Third place in the Milwaukee IndyFest was the first podium of the season for Will Power and his best finish on an oval since placing fifth at New Hampshire International Speedway on Aug. 14, 2011.
He's competed on nine ovals since New Hampshire, with his previous best finish of seventh at Texas Motor Speedway on June 8 after starting from the pole. Power won five road/street course events since the New Hampshire event.
Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, is 11th in the championship standings (four points outside the top 10).
“I’ve always felt we have the pace on ovals and I do actually like running on ovals – something just always seems to happen to us there," the three-time championship runner-up said. "I enjoy when you really have to drive the car and I think that’s definitely the case with the oval package we are running now. It’s good to get the results and keep earning the points we need."
Sato gives Foyt team best finish at Milwaukee since 1988
Takuma Sato, who led a field-high 109 laps in the Milwaukee IndyFest and placed seventh in the No. 14 ABC Supply car, gave A.J. Foyt Racing its best finish at The Milwaukee Mile since 1988 when Foyt finished fifth. It also was Sato's best finish in four starts at the historic track.
An ill-handling car in the final 60 laps and a late caution period stole Sato's chance at his second victory this season.
"What an eventful and exciting race it was," he said. "The car was so strong in clean air and very strong in traffic as well. Unfortunately, there was such a sudden loss of rear grip toward the end of the race and I got high and lost track position. We thought there was an issue so we decided to pit as soon as our pit window opened and then try to charge back with fresh tires. We were confident we could do it.
"But then the yellow came out and that was very bad timing for us because it put us behind those who hadn't pitted yet. I thought we could have brought a smile to A.J. and we nearly did. It was still a great race, but it was so disappointing in the end."
Foyt watched the race on NBC Sports Network from home.
Of note
Hurco Companies, an industrial technology company that designs and produces interactive computer controls, software and computerized machine tools, will be a sponsor on the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car driven by Josef Newgarden. The company also installed tools at the team's new Indianapolis shop.