Will Power has claimed the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series with a third placed finish at Laguna Seca this morning. Alex Palou claimed the race in a dominant victory, with Josef Newgarden storming through the field to take second.
Needing only a podium to take the title, Power started the weekend well in claiming pole position for the event. In doing so, he beat Mario Andretti’s all time record for pole positions in his career, this being his 68th.
The 2014 champion went about quickly building a lead from the front, pulling away from second-place sitter Callum Ilott once the flag went green.
Racing was clean from the pack, with Palou taking the lead following the early rounds of pit stops.
A safety car, the only one of the event, was required on Lap 39 after Ilott lost power coming out of pit lane, resulting in his car stopping on track.
The restart saw Palou pull away quickly, whilst Newgarden, who had started the event way back in 25th, continue to make progress towards the front.
The American pulled off a move on Power come Lap 47 at the famous Corkscrew to take second place, whilst Palou up front had quickly built a lead that looked unassailable.
Mid-race pace from the Team Penske car of Power lacked at times, giving a glimmer of hope to the two Kiwi’s who were battling through the midfield for the majority of early proceedings.
He managed to hold on, however, to come home in third and claim the championship over Newgarden by 16 points.
The gap from Newgarden to Palou up front was substantial, some 30 seconds separating the top two with a further three second back to Power come race end.
Scott Dixon came home in 12th to see him hold onto third in the standings, whilst Scott McLaughlin finished sixth in the event to conclude the season in fifth, victory for Palou promoting him up to fourth in the standings ahead of the Kiwi.
The championship sees Power claim the title for the second time in his career after triumph in 2014.
It was also the final event, and victory, for Palou with CGR, a switch to McLaren beginning next season.
Banner Photo: IndyCar
