Will Power earns podium in IndyCar’s Arlington debut

Credit: Joe Skibinski

Will Power continued his strong start with Andretti Global by securing a podium finish at the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, delivering a composed and strategic drive that showcased both his experience and the growing competitiveness of his new team in the 2026 IndyCar Series.

The Australian veteran entered the weekend looking for stability after a turbulent opening pair of races. Arlington provided exactly that. Power led laps, executed a disciplined strategy and ultimately finished third behind Kyle Kirkwood and Álex Palou in one of the most impressive IndyCar events of the season so far.

A breakthrough weekend for Andretti

Sunday’s race was originally scheduled to take place later in the afternoon, but organisers moved the start time forward by an hour due to heavy winds forecast for later in the day. The earlier start ensured the race could run in stable conditions, and the decision proved successful as the event unfolded largely without interruption.

First-time IndyCar polesitter Marcus Ericsson led the field to green ahead of Palou and Pato O’Ward. While Ericsson controlled the opening laps cleanly, Andretti Global quickly showed strong pace across the field as Kirkwood surged into the top five early and Power also gained positions to place himself in the fight for the podium.

Power explained after the race that delivering a stable weekend was the primary goal after the chaotic start to the season. “Honestly, I just wanted to have a clean weekend after the first two,” he said. “Obviously, last week we had a shot at the win or at least a podium, so it was very nice to get one today. Very happy with the new team and how strong everything felt across the weekend.”

The Arlington street race also delivered one of the most electric atmospheres seen at an IndyCar event in recent years. Grandstands were packed throughout the circuit, and the crowd's energy was immediately noticeable to the drivers.

Power noted that the event felt different the moment the cars rolled onto the track. From the organisation to the venue presentation, Arlington appeared to set a new benchmark for the series moving forward.

“It’s a new standard,” Power said while reflecting on the scale of the event. “Every stand was full when you’re driving around. It was totally full. The track looked amazing. It just looked like a big event. This is setting a new standard of what our events should look like. I can’t thank Penske Entertainment, the Cowboys, the Rangers, the whole group is just amazing.”

For Andretti Global, the weekend represented more than a strong result for Power. The team placed three cars in the top four, underlining a level of performance that has steadily grown over the past several seasons.

Power explained that the team’s development trajectory had been clear even before he joined the organisation, but seeing that pace translate into race results has reinforced his confidence in the project.

“It’s kind of what I expected,” Power said. “The weakness of the team was short ovals. I had one of my best short oval cars ever at Phoenix. We know now we’re very strong on short ovals. Looking forward to Barber. I think we can have some good stuff there. The thing is with this team we’ve got so much room to improve. Some of the stuff… we’ve got an amazing team already.”

Strategy and tyre management shape the race

Credit: James Black

While Kirkwood ultimately claimed victory, the race itself featured a complex strategic battle that kept several drivers in contention throughout the event.

Pit stops began to reshape the race during the opening stint as Ericsson and Palou came in together early, allowing the order to shuffle dramatically. Power briefly inherited the race lead during the cycle before the next phase of stops began.

Felix Rosenqvist soon passed Power for the on-track lead before making his own stop shortly afterwards. Power came into the pits a few laps later and narrowly avoided Louis Foster exiting the Rahal Letterman Lanigan pit box, costing him valuable time during the cycle.

Power ran an alternative strategy that required significant fuel and tyre management, forcing him to balance outright pace with long term race execution. Although the approach ultimately limited his chances of winning, it demonstrated the team’s ability to adapt.

“No, no, no, I couldn’t have kept these guys behind me with the fuel that I had to save,” Power said when asked whether a pit lane moment affected his chances of victory. “We kind of committed to the two-stopper. That was a big fuel save. First two stints were big tire saves. But the pace was not bad. It just wasn’t the quickest strategy today. But it showed that we can really look after tires if we have to and we can get big fuel.”

Despite knowing the strategy might compromise his chances of winning the race, Power remained satisfied with the overall result. A podium finish provided valuable championship points while also giving him confidence in the team’s ability to compete across different circuits.

“Podium this weekend, I was going to be very happy with. Just wanted to get a solid run in then get my feet on the ground and see what we can do.”

Power acknowledged that even a near-perfect performance does not guarantee victory in modern IndyCar racing.

“The series is very tough,” he explained. “I felt like I did a perfect race today. It was not the perfect strategy obviously and I’m third. I always thought at Penske, anytime we did our job we’d end up close to the podium. I feel the same in this team now. It’s an incredibly tough series. Very tough. You’ve got to be very versatile. Very hard to win on all disciplines.”

Respect for Kirkwood’s performance

Much of the conversation after the race centred on Kirkwood’s impressive victory. The young American driver has steadily developed into one of the most complete drivers in the series.

Power did not hesitate to praise his teammate’s performance and work ethic, describing him as one of the toughest competitors in the championship.

“He does his homework. He’s the real deal,” Power said. “From go karting all the way up he’s won every single championship. This guy is very good. Very good. Incredible. He doesn’t do it just through natural ability. He works hard. He’s a very good teammate. This guy’s a lot for me to learn off of.”

Power also suggested that Kirkwood could become a major championship contender in 2026 if his form continues throughout the season.

“I think he’ll be tough to beat this year in the championship. I really do. He definitely is the full package.”

A demanding start to life with Andretti

Credit: Paul Hurley

Joining a new team always requires an adjustment period, as each team operates with its own processes and culture. For Power, the transition to Andretti Global has been intense both on and off the track.

The opening stretch of the season has involved extensive travel, technical meetings and preparation work as he continues to integrate into the organisation.

“Yeah, proud to have a podium this weekend,” Power said when reflecting on the early races of the season. “Pretty proud of our performance on the short oval, but definitely need to work on finishing without incidents. I’ll be glad for a rest, to be honest. Been going hard. I’ve never been so busy in my life. Moving to a new team. I have to get a place in a new city and so on and so on. So much to do. It will be nice to catch our breath and come out swinging when we come back.”

Despite the demanding schedule, the early results suggest that Power’s move to Andretti could quickly become one of the most impactful driver transfers in recent IndyCar history.

Momentum building for the championship fight

With the season still in its early stages, the Arlington podium provides a strong foundation for Power as he begins to establish himself within the championship standings.

The combination of Andretti’s improving performance and Power’s vast experience could create a formidable partnership throughout the remainder of the season.

As Power himself emphasised, the team still believes there is considerable room for growth. That potential makes the early podium finish even more encouraging for the months ahead.

For Power, the focus now shifts to maintaining consistency and capitalising on opportunities across the remaining races.

The Arlington result may only represent the beginning of Andretti’s resurgence in 2026, but it has already shown that Will Power remains one of the best competitors in the IndyCar Series.