Will Power wins the final Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle

Detroit — Will Power in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, in the final race on Belle Isle.  He earned 53 points for winning Sunday’s race.  That puts him in 1st place in the IndyCar driver standings.  This was his first win this season for Team Penske. 

“It was very satisfying today.  I got redemption from last year.  I got in the rhythm and had to go hard in the end and I did,” says Power.  He said we’ve improved from last year.  “I was surprised there were no cautions.  There were no bad drivers today,” he added.  “I was aware of keeping the same gap while driving.  I never think of winning til the last two laps.”  He also says he never qualifies good here, although he RACES well.

“I’m not disappointed with bad results anymore.  I don’t care anymore, but I do care for my craft.  I am extremely lucky to be doing what I’m doing.  I’m just lucky.”

“Getting in the fountain was really rewarding.”  The crowd was yelling, “take a swim, take a swim”.  “So I took a swim.  It was very cold.”  This was Power’s third win on Belle Isle.  Looks like he went out with a bang. 

Alexander Rossi finished in 2nd place just one second behind Power.  He started the race in 11th place in his No. 27 Honda.  He earned 40 points after Sunday’s race putting him in 7th on the IndyCar points standings. 

“It was a wild race this weekend.  It was good for myself and great for the team.  But we still got a bit of work to do though.  During the race, I was waiting for a caution, waiting for a reset.  I have great memories on Belle Isle and looking forward to going downtown,” says Rossi.

Scott Dixon finished in 3rd place and was seven seconds behind Power. He started in 9th place in his No. 9 Honda.  Dixon earned 36 points today putting him in 6th place in the driver’s standings. 

“My car had some good momentum and we are in a good position moving ahead,” says Dixon.  Did you know where you stood in the standings?  “I didn’t know where I was in the mix, trying to maximize every strategy and I got close in the end.”  He was asked if he’s gonna miss Belle Isle?  He said “I’m gonna miss it.  It’s my favorite street course.  It will be sad to see it go.  From a driver’s standpoint, I’ll definitely miss this place,” added Dixon.

Josef Newgarden started from the pole position but ended up in 4th.  He was 10 seconds behind the leader.  Newgarden earned 34 points today which puts him in 5th in the standings.  Last year’s winners–Pato O’Ward finished in 5th place today and Marcus Ericsson finished in 7th.  There were two Grand Prix races in 2021.

The race lasted just over one hour and 32 minutes.  The average speed during the Detroit Grand Prix was 107.111 miles per hour. 

There were five lead changes among four drivers.  Josef Newgarden lead the first 14 laps.  Then, Will Power took the lead from lap 14-25.  Scott Dixon took the lead for one lap after that.  On lap 26, Alex Palou took the lead for only one lap also.  Finally, Will Power regained the lead on lap 27 and never looked back.

Will Power lead 55 laps out of 70.  Josef Newgarden lead 13 laps.  Meanwhile, Scott Dixon and Alex Palou both lead one.  

There were no major incidents in Sunday’s IndyCar race.  Hower, Rinus VeeKay hit the turn 6 wall on the very last lap.

Linus Lundqvist won both Indy Lights races on Belle Isle; one on Saturday and one on Sunday.  Therefore, he was able to take two dips in the Scott Fountain. 

Power added: “It’s very cool to have a partner like Chevy since 2012 and we had a lot of fun together.”

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell served as the Grand Marshal of Sunday’s IndyCar race.

The NTT Indy Car Series heads to Road America in Wisconsin for the Sonsio Grand Prix on Sunday, June 12.  There will also be an Indy Lights race at the same track on Sunday morning.

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