Will Power's second consecutive victory at Portland International Raceway Sunday proved to be a popular one among his peers.
Newly promoted Team Penske President Jonathan Diuguid was no help in solving the mystery of whether or not Power would be back in 2026.
Power is a 45-time winner (fourth all-time in wins), two-time series champion (2014, 2022), and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 victor.
Will Power, sounding in his post-race comments at Portland, Ore., Sunday that he almost is reigned he will not return to Team Penske next season, said after winning the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland that he has no idea what his 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season will look like.
“I have no clue. I don't know. Yeah, nothing else to say, man. I don't know,” the 44-year-old Power said, addressing whether his first victory for himself and for Team Penske this year will be enough for boss Roger Penske to offer him a contract extension.
Newly promoted Team Penske President Jonathan Diuguid was no help in solving the mystery. He told reporters, “Look, I'm not going to discuss that today. I'm going to focus on the win, the team performance. Winning can do a lot of things. It's very positive for our program. We're going to reap all the benefits of that as we head to Milwaukee.”
Power—a 45-time winner (who’s fourth all-time in wins), two-time series champion (2014, 2022), and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 victor—shouldn’t have any problem finding a home if Penske replaces him or if they have a mutual parting. His second consecutive victory at Portland International Raceway Sunday proved to be a popular one among his peers.
“Both teammates came up, all the engineers, all the crews came up. As I drove down pit lane, many teams happy to see us get a win,” Power said.
“I think what's happened to the team this year, probably the situation I'm in, as well. It's a tight-knit community, the IndyCar paddock. It really is,” he said. “I have to say I really have got to know a lot of people from every team in the paddock. I have so many friends in that paddock, I feel like, to have done this for this long and know that many good people. Everyone looks out for each other even though we compete against each other. Nice feeling.”
Power said the race represented “a nice day, because I got to push as hard as I could for the whole race, which usually that's fuel save. I was glad my engineer picked that strategy. He was going to pit me. Then he said to stay out, to be a leader. Had faith that I'd had a lot of pace. It's a Team Penske-type day, man. When we're put in the position, we can win. It's obviously been a rough year on many fronts. Yeah, very nice to get a win.
“To me it was business as normal, honestly. I've been in that position so many times in my career,” Power said. “I'm driving the best I ever have. Simple as that. I'm not slowing down. I am not slower. I am faster. My toolbox is still big as far as understanding the cars, race craft, all that. That's me. I guess I'm different to some people. I never stop working at it. It's a passion. I love it.
"That's why I'm still winning.”
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