Australian Will Power has jumped to second on the IndyCar championship standings with his first race win of the season, a dominant victory at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
The reigning series champion started on pole position and led for 65 of the 82 laps on Saturday to take the chequered flags and his first career triumph at the home of American motorsport, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Team Penske star Power will now turn his attention to the iconic Indianapolis 500 in two weeks' time at the famous track.
Power held off a surprisingly strong run from Graham Rahal's Honda-powered car. The American finished second, 1.5023 seconds behind Power on the 14-turn, 2.439 mile road course.
Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya, Power's teammate, was third to maintain his position at the top of the overall standings.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
France's Sebastien Bourdias and American Charlie Kimball rounded out the top five.
Power avoided a five-car crash in the first turn that sent New Zealander Scott Dixon from second to 23rd. It was the only major crash on a day Power couldn't be caught.
Five drivers have won races this season, four with Chevy engines.
While Power dominated, surrendering the lead during pit shuffles, it sure wasn't easy.
He called it one of the most physical races he's been involved in, and Rahal, who took advantage of the crash to move from 17th to sixth, continually pressured Power. He just couldn't pass him.
Power took the lead for good on lap 63.
Defending race champion Simon Pagenaud, who also drives for Penske, retired after 57 laps because of mechanical problems. He finished last in the 25-car field.
Montoya's strong run allowed him to expand his points total to 171, ahead of Power (166), Helio Castroneves (161), Dixon (144) and Rahal (144).
Over the next 42 hours, teams and track workers in Indy will make the transition to racing on the speedway's more traditional 2.5-mile oval track.
Indianapolis 500 practice opens on Monday, qualifying will be held next weekend and the race is scheduled for May 24.
