Will Power can thank a key call to go from a two-stop strategy to a three-stopper for his first IndyCar podium of the season.
The Team Penske pilot began the Grand Prix of Alabama from 11th but rose up the order after executing a nearly identical strategy to race winner and stablemate Scott McLaughlin.
The defining moment of the race came early when those who opted only to pit twice in the race were forced to save heavily on fuel.
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Power and his team made the call to push from the outset and pit three times – a strategy not usually favoured at Barber Motorsports Park.
A well-timed safety car intervention gave the likes of McLaughlin and Power a free kick, as those who had just stopped for the first time stayed out of the pits.
McLaughlin and Power both bolted on fresh tyres and fuelled up, allowing them to push to the finish.
All told, the pair wound up first and third respectively.
"It was an extremely good day," said Power.
"When I saw everyone saving so much fuel there we talked about doing three stops and I said I felt like it was better to do that and the guys made the call.
"It was just super fast when we got clear air. That was the key to getting up to third. I had a really fast car, it's a pity we didn't start further up.
"We're on another championship run, man. We're still just chipping away here. We're going to get a win here soon. We've just got to keep at it, keep qualifying.
"Just having fun, enjoying it a lot."
Power challenged for second late in the piece, ranging up on Andretti Autosport's Romain Grosjean.
Ultimately, dirty air and aero wash caused the car to understeer, wore the tyres, and meant Power couldn't put a pass on Grosjean.
"The tyres are gone too much," he explained.
https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1652795111598694400
"I could do a faster lap time but as soon as I got his dirty air I just couldn't get close enough.
"I tried everything I could and even made a couple of big mistakes trying that. Just couldn't get to him.
"I did everything. I tried to save the push-to-pass so I got to him, you just get to that air pocket and the tyres are gone too much.
"It wasn't worth throwing away a third place finish away trying something stupid. I just took the points."
https://twitter.com/IndyCar/status/1652812950292275201
The IndyCar Series continues in two weeks' time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 14.
That acts as the curtain-raiser to the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.
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