Will Power could classify the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season as a redemption tour.
Power has rallied this season by reaching victory lane three times in his No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet a year after enduring his first winless season since 2006. Last year was also the first time since Scott Dixon in 2004 that a defending champion didn’t reach victory lane.
That leads Power an opportunity to exorcise another beast in Sunday’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge by rallying from a 33-point deficit to championship leader Alex Palou and claiming his third Astor Cup championship trophy.
Power has been in Palou’s position five times – twice converting a championship but three times losing the title in the season finale.
Two of those three times were at the hands of Dario Franchitti in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda – the same team and car number as Palou.
Power led Franchitti by 12 points entering the 2010 season finale, but a crash on Lap 143 of the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway left Power 25th. Franchitti finished eighth, taking his second consecutive championship.
A year later, Power led Franchitti again, this time by 11 points. Franchitti finished runner-up at Kentucky Speedway while Power was 19th for his third straight title.
In 2012, Power led Ryan Hunter-Reay by 17 points. Power crashed at the season finale at Auto Club Speedway, finishing 24th. Hunter-Reay won his first championship with a fourth-place result.
With the season ending Sunday, Sept. 15 on the Nashville Superspeedway oval and Power chasing the same No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, would wresting the title from Palou serve poetic justice?
“That would be funny,” Power said. “It would be a big repay if that actually happens.”
Power is aware of the challenge of passing Palou, who is 1-for-1 converting a points lead entering the season finale and leaving with the Astor Challenge Cup championship trophy.
Two-time champion Palou led Pato O’Ward by 35 points entering the 2021 season finale on the streets of Long Beach. Last year, he clinched the championship early in the penultimate race at Portland International Raceway.
“Palou is a serious contender, man,” Power said. “Nothing can rattle that guy. Very tough to go head-to-head with him.”
A prime example came Sept. 1 in the second Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s race, when Palou suffered a mechanical problem before the race even began. His team thrashed on the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda behind the wall, allowing him to return to the 1.015-mile oval 28 laps down.
Deciding to diagnose the problem and repair the car allowed Palou to gain eight spots and six points in the standings – earning the benefit of finishing ninth or better Sunday to claim his third championship in four years.
“The story is already written,” Power said. “It just happens.”
Before Power is written off, the numbers say a comeback is possible.
Ovals create chaos, and Palou has shown he’s not immune to adversity on them. Four of the seven times Palou didn’t finish a race during his career came on ovals. He has also finished outside the top nine three times this season, with two were on ovals.
In addition to the mechanical problem in Milwaukee, Palou crashed and finished 23rd in the first-race of the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 at Iowa Speedway on July 13.
Plus, there’s the stat Palou probably is tiring of hearing: He never has won on an oval.
The best path for Power is to win, something he has done three times in the last 10 races, including the Hy-Vee One Step 250 on July 14 at the Iowa Speedway oval.
At the very minimum, Power must finish on the podium, a feat he has done seven times this season, six in the top two.
Power has the biggest advantage of competing at Nashville Superspeedway, where Palou has never been to the track. In addition to being one of four drivers taking part in the Aug. 7 Firestone tire test, Power finished 11th in 2008.
“We’ll do our best when we go there,” Power said. “It sucks going to the final race without a chance at all. It’s always good to be one of the ones that is in the game. You have a shot. I wish we were a little closer.”