News

THE RACE

Verizon IndyCar Series
ABC Supply Wisconsin 250
The Milwaukee Mile
August 17, 2014

 
THE RESULTS    

No. 2 PPG Automotive Refinish Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driver: Juan Pablo Montoya
Starting Position: 3
Finish Position: 2
Driver's Points Position: 5

No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
 Driver: Helio Castroneves
Starting Position: 8
Finish Position: 11
Driver's Points Position: 2
 
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driver: Will Power
Starting Position: 1
Finish Position: 1
Driver's Points Position: 1

THE RACE REVIEW

Juan Pablo Montoya

No. 2 PPG Automotive Refinish Team Penske  Dallara/Chevrolet

· Juan Pablo Montoya began Sunday afternoon’s race at the Milwaukee Mile from the third position after posting a two-lap average speed of 168.579 miles per around the one-mile oval during Saturday evening qualifying.

· As he kept pace with the race leader during the opening laps, Montoya radioed that his PPG Chevrolet was handling tight on the exit of Turn 4 and loose in the center of Turns 1 and 2.

· As the field began to make green-flag pit stops, Montoya briefly assumed the lead before coming down pit road at lap 59 for four fresh Firestone tires, fuel and an adjustment to the front wing.

· Upon returning to the track in the fifth position, Montoya continued to turn laps as fast as the race leader, falling outside the top five for only two laps during the second round of pit stops.

· Montoya grabbed the race lead again at lap 191 during a cycling of pit stops before making his own final stop at lap 192.

· The 2000 race winner at Milwaukee, Montoya raced his way into the second position at lap 192 of the 250-lap event. He held the spot for the remainder of the race as he finished 2.79 seconds behind his Team Penske teammate, Will Power, who took the win.

· With the result, Montoya maintained the fifth position in the championship standings, and he is now 114 points behind Power with two races remaining in the season.
    

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT A SOLID 1-2 FINISH FOR TEAM PENSKE IN MILWAUKEE?

“We started with a lot of stability early in the race and everybody involved with this PPG Chevy did a really good job. I was disappointed because I made a mistake early in the pits, I just came in a little too hot into the pit stall.  Then at the end we gave it a good ride and finishing 1-2 is good for the championship.”

IS THERE A FAVORITE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP NOW WITH TWO RACES REMAINING?

“Will deserves it, but Helio deserves the championship as well.  Both have been really close and both have had heart breaks, it’s just hard to say which one.  Will is doing what it takes now to win the championship. So good for him. I’m just excited to be in a position to challenge for the championship in my first year back in the series. It’s going to be a great finish.”
 
    

THE RACE REVIEW
    
Helio Castroneves

No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet  

· Helio Castroneves qualified the No. 3 Hitachi Chevrolet in the eighth position on Saturday evening with a two-lap average speed of 167.561 miles per hour.

· Over the initial laps of the race, Castroneves quickly moved up to the sixth position as he tried different racing lines with the Hitachi Chevrolet to run laps as fast as the race leader.

· At lap 56, race strategist Roger Penske called his driver down pit road for four Firestone tires and fuel. As the pit stops cycled through, Castroneves found himself in the fifth position.

· Unfortunately, the Hitachi Chevrolet was handling too tight in the center of the Milwaukee Mile corners, which allowed several competitors to get past Castroneves.

· Castroneves was able to hold position inside the top 10 as the race moved into the second half, despite the handling condition that was not to his liking.

· After making his final pit stop of the day at lap 190, Castroneves fought valiantly to come home with a top-10 finish, but he relinquished 10th place over the final laps and the Hitachi Chevy crossed the finish line in the 11th position.

· The 11th-place result allowed Castroneves to maintain the second position in the championship standings. He now trails Power by 39 points heading into next week’s race at Sonoma Raceway.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

HELIO CASTRONEVES

NOT THE FINISH YOU WERE HOPING FOR, BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT WITH TWO RACES REMAINING?

"The Hitachi car was very consistent today. The guys did a great job in the pits, it was very difficult to get close to someone on the track and passing was difficult. We did struggle with handling today. If I tried to push the car hard we would get up in the marbles. It was just one of those days. Good job by the No. 12 Verizon team - Will (Power) ended up winning the race, and Juan Pablo (Montoya) second, so Team Penske was strong. Hey, there are still two more races to go and I will be there, ready to go. We are not giving up at all - there are two races to go with the big one at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana paying double points. Still a lot of racing left."

THE RACE REVIEW

Will Power

No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet    

· Will Power began Sunday’s race from the pole position – his third Verizon P1 Pole Award of the season – after posting a two-lap average speed of 169.262 miles per hour Saturday around the one-mile oval.

· Power quickly took control of the 250-lap event, holding down the top spot until making his first pit stop on lap 58. He reclaimed the race lead after the pit stops cycled through.

· The No. 12 Verizon Chevy handled superbly during the course of the race, which allowed the Verizon IndyCar Series point leader to continue to lead the pack for the majority of the afternoon.

· Race strategist Tim Cindric and the team made minor adjustments to the Verizon Chevy as Power continued to stay at the front of the field, surrendering the lead only during the cycling of green-flag pit stops in a race that featured only one caution period.

· At lap 193, Power regained the lead for the final time and held on to edge his teammate Montoya for his first career win at Milwaukee. It also marked Power’s first career win on a short oval and the 24th victory of his INDYCAR career.

· The dominant Sunday drive by Power resulted in leading 229 of the 250 contested laps. It is easily the most laps he has led in any of his 24 career Verizon IndyCar Series victories and the most any winner has led during a race this season.

· Power is now tied for the series lead with three race wins in 2014. He has led a total of 582 laps, the most in the series and the highest single-season total of his career.

· With the win, Power now owns a 39-point advantage over Castroneves as the series moves to the penultimate race of the season next weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
    

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

WILL POWER

HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A DOMINANT CAR DURING A RACE?

"The handling on the Verizon Chevy was awesome; we hardly made any adjustments over the whole race. Full credit to the team for giving me such a great car. These are my favorite tracks these days. I really enjoy the ovals – it’s great fun. I hope we put a good show on for the fans. But, man, I just love races like that. Texas would have been the same (for us) but I got a penalty. It’s just a great way to start these last few races. The team’s done such a good job, everybody at Verizon Team Penske is doing such a great job. We’re a well-oiled machine right now with all three cars.”

DO YOU LIKE YOUR TITLE CHANCES MORE AFTER TODAY’S RACE?

“If we have a couple more days like this of course it’s going to be a great finish. We’re going to keep our head down, don’t think of points, and execute.”