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Formula 1 and IndyCar: The greatest lie ever told about open-wheel racing

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 29: J.R. Hildebrand driver of the #4 National Guard Panther Racing finishes second after crashing during the IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 29: J.R. Hildebrand driver of the #4 National Guard Panther Racing finishes second after crashing during the IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) /
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HOMESTEAD, FL – OCTOBER 02: Will Power of Australia driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL – OCTOBER 02: Will Power of Australia driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Will Power – 2010, 2011 and 2012 IndyCar seasons

When people think of the IndyCar championship finale races in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 IndyCar season, they think of the common denominator. That common denominator is Will Power leading the championship standings coming into the race, but another driver walking away as the series champion with Power still searching for his first career title.

In the 2010 IndyCar season, Power led the championship standings by 12 points over Dario Franchitti heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Here’s what happened.

As a result of Power failing to finish the race thanks to brushing the wall, Franchitti needed to finish the race in the top 10 to secure the championship. He finished in eighth, thus winning his third career IndyCar title.

In the 2011 IndyCar season, Power led the championship standings by 11 points over Dario Franchitti heading into the season finale at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which ended up being the season finale due to the fact that that scheduled season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada was canceled as a result of a 15-car wreck on the 11th lap of the race that resulted in the death of Dan Wheldon.

Power had issues in the pits during the race at Kentucky, and he ended up finishing on the lead lap but in 19th place after starting from the pole position. As a result of Power running back in 19th, Franchitti needed to finish the race in the top eight to secure the championship. He finished in second, thus winning his fourth and final IndyCar title.

In the 2012 IndyCar season, Power led the championship standings by 17 points over Ryan Hunter-Reay heading into the season finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Here’s what happened.

As a result of Power wrecking but coming back in the race later to pick up a few more points with a 24th place finish ahead of E.J. Viso, who was sidelined with handling issues shortly after Power’s wreck, Hunter-Reay needed to finish in the top five to secure his first career IndyCar championship. He finished in fourth, thus winning the title.

Power has won a championship since these three collapses, or “chokes”, as he won the title in the 2014 IndyCar season, but don’t ever expect anyone to forget about his three consecutive runner-up finishes in the standings after he led the standings coming into the season finale in each of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

No one forgets something like that, despite what you are supposed to believe.

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