Will Power Finds Solid Ground with Andretti Global at Arlington

Arlington, TX – Will Power expressed a sense of relief after qualifying fourth for Sunday’s Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (11:30 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls) with a lap of 1 minute, 35.0856 seconds on the 14-turn, 2.73-mile street circuit.

Overcoming Early Season Challenges

The result is more than just a strong starting position for Power, who entered the weekend 22nd in NTT INDYCAR SERIES points after a difficult transition to Andretti Global following 17 seasons with Team Penske.

“I just kind of want to have a solid weekend without problems,” Power said. “That’s it. I just want to have a good weekend, man. This is a good start.”

A Legacy of Speed

Power remains the all-time NTT P1 Award leader with 71 poles. He secured 65 of those poles with Team Penske, and six earlier in his career. During his time with Penske, he earned two series championships and 45 career victories.

Early Season Setbacks

The 2026 season began with challenges at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where Power crashed in practice and qualifying, and later hit the wall during the race, finishing 22nd. At Phoenix Raceway, he again crashed in practice and started last in the 25-car field.

Despite the setbacks, Power demonstrated his competitive spirit at Phoenix, leading 10 laps whereas battling for a comeback victory in the Good Ranchers 250 before contact with Christian Rasmussen ended his run. He finished 16th.

Adjusting to a Latest Team

“There have been teething problems,” Power said. “Even simple things like the throttle pedal and the way This proves on this car. At St. Petersburg that was sticking because of the way it was sitting on my foot. That ruined that weekend. Then we had some (brake) locking issues.”

Power is also adapting to a new spotter after a long-standing relationship with his previous one. He noted that communication played a role in the incident at Phoenix.

Confidence in Andretti Global

Despite the slow start, Power remains optimistic about Andretti Global’s potential.

“I preserve telling you, man, this will be the best team,” Power said. “There are so many good people here. It’s just a matter of time.”

Herta Visits Former Teammates

Colton Herta, now competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, attended the weekend to support his former teammates at Andretti Global.

Herta joked about wanting to race, stating I hoped someone in the paddock would wake up sick Saturday morning so I could climb behind the wheel of a race car.

Herta was eager to hear Power’s impressions of the Andretti car he had driven since 2020.

“I don’t believe he needs a lot of motivation or words of wisdom,” Herta said. “He knows what to do. His pedigree and stats show who he is and what he can do. I’m excited to hear his feedback this weekend.”

Rosenqvist Breaks Through

Felix Rosenqvist earned his first Firestone Fast Six appearance of the season, qualifying fifth in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Texas A&M Honda for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. Teammate Marcus Armstrong also advanced to the final round, qualifying sixth in the No. 66 Root Insurance Honda. This marked the second time in team history that both cars reached the Firestone Fast Six, following the 2023 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.

Schumacher Racing Near ‘Home’

NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Mick Schumacher noted the unique familiarity of racing in Arlington, Texas, due to his family’s ranch located nearby.

Team Penske Faces Qualifying Struggles

Team Penske experienced a difficult qualifying day. Josef Newgarden crashed in morning practice and started 11th, while Scott McLaughlin crashed during qualifying and will start 25th. David Malukas qualified ninth.

Looking Ahead

Sunday morning’s final practice (9:50-10:10 a.m. ET, FS1) will be crucial for teams to finalize race strategy for the 70-lap event, considering tire usage rules.