Will Power Andretti Phoenix test took center stage Wednesday as the accomplished Australian driver participated in his initial on-track session for Andretti Global at Phoenix Raceway. As part of Firestone’s tire development program, Power, a two-time IndyCar champion, joined other top drivers for crucial testing ahead of the upcoming IndyCar and NASCAR crossover event.
Power Embraces New Team During Tire Development Session
Power, aged 44, stood out in an all-black firesuit as he drove the No. 26 Honda at the one-mile Phoenix tri-oval. Firestone organized the session as part of ongoing superspeedway tire development, building on a prior November outing featuring Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing and Alexander Rossi representing Ed Carpenter Racing. Firestone noted that this phase of testing was crucial for confirming updates, particularly a significantly wider right front tire, never before raced in IndyCar, which is expected to deliver improved lateral grip due to its construction and width.
The session lasted four hours under cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-50s, requiring an adjustment period for Power, who spent the last 17 seasons with Team Penske. He shared track time with Josef Newgarden, his former Penske teammate, as preparations ramped up for the open test scheduled for February 17-18, ahead of the highly anticipated crossover weekend in early March.
Adjusting to Andretti and the Honda Engine
Power’s move to Andretti Global not only meant adapting to a new car but also getting to know his new race engineer, Andy Listes, and adjusting to the team’s procedures. This change of pace after many years with Team Penske presented both challenges and fresh motivation.
“It’s funny, you feel very out of place but once you get in the car and you get rolling, then it’s just like, ‘Oh,’”
said Power, via a video courtesy of IndyCar.
“It’s an Indy car. It’s going through the same processes. Very good first few runs. Now, we got plenty of work to do. It’s nice to feel the Honda engine, it’s very good. Definitely looking forward to getting in amongst a lot more cars to see where we stack up.”
– Power, Driver
Learning everyone’s name and working closely with Andy Listes marked Power’s early steps in integrating with Andretti Global. The process included adjusting the car’s details, such as the steering wheel, pedals, and padding, tasks that were previously second nature at Team Penske.
“I’ve been at one other team, Penske, for 17 years, so it was just like second nature; you didn’t think about anything. Here, you got to get the steering wheel in the right position, the pedals and padding, and just basic things like that. But, all good.”
– Power, Driver
Phoenix Race Memories Drive Determination
Power’s return to Phoenix carried a sense of unfinished business. In the 2018 IndyCar Series event at Phoenix Raceway, he started third, led 80 laps, but exited early after contact on lap 153. Those memories remain a powerful motivator as he embarks on this new chapter with Andretti Global.
“I think it’s good for us that we’re having an open test here because I feel like, just look at the results in the past, it’s somewhere where we need to improve, so we’ll get plenty of time. It’s going to be fun.”
– Power, Driver
What’s Ahead for Power and Andretti Global
As anticipation builds for the official February open test and the novel IndyCar-NASCAR crossover event, Power’s early impressions with Andretti Global signal both promise and opportunity. The focus remains on maximizing the new tire’s performance, leveraging Honda’s power, and establishing effective chemistry within the team. With veterans like Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, and Josef Newgarden in the mix, all eyes will be on how the new Andretti combination fares when the season moves into high gear at Phoenix Raceway. Power, reflecting both determination and optimism, appears poised to tackle the challenges and chase renewed success at a familiar track.
