Newly-crowned Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power recounted the anxiety he felt during the 6.0-magnitude earthquake in the Napa Valley on Aug. 24 and the relief he felt in wrapping up his first series title six days later with CBS talk show host David Letterman.

Power was a guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Sept. 4 as part of his media tour in New York. Letterman also is co-owner of the Verizon IndyCar Series Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team.

"I was in a deep sleep and I thought it was the end of the world. ... the last thing that registered in my mind was an earthquake," Power said of the quake that struck on race day for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at nearby Sonoma Raceway.

On Aug. 30 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, finished ninth in the MAVTV 500 on the 2-mile oval to outdistance teammate Helio Castroneves in points through the 18 races. It was the first entrant championship -- and the 13th overall -- for Team Penske since 2006.

Power told Letterman that when he located Castroneves in the parking lot following the earthquake, "his hair was just perfect."

"Even when he takes his helmet off, his hair is just perfect," Power joked.

Following the taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater, Power and his wife were guests of CBS to take in the U.S. Open quarterfinals match between second-seeded Roger Federer and Gael Monfils at the U.S. Tennis Center.

Other interviews included Esquire, Maxim, Men's Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, ABC News One, Road & Track and CRAVE Online.

Power, a novice drummer, also hosted Lithium's Left Lane Countdown on Sirius satellite radio.