Australia`s Will Power defied wet weather and a damaged car to win the IndyCar Sao Paulo Grand Prix for the second successive year, a day after heavy rain prompted postponement of the race.
|Last Updated: May 03, 2011, 08:54 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Sao Paulo: Australia`s Will Power defied wet weather and a damaged car to win the IndyCar Sao Paulo Grand Prix for the second successive year, a day after heavy rain prompted postponement of the race.
American Graham Rahal driving for Chip Ganassi was second and Australian Penske driver Ryan Briscoe rounded out the podium.
The 4.18 km Anhembi street circuit was improved for this year`s second edition of the race, with new pavement to address undulations and irregularities criticized by drivers last year.
However, intense rain on Sunday led to crashes, chaos and a quick end to the day`s racing after just 14 laps had been completed.Power, who had claimed pole position on Saturday, piloted his Penske to victory after Japan`s Takuma Sato had to make a late pit stop for fuel.
Sato led for 23 laps but finished eighth.
While the track had dried out by Monday, rain began again shortly after the green flag dropped. The race ended at the two-hour limit after just 55 of an originally scheduled 75 laps completed.
Power finished 4.672 seconds ahead of Rahal to claim his second victory in four races this season.
He now holds the series lead going into the fabled Indianapolis 500 on May 29.Power leads the standings with 168 points, 14 more than Scotland`s Dario Franchitti, last year`s series champion.
Power won despite damage to his car`s suspension caused when he brushed a wall exiting a turn.
"I bent the rear suspension enough to make the steering wheel quite off to the left," said Power, who has claimed pole position for all four of this season`s races.
"At first I was worried, I thought, `Man, this might be tough to drive,` but then I just put my head down and kept (going)."
Bureau Report
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