Power Excited To Return To Baltimore

Power at Baltimore in 2012

IndyCar driver Will Power is returning to Baltimore looking to salvage his season with a Grand Prix of Baltimore win. During his first trip to Charm City, in 2011, Power took the checkered flag. Last year, he was in the running before falling out of contention late to finish sixth. He has won the pole both years. Power has yet to record a win during the 2013 IndyCar season, and will try to get one Labor Day weekend in Charm City.

"I'd love to come here and win the race again," Power said. "The IndyCar races nowadays … qualifying first or winning poles definitely doesn't guarantee you a win. It's become so competitive. You've just got to do the normal things to win a race, and everything needs to fall your way strategy wise, and you also need a fast car. That is the plan every weekend."

In 2012, Power and Team Penske made a critical strategy decision, which ultimately may have cost them the race. With rain starting to fall during the latter stages of the race and a dire forecast ahead, Power's team made the decision to make the switch to rain tires. "Last year, we [were] in a great shape to win the race," Power said, "but the rain — just basically a sprinkle fell, and half of us went with wet tires and half with dry. We basically made the wrong decision there, and it was sort of tough to call because it could have kept raining and we'd [have] looked like heroes, but that's the way racing goes. We opted to go with rain tires when the sprinkle came. And it only lasted a couple of minutes, and then she was dry."

Power said he liked racing on the Baltimore track and was looking forward to a great race weekend for drivers and fans alike.

"It's one of the best street courses we go to," Power said. "Anytime you race in the middle of the city, it always draws a really good crowd, and it's usually a party atmosphere because there is so much to do inside the track. Not only are there race cars flying around at high speed, then also the things you can do on the infield — like the live band and the air-conditioned convention center with rock climbing and go carts and jumping castles and Radio Disney — it's just very cool having a city race."

Power currently sits 10th in the race-series points standings, which will make it unlikely for him to be in points contention for an overall championship, though not having to worry about points could make it easier for him to go all out for wins during the final months of the season.

"Mathematically, I'm in the running," Power said. "I’d have to win the last six races for it to be possible. For me, it's just going for race wins. It's kind of out of the question now. I can be a little bit more aggressive now; when you are racing with points at stake, you have to be a little bit more conservative.

"You can just be way more on the aggressive side, you could say, in racing situations. When you are in the point hunt, you weigh more on the conservative side to be consistent and maintain the points lead. You take a little more risk as far as passing people and how aggressive you can be."

Power has been in contention for wins at times this year, but so far the checkered flag has proved to be elusive.

"Anytime I've been in a position to win, like in Detroit or in Toronto, something has going wrong, like being taken out," Power said. "I just haven't been able to put it all together. It's just one of those years where you just can't get it right. I definitely would love to win a race before the end of the year. I think it would be great for my team and crew and the confidence in general. The key is to remain positive and remember how you came into that position and maintain that intensity and focus." pressboxonline.com