AMERICAJR NETWORK :: COACH'S CORNER PRO SHOP :: SAND CREEK RECORDS :: LIFE MADE EASY

:: DETROIT, MICHIGAN USA << >> LIVE STOCK TICKER :: MESSAGE BOARDS ::
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

AMERICAJR EMAIL

Email Login
Password
New users
sign up!

Detroit's Only FREE E-mail Provider

 

FEATURED

 

FEATURED

 
 

SPONSOR

 

SPONSOR

 

SPONSOR

 
 

<< Sports >>

2012 TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH :: IndyCar Series Race

THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH, CA

Sunday, April 15, 2012 on NBC

 

Will Power captures Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IZOD IndyCar race

Photo credit: www.indycar.com

Power: 'You just have to be smart as it plays out'

 

|

LONG BEACH, Calif. – For the second event this month, Will Power wasn’t expecting more than a top-five finish to secure valuable points in the championship.

With two victories in the young season – from starting ninth and 12th – the hard-charging Aussie might be changing his outlook. Pole starts – of which he has 10 over the past 20 races, including one this year – might not be the automatic ticket to Victory Circle.

Power, who started 12th in the 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 15 because of a 10-grid position penalty assessed to all Chevrolet teams for unapproved engine changes, squeezed 31 laps from 18.5 gallons of fuel on the 1.968-mile street circuit while being chased down by Simon Pagenaud the final 15 laps. He won by 0.8675 of a second.

“I could not believe it,” said Power, who notched his 17th Indy car victory. “You always believe that it is possible to win or get on the podium, but it was very unlikely, the fact that it was going to be a two stop race. But it was just amazing that Simon did three stops and I did two stops, like two different strategies and the result was similar. There was hardly any time between us as we crossed the finish line.

“It's just always a surprise in IndyCar, I think. You can never predict; you can never assume going into a race. You just have to be smart as it plays out.

"This was a very sweet victory because I've been on pole here in 2009, '10 and '11, and it just frustrated me that every year something would happen and I couldn't win. Once again this weekend, I'm starting 12th and I felt as though, 'That's impossible to win. I've got another bad year at Long Beach.'

"But it was just a good race. I pushed hard all the time, no mistakes, great strategy, and just a great team effort again."

The team effort has led Power to the top of the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings by 24 points over Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he’s won the past two years.

Last year after not converting the Long Beach pole into a podium (he finished 10th) in the third race of the season, Power was seven points to the rear of Dario Franchitti. He wound up second in the standings – by 18 points, which included eight bonus points for a corresponding numbers of pole wins -- for the second consecutive year.

Power added that the team effort is spread across the organization, which has swept the three races (Castroneves winning the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg). The Long Beach Indy car win was Team Penske’s first since 2001, when Castroneves prevailed.

“I think it's just that they've been probably one of the best prepared with the new car,” Power said. “We did a lot of miles (since manufacturer testing began in November). Chevy has worked very hard, and obviously our first hit of the year obviously the 10 spot grid penalty was a precautionary thing and didn't affect us too badly.

“To me, it has been hard work. I think my guys feel very confident no matter where we start now that it's always possible.”

Source: IZOD IndyCar Series

 

 

Logo credit: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

:: Return to our coverage of the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach ::

 

Cheap Concert Tickets - NASCAR Tickets - Detroit MLB, NFL, NBA Tickets - Barbra Streisand Detroit Tickets 

 

The Original Cottage Inn Restaurant

The perfect place to stop for a bite to eat before the race!

512 East William Street, Ann Arbor, MI • (734) 663-3379

Visit official websiteVisit Facebook page

The Arena Sports Bar & Grill

203 E. Washington St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 222-9999

 

 

:: IZOD :: INDYCAR :: SERIES ::

  Find more about Weather in Long Beach, CA
Click for weather forecast

 

Get Free Driving Directions to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach


MapQuest
FROM:
Address or Intersection:
City:
State: ZIP Code:
Country:

 

To order tickets:

Call the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Ticket Hotline

1-888 82-SPEED

Order online 24/7 at www.gplb.com

 

BACK TO OUR AUTO RACING SECTION

 

 

  Your Ad Here

 

BACK TO THE AMERICAJR ONLINE HOMEPAGE

Copyright © 2012 AmericaJR.com. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized duplication or use of Text, Photos, Videos, Site Template, Graphics and or Site Design is Prohibited by Federal and International laws. See our Notice/Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.

AMERICAJR NETWORK :: COACH'S CORNER PRO SHOP :: SAND CREEK RECORDS :: LIFE MADE EASY