After his victory in the IndyCar race in Portland on Sunday, Will Power reflected and explained that at this point in his career, every win is special to him.
Power has won 44 events in the series over the course of nearly two decades and is enjoying his success more than ever.
The 43-year-old took the time to speak to the media about his assessment of his achievements and said that he is aware that he cannot remain a driver forever, even if retirement is not necessarily imminent.
“Man, every time I win in this series I feel so lucky,” a thoughtful Power said after the race. “It feels so impossible and hard to win.”
“I thought the whole race: ‘There’s no way I’m going to win this. He’s going to get me.’ But you do your best. When you win, it’s a very good feeling. It’s very, very satisfying.”
“It’s really, really hard. In this series, it’s so hard to get through all the qualifying rounds and qualify at the top. And then to give it your all on race day with so many good guys and teams around you, it’s a big deal to get on the podium in IndyCar.
“Every win I get now is very special. It really means a lot to me. It adds to my win list. It’s not like I’m going to be racing for another decade, let’s put it that way.
“Yeah, I work really hard at my craft, so it’s very satisfying. I know all the guys on the car really deserve it. The best pit crew in the pit lane. They’ve been the fastest in recent years. They’re the fastest again this year.
“It’s a difficult situation. To be in this situation, to be a good driver in a great team and to have the chance to win. To win a race is a damn big deal.”
Power also revealed that he has fond memories of the Portland International Raceway, as it was there in America that he completed his first test in an open-wheel car.
As he raced around the track this weekend, his mind was still on the first day of testing, prompting him to talk further about how lucky he feels to be a racing driver.
“I’ve always worked very hard and been very determined. It’s something that develops very slowly. It’s not a big shock that it’s happened now.
“If you think about what it was like when I came here all those years ago, it was a dream. What I did, I lived my dream, absolutely. I just lived it.
“You have to reflect sometimes and acknowledge that when you’re angry or disappointed about something that’s happening. You’re really lucky to be here.”
With his win, Power closed the gap to Alex Palou in the championship battle. He is now 54 points behind with three races left in the season as he tries to win his third IndyCar title.
