Power: Indy the “Perfect Place” for GT3 Debut With 75 Express

Photo: John Dagys

Will Power said his previous knowledge and success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course will ‘take some time out’ of his huge learning curve in coming to grips with a modern-day GT for the first time in this weekend’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.

The two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and double Indianapolis 500 winner has been drafted into Kenny Habul’s 75 Express squad for the Intercontinental GT Challenge season finale, alongside Chaz Mostert, for an all-Australian lineup that could fight for overall honors in the race.

Originally set to make his GT3 debut in the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona in Habul’s SunEnergy1-sponsored Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, Power was forced to back out of that race due to complications from his wife’s surgery, although the two longtime friends and competitors in the junior open-wheel ranks in Australia kept in touch in the years since.

“Kenny and I have actually spoken a few times about doing it,” Power told Sportscar365. “It’s the perfect place, honestly. I know the track.

“I’ve been looking forward to doing something different from open-wheel. It will be nice to feel how these are like.

“I think I’m going to have a lot of fun. I’m really looking forward to it.

“I really want to do a good job for Kenny because he’s fighting for the [IGTC Independent Cup] championship here. I’d like to help him win it.”

While Power is tied with Michael Schumacher with five wins on the Indy road course, the most for any driver in a top-level series, the 44-year-old believes that his track knowledge will help him get up to speed quicker.

Power will get his first laps in the Mercedes-AMG in this afternoon’s first test session at The Brickyard.

“I think having the track knowledge will help me get up to speed for sure,” said Power. “It’s one less thing I have to learn.

“Obviously it takes a different driving style in these things. The braking points and all that stuff… the lines are probably different.

“It takes some time out, I suppose, in helping me get up to speed quick.”

When asked if he thinks they have the ingredients to fight for overall honors in the IGTC/GT World Challenge America powered by AWS season finale, Power indicated it’s too early to say.

He highlighted the team’s primary goal, which is to get Habul a record-extending fifth IGTC class championship, with the Bronze-rated driver currently in a three-way fight for the Independent Cup between Ralf Bohn and Antares Au.

Power said: “Actually I don’t know the whole format, but I know the goal for the weekend is to keep it clean and do a solid job for Kenny, bring the car back each time with no damage or anything and just keep it on the black stuff.”

Indy 8H Good “Trial” for Possible Future Sports Car Races

Power said this weekend’s race will prove to be a good test for himself to see if additional sports car racing outings could be in the pipeline for the future.

“This is a good trial to see how I go and see what it’s like,” he said. “I definitely love sports car racing to watch.

“Hopefully I’ll do more in the future.”

Power listed the Rolex 24 as one race that could “definitely” be on the radar, with his recent switch from Team Penske to Andretti Global in IndyCar potentially being a helping factor.

“We’ll just see. I’ve obviously signed for a new team (in IndyCar), so I’ve got to see how those dynamics work.

“I think the new team is open to allowing me to do sports car stuff.”

A return to Bathurst, which has famously since been transformed into a 12-hour enduro, could also be on the cards, but not likely for next year.

“I think I’ll be pretty focused on IndyCar to make sure I’m doing a bloody good job for them because it’s a new team and we’ve got new people and I want to make sure I’m prepared very well for that,” he said.

Source: Sports Car 365