Power prevails in IndyCar season-opener

Will Power’s bid for a maiden IndyCar title got off to a perfect start on Sunday, with the Australian winning the 2014 season opener in Florida.

The Team Penske driver beat American Ryan Hunter-Reay by almost two seconds to claim his second victory on the streets of St Petersburg since 2010.

It was his third straight race win, having been victorious in the final two rounds last year, and 22nd from 122 career starts.

“That’s how you want to start the season,” said an exhausted Power after the 110-lap grand prix.

“I worked so hard in the off-season. We came into the year wanting to win a championship for (team owner) Roger (Penske).

“The field is so tight that I’m just happy we had a good race car.

“Last year was horrible, and this year it’s good to get a points lead.”

Starting from fourth on the grid, Power held off 2012 series champion Hunter-Reay in what turned into a 22-lap closing sprint following a caution re-start.

He crossed the line 1.9475 seconds ahead of Hunter-Reay, with Power’s teammate and three-time St Petersburg winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil in third.

New Zealand’s Scott Dixon, who won his third IndyCar series crown last season, finished fourth for Ganassi racing, ahead of France’s Simon Pagenaud in fifth.

Dixon defended Power’s driving after he was criticised by some competitors for his lack of acceleration at the front of a restart on the 88th lap.

It caused the field to bunch behind him and two cars – driven by Marco Andretti and Jack Hawksworth – to collide and exit the race.

“I don’t think Will did anything wrong,” Dixon told ESPN.

“It was probably a little slow but sometimes it’s just people getting too greedy.”

Polesitter Takuma Sato of Japan led the first 33 laps, but finished seventh behind sixth-placed Tony Kanaan of Brazil.

Fellow Australian Ryan Briscoe, back as a full-time driver with Chip Ganassi, crossed the line in 10th.

The second round of the 18-stop series is the Grand Prix of Long Beach in California on April 13.

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