Will Power dominated the KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He captured his second straight win in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Racing Series. The seasoned veteran led 46 of the 50 laps and was in control from the start to the finish. Especially important, Power climbed to 13th on the all-time Verizon IndyCar wins list. It was the first race at this hallowed venue in nine years.
Power started the race at Road America from the pole position and relinquished the lead for only four circuits through the historical road course. Power squeezed every bit of performance out of his #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet in the final six laps. He was able to hold off the hard charging veteran, Tony Kannan for the checkered flag.
“TK had the reds on, and he was coming hard,” Will Power said of Kanaan being on the faster red tires while he was driving on primary blacks. “He was fast all day long. I just did everything I could to stay in front. Man, I am so stoked we won. We’re still in (the title chase), we’re still in it,” Power said. “There could be a 100-point swing in the final race. We’ve got to go for it.”
Tony Kanaan finished runner-up on Sunday to Will Power. Kanaan kept his NTT Chip Ganassi in the front half of the field throughout the afternoon. He failed to lead a lap but was positioned in second place for the race’s final six lap push. It was not meant be for the Brazilian on Sunday as Power jumped out in front and never looked back. Kanaan was pleased with his chance to push the victor to the final circuit.
“During the beginning of the race up front, there wasn’t a lot of battles,” Kanaan said, “but then towards the end, I think I gave them some excitement. … I love it here. I want to come back here next week and do it again. We need more races like this.”
Graham Rahal started sixth and moved up to secure the third place podium appearance. Rahal was one of only two other drivers to lead laps in the KOHLER Grand Prix. He dove his hot-rod out front for the 12th and 13th lap before being passed by race winner Will Power for the last time. Furthermore, the placing gave the Rahal/Letterman Racing driver a much needed points boost in the standings. It’s on to Iowa where he finished fourth in last year’s event.
Helio Castroneves and Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five. They both were in contention to challenge for a top three finish. Castroneves was forced back a spot for blocking earlier in the contest and settled for a eighth place finish. Josef Newgarden had a impressive eighth place finish. Whats more impressive is, he did it two weeks after breaking his hand and his collar-bone in a brutal crash at Texas.
Simon Pagenaud, the Verizon InyCar Series points leader, managed to lead the other two laps in the event. Pagenaud drove his Menards Roger Penske owner Chevrolet into second position before the final pit stops on lap 39. The dominate driver was quickly passed by Tony Kanaan and fell back deep into the field. He finished the contest in a disappointing 22nd place and blamed engine issues for his rapid decent.
“We were having a really good day,” said Pagenaud, “but unfortunately we had a little issue with the engine. We had the Menards Chevy hunting for the win. We had a really good race going in this wonderful setting at Road America. Pagenaud lost out on a chance to stretch his championship lead, which shrank from 80 points to 74. “It’s tough when you have an opportunity and you can’t maximize it in the championship. It’s a tough day today, but we’ll bounce back.”
Final Results for the 2016 KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America:
1. Will Power
2. Tony Kanaan
3. Graham Rahal
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay
5. Helio Castroneves
6. Charlie Kimball
7. Juan Pablo Montoya
8. Josef Newgarden
9. Spencer Pigot
10. Carlos Munoz
11. Jack Hawksworth
12. Marco Andretti
13. Simon Pagenaud
14. James Hinchcliffe
15. Alexander Rossi
16. Mikhail Aleshin
17. Takuma Sato
18. Sebastien Bourdais
19. Gabby Chaves
20. Max Chilton
21. Conor Daly – DNF
22. Scott Dixon – DNF
