Will Power is remaining positive despite further bad luck at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, which saw the 2013 champion struck with a left-rear puncture during the closing stages of the race.
The Penske racer had lead 60 laps of the 90-lap race and looked utterly dominant in the lead, with only team-mate and eventual race winner Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon keeping him company up front.
Only several laps after the final full course caution Power was informed of a slow puncture on his left-rear tyre, and despite electing to remain out for as long as possible the Australian racer was eventually forced to pit and give up his lead.
Despite rejoining way down in P17 Power persevered and fought back to finish P14, however it was certainly a bitter pill to swallow in what was his third consecutive race this season featuring poor luck.
At the season opener at St. Petersburg Power was forced to pit with a puncture while chasing James Hinchcliffe for the lead of the race, before then running over an air hose which saw him incur a drive-through penalty which ruined his chances of a competitive result.
To add insult to injury Power was then hit with a fuel-feed issue, which forced him to slow drastically before being black flagged for running too slowly.
Meanwhile in Long Beach Power was involved in an opening lap shunt with Charlie Kimball, once again taking him out of contention for a strong result.
"It was such a great effort all around,” explained Power after the race in Alabama.
“But the car was awesome. It was so fast.
“I feel bad. I could feel it starting to bottom and then I started having issues in some fast corners.
“I held on as long as I could but I knew (the tyre) was going down – you could feel it.
“We'll move on to the next one. I'm thankful to my crew, the whole team – they put a great effort in and that's how racing goes sometimes.”
Eventual race winner Newgarden was extremely sympathetic towards his Penske team-mate after the race, insisting that a thrilling three-way battle for victory was brewing between himself, Power and the Ganassi of Dixon.
"That was an awesome day,” enthused Newgarden, who took his second victory at the Barber Motorsports Park.
“For Will Power, I feel so bad for those boys on the 12 car – they were on it today and I feel like it would have been a great battle between Will, myself and Scott.
“But it ended up just being Scott and myself.
“It's a group effort here – all four of these guys work together.
“Whoever is in victory lane – we just want to get someone there with Team Penske."
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