Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power is the newest honorary patron of Mateship, which promotes the connection between Australia and the United States.

“I join Australians and Americans in congratulating Will Power on his tremendous achievement of winning the Indy 500 and I am thrilled to welcome him as an Honorary Patron of our Mateship program on behalf of the Australian Government,” said Joe Hockey, the Australian ambassador to the United States.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Power has set an example of hard work and dedication as a champion driver and is the first Australian in history to win an Indy 500 title. His victory highlights the important partnership Australians have shared with the United States the past 100 years and looks ahead to the next 100 years of friendship and beyond.”

Power, the first Australian to win the Indy 500, is the first motorsports competitor in the program which features prominent politicians and athletes who champion Australia’s cultural and economic initiatives in the U.S.

“I’m really honored to be among the Mateship patrons,” Power said. “It is humbling to be on the same list as people such Malcolm Turnball, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Kevin Rudd. I actually met Mr. Rudd in Australia, and he knew who I was. It’s something that I never would’ve dreamed of as a child. Who would’ve known that I’d be mentioned with names like that? Yes, that’s kind of amazing.”