Yes, finally. I say that for two reasons: one, I am finally getting around to writing this blog. Better late than never I suppose. And two, Will Power finally has his championship.
It's been a long time coming for Power, who very much earned and deserved this year's IndyCar title. He has been the bridesmaid too many times. Think about just the last two years. In 2012, Power held the lead going into the final race but spun and crashed at Fontana, giving Ryan Hunter-Reay the title. Last year, Power was never really a factor and had an uncharacteristically down year. Coupled with previous years' disappointments, one was starting to wonder if the Toowoomba native was cursed. But he did come on strong in the final weeks of last season, capping it off with a win at that same Fontana track that had been his undoing just a year prior. To me, that was Will Power's turning point. He finally figured out how to win on an oval. He carried that momentum into 2014 all the way to the winner's circle.
After 2012, Power knew he had to get better on ovals. He'd always realized it I'm sure, but the 2012 Fontana race was perhaps a bigger wake-up call. As should be the case in IndyCar in my opinion, you cannot win a championship unless you have demonstrated prowess on all types of tracks: road courses, street courses, short ovals, and superspeedways. The IndyCar champion is and should be a jack of all trades; truly the most versatile driver in the world. And Will Power can now stake that claim. I am incredibly impressed with his commitment and determination to improve his oval results. He should serve as a role model not just for young racers, but for anyone who is looking to improve at his or her craft. First, figure out what you need to improve. Then, determine how you can improve it. Finally, put it into practice and voila! Admire the fruits of your labor. Power called the 2013 season finale his most satisfying victory ever, and it's easy to understand why. He had exorcised the oval demons and was ready to capture that elusive title. Congratulations, Will.
I wasn't always in Power's corner this year. He did make some boneheaded moves, most notably cutting off his teammate at Pocono. I also like to see parity so I was cheering for some different people to win. But I was rooting for him to win the championship in Fontana. He deserved it. And all the other drivers should watch out--because now that Power has that metaphoric monkey off his back, he'll be back better than ever next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him win three championships in a row. Helio, you're next. I want to write this same story about you before you retire.
The Fontana race itself wasn't nearly as exciting as last year's, but it still captured and maintained my interest. I was enthralled by the side-by-side, wheel-to-wheel action and I really had no idea who was going to win the race until the checkered flag dropped. I said this on Twitter, but I will reiterate: in my opinion, Fontana is the perfect location for the IndyCar season finale. It showcases the best aspects of IndyCar: high speeds, close action, and 500 miles. Other than Indy, I don't know of another track that can offer that. However, the race should be in October, not August or early September. It sounds like this race is in limbo as the season finale, unfortunately. I sincerely hope it stays as the last race, no matter when that is.
The schedule will be announced in due time, but it's driving me crazy already that a) the season is over and it's not even September 21 and b) next year's schedule has not yet been released. We know of some dates already, but if I'm planning vacations for next year it would be most helpful to know when and where IndyCar races will be held. And how much is IndyCar kicking itself in the foot right now, given all the bad publicity surrounding the NFL? They didn't want to compete with the NFL (an argument I still take issue with) but they could really be capitalizing on the NFL's negative image. In any case, they've just given us more reasons to support IndyCar: no drivers getting arrested, and to my knowledge, these drivers treat their ladies and children pretty well. Sure, some sponsors may pull out, but all in all I'm happy with IndyCar and I can't wait for next season. I just wish I didn't have to wait six months for it!
