Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans entry list

"Six years," Will Power says, reminding himself of the seemingly quick passage of time since he joined Team Penske. "A lot has happened," which includes marriage, racing heartache and triumph, bodily injury, and friendships/rivalries developed.

On May 31, in the second race of the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans, Power will mark his 100th start with Team Penske. Overall, the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion has 145 Indy car starts since 2005 with Walker/Team Australia, KV Racing Technology and since April 2009 with Team Penske.

His first start for the team was on the streets of St. Petersburg as the replacement for Helio Castroneves, who was embroiled in a jury trial over tax evasion charges (he was acquitted on April 17). There weren't any guarantees for Power's future either. He drove in five other races that season, winning at Edmonton, and was a full-time entrant in 2010.

“It’s a real game-changer," Power said of the long-time association. "The second race I did was Long Beach and I kind of thought I have a chance of staying here because I qualified on pole and finished second. It really gave me the opportunity to show what I could do, which is really hard sometimes in motorsport. A lot of guys don’t get that chance because it’s a full team sport and you have to be with the team for more than a few races to give you a bit of longevity for one because it’s difficult to do it in one (race), and two they have to have the resources and sponsorship."

Power, of course, has repaid the confidence in his abilities shown from the outset by team owner Roger Penske and Penske Racing president Tim Cindric. Already this month, he's won the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis from the pole and started and finished second in the 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. He heads to Detroit as the defending Race 1 winner. Castroneves won the back end of the doubleheader on the 2.3-mile Belle Isle circuit.

“It’s definitely what’s in my mind is to finish my career with Team Penske," Power said. "I think this sport is about continuity. My engineer, David (Faustino), and I have been together for a long time. I think that relationship is important and gets stronger all the time, plus year after year you keep banging information on the places you go to so we have a really strong team. That goes to having Dave, (race strategist) Cindric and (chief mechanic) Matt Jonsson on my car. I feel the four of us are a very strong combination.”

At age 34, he's the third oldest among the Team Penske foursome of drivers that also includes series championship points leader and reigning Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya (39), Simon Pagenaud (31) and Castroneves (40). His immediate future with the team is secure, though he and wife Liz have looked to the future.

“I’ve thought of that; it keeps changing," he said. "A couple of years ago I would have said I might do this for four more years and be done. But now I’m seeing how strong Helio is at his age. You can go till you’re 40. The only reason I wouldn’t stay in the series is if the safety doesn’t continually improve, which is has. I love driving here.”

First start: April 5, 2009, at St. Petersburg, Fla. … Result -- Started and finished sixth

First pole: April 19, 2009, at Long Beach, Calif. … Result – Finished second

First victory: July 26, 2009, at Edmonton, Alberta … Started – Won from pole

Most recent pole: May 8, 2015, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course

Most recent victory: May 9, 2015, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course

Poles with team (Indy car total): 32 (38)

Wins with team (Indy car total): 22 (25)

Top-five finishes with team (Indy car total): 52 (65)

Top-10 finishes with team (Indy car total): 70 (94)

Season points finishes with team (races): 2009 - 19th (six), 2010 – second (17), 2011 – second (17), 2012 – second (15), 2013 – fourth (19), 2014 – first (18).

Current points position: Second, 25 points behind front-runner and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya