Will Power’s move from Team Penske to Andretti Global for the 2026 NTT IndyCar season marks one of the biggest storylines as the new season approaches. The Australian driver, known for his success including two series championships and an Indianapolis 500 victory, is now aiming to help Andretti rise to the top of IndyCar competition.
After spending 17 years with Team Penske and accumulating more pole positions than any driver in IndyCar history, Power’s departure surprised many at the end of the 2025 season. His replacement by David Malukas in the No. 12 Penske Chevrolet made it official that Power’s time with the team had ended. Yet, he quickly secured the No. 26 Honda seat with Andretti Global, a ride vacated by Colton Herta, who shifted to a test driver role with Cadillac’s F1 team and also moved into Formula 2 competition.
Will Power’s Last Victory with Team Penske Sparks New Chapter
The final win Power earned with Team Penske was especially meaningful after a challenging and winless run for the team earlier in the 2025 season. Reflecting on that victory, Power said,
“Like you said, it was a real dry spell, and I don’t think that team had really experienced that in my time there. So, when I won that race, and I was done with the press conference and everything and walked back to where the team was packing up, I’d never seen them all stop and applaud, you know, just because they hadn’t won a race all year.”
Power’s success not only ended the drought but also revitalized the team, which went on to secure another win with Josef Newgarden two races later in Nashville.
While Power expressed gratitude toward Roger Penske, a legendary owner who supported him throughout his career, he had long been curious about how he might perform with a different team. He said,
“I would have loved to have finished the career there, but I also always wondered how I would fare in a different team, and now I’m going to see.”
Transitioning to Andretti Global: New Team, New Challenges
Power has already begun acclimating to Andretti Global, taking part in several testing sessions including one at Sebring International Raceway. Moving from the formidable environment of Penske, which includes teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin, Power will now collaborate with Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood at Andretti. Although the two teams share the legacy of their racing legends, the team cultures differ in key ways such as engine suppliers and internal dynamics.
Power described the Andretti team atmosphere as distinct from the cutthroat nature at Penske. He explained,
“I think it’s a different culture (at Andretti), Penske was very cutthroat between the teammates. They certainly push each other… race each other hard on track, where here I think you definitely look after your teammate a little bit more when you’re racing them than you did at Penske.”
He acknowledged the competitive spirit within Andretti, adding,
“But they’re tough competitors. They want to win. They want to beat me as well. That’s, you know, part of the game. But together, we need to raise the bar of our team.”
Power believes Andretti Global has strong potential to become a dominant force in IndyCar soon. He stated confidently,
“I think they’re capable of winning a championship and, whether that comes this year or next year or, sort of, in the next three years, but I actually think they’ll be the best team in the next three years.”
Power’s Diverse Offseason Activities Build Momentum
Beyond prepping for his new IndyCar role, Power’s offseason has been marked by several significant firsts. He competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, driving the No. 75 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO for 75 Express and finishing second in the GTD Pro class. In January, Power also explored Andretti’s Formula E operations in Miami and expressed interest in racing an all-electric single-seater. He shared,
“I think the new (Formula E) car would be a real beast, Like a really fast car. So, yeah, I would like to try that.”
As the 2026 IndyCar season prepares to kick off with the season opener in St. Petersburg, followed by races in Phoenix and the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, Power aims to establish himself as a top competitor for Andretti. His connection with supporters, including a longtime friendship with rapper Flavor Flav, also remains a lighthearted topic. Power joked,
“I actually haven’t called him for a while, I need to get him to come to a race. Maybe he should come to Arlington. I should call him to come to Arlington. That’s a big event.”
With his extensive experience and determined mindset, Will Power is expected to continue making a significant impact on the IndyCar series, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape alongside Andretti Global.
