Auto Racing: Aussie Power wins IndyCar race at Road America

CHICAGO, United States (AFP)–Australian pole sitter Will Power won his second consecutive IndyCar race on Sunday, defeating Brazil’s Tony Kanaan by 0.7429sec at the Grand Prix of Road America.

Power led 46 of 50 laps over the famed 4.014-mile (6.46km), 14-turn road circuit to win the first IndyCar event at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, since 2007 in 1hr 39mins 10.3044sec.

American Graham Rahal was third, almost six seconds adrift, followed by compatriot Ryan Hunter-Reay and Brazil’s Helio Castroneves.

It was the 27th career IndyCar win for the 35-year-old Aussie, who also captured the second of two races at Detroit earlier this month.

IndyCar season points leader Simon Pagenaud of France faded from podium contention with late engine troubles and finished 13th to stand on 375 points.

But the Frenchman’s nearest points rival, 2015 season winner and four-time series champion Scott Dixon of New Zealand, was last in the field of 22 with mechanical issues and slid 10 points further back to stand on 285.

Castroneves took over second in the season race on 301 points. Power moved to 294 with American Josef Newgarden on 283 and Kanaan on 280.

The next race will be July 10 on the oval course at Iowa.

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