INDIANAPOLIS — Walk by the Team Penske garage at the end of the first row of garages on Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and you’ll notice something different. Something constant for 17 years is no longer there — a yellow and red sign with the name “Power” on it.
Stroll about 30 seconds to the next row of garages and you’ll see that name. It’s plastered on an Andretti garage. It looks weird at first glance. Weird because it’s new. Weird until you see the man. Until you see Will Power.
Josef Newgarden once described Power to The Athletic as a “peculiar man.” Graham Rahal noted his intense “laser beam” eyes. Former Penske driver Simon Pagenaud wondered if Power was from this planet because of his stoic nature. On this May 7 morning, Power is none of the above.
He’s comfortable, relaxed. UIndy’s live mascot, Grady the Greyhound, has unlocked a sustained smile from Power, bringing him down to earth.
Power spends a few minutes rubbing Grady as the two lightly play in front of Power’s garage. Power then walks over to a group of reporters and begins to rave about Grady’s soft coat. Power wants to see him run. Power notices Grady’s “good muscles,” “aerodynamic shape” and even his ears are back. Some things only a driver would pick up.
He’s never met Grady before. It’s a new experience for him. It all is. This is his first May since 2008 he’s not with Penske.
Power signed with Andretti in September 2025 after spending 17 years with Penske. Power won two IndyCar series, in 2014 and 2022, during his time with Penske, the 2018 Indianapolis 500 and has the most wins in Penske history with 42. Power decided to leave Penske when negotiations with the team dragged on as 2025 progressed.
“I looked at what Andretti has and their ability, resources, and people and engineers,” Power said. “It was just an easy decision for me. I’m enjoying the process. There’s no animosity from where I came from or anything like that. I’m very grateful to Penske for the career that I had. I was very fortunate to drive for Roger (Penske) and to work with him and that whole team.”
Power described his transition to Andretti as “really good.” He branded Andretti family patriarch Mario Andretti as the “epitome of true racing” in an interview with 1075 the Fan and said it was an honor to wear the Andretti name. Power acknowledged learning how Andretti operates alongside team principal Ron Ruzewski, who is also in his first year with Andretti after 20 years with Penske, has helped him adjust.
Power hasn’t won a race this season. Power finished third at Arlington, but has made contact during five race weekends. He’s 14th in points. Power starts the 2026 Indy 500 on Sunday from the inside of Row 7 after a 4-lap qualifying run of 230.279 mph on the 2.5-mile IMS oval.
“I think starting back there, you certainly are more willing to take a strategic risk or just be off strategy, which can work out really well. That’s racing. It’s unpredictable,” Power said when discussing his strategy for Sunday. “You can certainly drive to the front from there. There are a lot of people making mistakes, people have bad cars, and long stints; all of these things just come into play. Yes, I don’t think it matters where you start. You absolutely could start last and end up in the front.”
Power will be joined on the track by teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson. Kirkwood is second in points in the IndyCar series behind 2025 Indy 500 winner Alex Palou. Ericsson, who won the 2022 Indy500, is 12th in this season’s standings. The last time Andretti fielded only three drivers in the Indy 500 was in its debut season in 2003.
Kirkwood’s belief in Andretti’s cars gives Power faith he could have a good performance Sunday. Kirkwood told Power that Andretti’s machines are faster than last year’s. Ericsson finished second in the 2025 Indy 500, but was moved to 31st after technical violations were found in post-race inspection. Kirkwood was sixth, but was moved to 32nd for the same reason. Power finished 16th after starting 33rd. He qualified for the Fast 12, but a failed car inspection during qualifying sent him to the back of the field.
All three drivers have shown throughout their careers they have what it takes to challenge for the Borg-Warner on Sunday. Power’s experience gives them an extra boost. Kirkwood said it has been really good to hear Power talk about the craft and what makes a good car. Kirkwood, who is in his fifth IndyCar season, is still learning to “drink from a firehouse,” he said. Power is the perfect hydrant.
“He’s got more passion than I think I’ve ever seen out of somebody from his age,” Kirkwood said. “He’ll continue to have that passion, and that passion is what pushes us forward and is why we’ve been so good on road courses now and why we’ve been so good on short ovals. He’s helped us immensely.”
Power admitted he’s also learning from Kirkwood and Ericsson. Andretti CEO Dan Towriss noticed the three drivers have pushed each other this season and trusts any one of them can win Sunday.
Power is aware he hasn’t had a “good run” in the Indy 500 since 2019, when he finished fifth. He’s determined to run “99% of the race perfectly” to put himself in a fighting position during the final stretch. Power has his eyes set on his second Indy 500. But he doesn’t feel as much pressure to win as he did at Penske.
“The pressure of Penske was when you hadn’t won (the 500), and just about every other driver had. If you put that narrative in your mind, you might put some pressure on yourself,” Power said. “After I won for Penske, it took a ton of pressure off for the next few races at this place. I think any driver will feel that in any team, but I would say at Penske the pressure is higher, no question.”
Just because the pressure is less doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent. Andretti has had one top-five finish since 2020, when Marco Andretti finished fifth. Power wants to get Andretti back on track. Not just in this race, but in the ones to come.
Pressure can be an athlete’s foe or friend. It makes them stumble or rise. For Power, it’s the latter. As long as there is pressure, there will be Power.
“I still feel like I’m in my 20s. I’m still very fit. I wouldn’t have continued if I didn’t think that,” Power told the Fan. “If you put an actual date on your retirement, it’s no good, so as long as you’re doing well, keep at it. You want that pressure; you want to keep getting re-signed. That subconscious pressure extracts the most out of you, so there’s definitely no date on it.”
When he does retire, he’ll get a dog. Maybe a greyhound.
Joshua Heron is an enterprise and Fever reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @HeronReports. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Joining Andretti was an ‘easy decision’ for Will Power. He hopes it pays off at Indy 500
Reporting by Joshua Heron, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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