Will Power Finds Championship Form After Rocky Start to 2026 IndyCar Season

Will Power is hitting his stride in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season after overcoming a challenging start marked by crashes and setbacks. Despite early incidents, the veteran driver believes he has the pace and capability to contend for a championship with Andretti Global.

Early Season Struggles

Power’s debut race with Andretti Global at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was disrupted by a crash less than a quarter into the race, damaging his suspension and leaving him over 20 laps behind the leaders. As reported by Indianapolis Star, this was the first of several early mishaps. He also crashed in practice and qualifying at St. Petersburg.

The difficulties continued at the Decent Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway on March 7, where Power crashed in qualifying and started last in the 25-car field. Although he impressively climbed through the field to lead 10 laps, contact with Christian Rasmussen ended his race and resulted in a 16th-place finish.

These early setbacks left Power in 22nd place in the championship standings heading into the third race of the season.

Arlington Podium and Momentum Shift

Power’s fortunes began to turn at the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15. He qualified fourth and finished third in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda, propelling him to 11th in the points standings.

“The start of the season did look slow, but you’ve got to remember we were leading at Phoenix,” Power said. “We had the incident. I reckon St. Pete would have been a top five, for sure. The speed is there, the capability to contend for the championship is there. It really hurt me in the points, but I know we’re going to have chances of winning this year.”

Building Chemistry with Andretti Global

Power and Andretti Global utilized a recent off-weekend to focus on team building and integration as he adjusts to his new team after 17 seasons with Team Penske. He emphasized the importance of this time for digesting what needs improvement.

“Gave us a little time to catch our breath,” Power said. “For me, in particular, learning a new team, it’s been such a busy time. To actually have a weekend off and digest what needs to be worked on was nice.”

Barber Motorsports Park: A Key Test

The upcoming Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park presents both an opportunity and a measuring stick for Power and Andretti Global. Power has a strong history at the track, with two wins (2011 and 2012) and an average finish of 3.2 over his last five starts, including runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2024.

However, all those previous successes came with Team Penske. This weekend will be the first time Power drives his Andretti Global car on a fast, flowing road course, providing a crucial assessment of their progress.

“It’s going to be an interesting weekend for me,” Power said. “It’s the first time I’ve driven this car on a fast, flowing road course. I’m interested to witness where we stack up and what we demand to do to be on pace.

“I think this weekend will be telling. Did we close the gap like we needed to on road courses?”

Andretti Global’s Road Course Performance

Barber Motorsports Park also serves as a key test for Andretti Global, which has historically struggled on natural road courses. Since 2023, all eight of Andretti Global’s victories have come on ovals or street circuits, with their last natural road course win occurring in July 2022 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Current Andretti Global drivers Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson have yet to secure a win on a natural road course. With six of the 18 races in the 2026 season taking place on natural road courses, including the finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, performance in this discipline will be critical for their championship aspirations.

Confident in Championship Potential

Despite the early setbacks, Power remains optimistic about his chances of contending for a championship.

“I experience like I could have contended for a win at every race this season,” Power said. “The pace is there. The ingredients are there to contend for a championship.

“They (Andretti Global) do things a different way, but their preparation is incredibly good. They’re a well-put-together team with strong processes. I can see why we’re running at the front. I’m very impressed and we’re improving.

“I really believe I’m in a position to win a championship. This year we’re already there.”