TOP THREE FINISHERS

Will Power: After that, I mean, I was pretty much alone. I caught Katherine Legge for a while, she held me up. But after that, it was a pretty cruisy race really. We had a good car. It handled well all day. The only issue I had was a really long brake pedal at the end of the race. But we had an 18-second lead, so we just brought it home and brought Derrick Walker his second win since '99. It's his birthday. So a pole and a win, I think that's a pretty good present for him.

Robert Doornbos: No, I really enjoyed it. A great start to the weekend. Already yesterday to have qualified in the top three, we couldn't have dreamed of a better start really. Was a bit worried this morning because it's a different routine that you have than in European racing with these rolling starts. I'm so pleased for everybody, especially for my sponsors here, they come all the way from Holland. It's been a long winter. Really a good decision to go racing in Champ Car.

Paul Tracy: It went really well. Obviously, to lead the beginning of the race, I made a good start, was able to get by Will on the start. We spent a lot of the first part of the race under yellow. We came in and did our first pit stop. The car didn't take any fuel for us. We spent 15 seconds and ended up getting like four laps of fuel. We came back out and chased, then had to come straight back in and take fuel again. That really took the fight out of the race I think for Will. I think we could have put a lot of pressure on him. It was a good day for the Forsythe team and Monster Energy.

NOTEWORTHY

· Will Power becomes the first Australian driver to win a Champ Car race. Geoff Brabham held the previous mark, having finished second on three occasions, the last of those being at Road America in 1987.

· Robert Doornbos is the first driver to score a podium finish in his Champ Car debut since Nigel Mansell won his debut in 1993.

· Both Roberto Doornbos and Tristan Gommendy made their Champ Car debuts with top-five finishes today, marking the first time that has happened since Jim Crawford (4th) and Emerson Fittipaldi (#5th) turned the trick at Long Beach in 1984.
Reference Here>>

… notes from The EDJE

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