[null, {"document_url": "https://www.newsday.com/sports/motor-racing/indy-500-2018-will-power-1.18799071", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.18801517.1527457888!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_768/image.jpeg", "src": "https://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.18801517.1527457888!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_768/image.jpeg", "formatted_filename": "image", "alt_text": "Will Power of Australia, driver of the #12", "rendered_width": 768, "rendered_height": 431}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]
Will Power of Australia, driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet celebrates after winning the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 27, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo Credit: Getty Images / Chris Graythen

By The Associated Press Updated May 27, 2018 5:51 PM

He drives for Roger Penske and nothing matters more to the boss than winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So Power worked to change his attitude, improve his performance on ovals and respect the track.

It got Power into the most storied winner's circle in history Sunday when he won the Indy 500 to give Penske a 17th victory in "The Great American Race." Power actually swept the month of May at Indy after winning on the road course two weeks ago and the 37-year-old Australian now has 34 wins in IndyCar, tying him with Al Unser Jr. for most on the career list.

"I can't believe it!" he screamed in the winner's circle. "I can't believe it."

Penske arrived in Indy with four fast Chevrolets, and an engine builder determined to snap Honda's two-race Indy 500 winning streak. The Chevys were the fastest cars in the field and Team Penske had four strong chances to win.

As Power held off pole winner Ed Carpenter to win his first Indy 500, the 81-year-old Penske pumped his fist in the air and clapped for his driver. Penske was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame earlier this month, and had a shot at closing Sunday with a victory in the Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina.

"He won this race today because he was the best," Penske said.



In the winner's circle, Power could not contain his glee. He screamed to wife, Liz, took a sip of the traditional milk, then dumped the rest over his head and around his crew. Liz Power reached for the empty milk bottle, then pointed out to her husband that he'd sprayed milk all over one of the Indy 500 princesses. He apologized, then screamed some more.

Splashing the princess was the only wrong move Power made all day during an event that saw many of IndyCar's top drivers make costly mistakes. James Hinchcliffe, a championship contender, failed to make the race at all. Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Sebastien Bourdais and Danica Patrick were among those who crashed in single-car spins. Defending race winner Takuma Sato was also knocked out when he ran into the back of a slower car.

Scott Dixon used strategy and stretched his fuel to finish third and was followed by Alexander Rossi, who drove from 32nd to fourth and made some of the most spectacular moves in the race. Rossi had no choice: It was difficult to pass in the 2018 car on a day that fell just 2 degrees short — it was 91 degrees — of being the hottest 500 in history.

Penske said if Castroneves won a fourth, he'd get a chance at a fifth, but Castroneves' future in the race is in limbo. He savored his final moments Sunday and instead of taking an ambulance ride to the care center, he made the long walk down pit lane, waving to fans on the way.

"Please Roger, I've got to go back," he said into a television camera.



Patrick’s career ends with breakdown at Indy 500INDIANAPOLIS -- Danica Patrick's star-crossed motorsports career ended with a spin, clouds of white tire ... 102nd Indy 500Scenes from the 102nd running of the Indanapolis 500 on May 27, 2018 at Indianapolis ...




