Will Power joined an elite group of 50-time Indy car pole winners when he captured the Verizon P1 Award in record fashion this evening at Gateway Motorsports Park. Power will lead the Verizon IndyCar Series field to the green flag to start Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline.
Driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Power turned two laps at an average of 189.642 mph under twilight conditions. Power’s first lap of 189.709 mph (23.7206 seconds) shattered the 20-year-old track record set by Raul Boesel (24.324 seconds, 187.963 mph) in qualifying for the first Indy car race at the 1.25-mile, egg-shaped oval in 1997.
With 50 poles in his 13-year Indy car career, Power is tied with Helio Castroneves for third on the all-time list. The Team Penske teammates trail only legends Mario Andretti (67) and A.J. Foyt (53) in Indy car annals.
“The Verizon Chevy is very quick, obviously,” Power said. “Fantastic, 50 poles. Wow! I never would have dreamed of that when I started. I am very humbled to be up there with A.J. Foyt and Helio Castroneves.”
Power, who won last week’s ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway, collected his sixth pole position of the season and led a Team Penske sweep of the first four qualifying spots. Championship leader Josef Newgarden was second in the No. 2 PPG Automotive Refinish Team Penske Chevrolet (188.316 mph).
Castroneves was third in the No. 3 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet (187.457 mph) and 2016 series champion Simon Pagenaud fourth in the No. 1 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet (186.747 mph).
Power has now won six or more pole positions in four seasons (eight each in 2010 and ’11, six in 2015). Team Penske has won 10 of the 15 pole positions this season and now has 255 poles in its Indy car history.
Saturday, August 26 – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline
10 a.m. — Spectator parking lots open.
11 a.m. — Spectator gates and Gateway Kartplex open.
1-1:30 p.m. — Pro Mazda Championship Presented By Cooper Tires qualifying.
1:45 p.m. — Indy Lights Presented By Cooper Tires qualifying.
3 p.m. — INDYCAR paddock open.
3:30-4:30 p.m. — Verizon IndyCar Series driver autograph session in INDYCAR Fan Village.
4:55 p.m. — Pro Mazda Championship Presented By Cooper Tires race.
6 p.m. — Indy Lights Presented By Cooper Tires race.
7:15 p.m. — Verizon IndyCar Series pit stop competition.
8 p.m. — Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline.
10:30 p.m. (time approximate) — Victory lane celebration.
11:55 p.m. — Gateway Kartplex closed.