WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) — Pole-sitter Will Power fended off Juan Pablo Montoya to win Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, giving a huge boost to Team Penske’s IndyCar season title bid.
The 33-year-old Australian added to the slim lead he had in the standings over teammate Helio Castroneves. A Penske driver has finished second each of the previous four seasons and five of the last six.
Power raced to his third victory of the season, and his first on an oval. He has said his top priority is to win a title for Penske.
Montoya, another Penske driver, finished second. Tony Kanaan was third. Castroneves finished 11th in the race.
After coming into Milwaukee with a four-point lead, Power heads to the road course at Sonoma next week with 602 points, 39 more than Castroneves.
Plus, Power proved doubters wrong who said he couldn’t win on ovals. It was Power’s third career oval victory, following Texas in 2011 and Fontana last year.
“Yes! I love winning on ovals! I love winning on ovals!” he yelled on his radio after taking the checkered flag.