Messy end to Milwaukee win for Will Power

Will Power is used to washing champagne out of his hair after an IndyCar race win, but getting whipped cream out of his ear?

Well, that deserved a trip to the medical centre.

“That lady was there for a while, squirting (a syringe), squirting, squirting, with doctors looking in my ear,” the Australian said on Monday morning (AEST) after claiming the Wisconsin 250 and extending his championship lead.

“But it was good – my ears are clean and dry now.”

As is tradition at the historic Milwaukee Mile, Power copped a cream puff in the face while celebrating on the podium with Penske Racing teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished second, and third-placegetter Tony Kanaan.

“Boof, it went in!” he recounted post-race.

“That’s two veterans telling me `you can’t come up on this podium without us giving you the work-over’.”

The victory was Power’s third this season but first on a short oval.

Of his 23 previous career wins, only twice had he conquered any form of oval track – at Texas in 2011 and Fontana last October.

“It’s a race I had in my mind all year that I want to come and win,” he said.

“I think you’ve got to turn up to every track, no matter what it is, and know you have a chance to win.

“I just think that’s how you become a champion and I’m very determined for that to happen this year.”

Power started from pole and led 229 of the 250 laps to claim maximum points from the race, the third last of the season.

He now sits 39 points of teammate Helio Castroneves, who finished a lowly 11th.

Six drivers are still in contention for the 2014 title, which – for the ninth year in a row – will come down to the final event on August 30 in Fontana, California.

It’s familiar territory for Power, who led the standings with three races to go in 2012 and 2010. He crashed in the finale both years to finish runner-up.

“I’ve been in this situation before,” he said.

“The difference is, I don’t have a weakness anymore.

“Last year, ovals were very strong for me and this year even stronger.

“I have the whole package, so it’s just a matter of executing on the weekend. You know you can do it, you’ve just got to be very focused and get the job done.

“It gives me confidence for sure.”

The next race is in Sonoma, California, on August 24.

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