It took Will Power nine races to finally grab his first podium finish of the IndyCar season.

Oddly, it came at on oval. And even stranger is that some of the Australian’s most consistent work this season has been at the three oval tracks.

IndyCar series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay passed Takuma Sato for the lead with 53 laps remaining and roared to victory at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday.

Power followed up his seventh-placed finish at Texas last week, another oval course, to finish third behind Hunter-Reay and Brazilian Helio Castroneves.

Of Power’s 18 career victories, 17 have been on road and street courses.

His lone oval win came at Texas in 2011 and it has been suggested that his weakness on the ovals has hurt him in the championship races.

“In the past years it’s always been something really unusual that’s happened to me on ovals whenever I’m in a good position,” Power said on Saturday.

“I like ovals. I really enjoy them. I expect to always be extremely competitive on road courses or ovals, as competitive at each.”

Power’s had bigger issues to worry about this season.

Mired in a 20-race losing streak dating back to Brazil last season, the Penske Racing driver said on Saturday there’s “not as much expectation” on him to win these days.

Asked if that’s from within Penske or outside the organisation, he said he’s lowered his own expectations.

“Probably from myself. Like, you know, when you have a real big slump, you have to recheck yourself, get back to what actually got you in the position to be a great team,” Power said.

“That’s kind of the stage I’m in right now. It’s good. You go back to working really hard.”

Power heads into next Sunday’s race at Iowa – another oval – ranked 11th in the IndyCar standings.

He said it has allowed him to change his approach on the season.

“We’re just kind of putting it together,” he said.

“Especially kind of not being right in the championship. A little bit more of not a relaxed approach, but methodical, not desperate in any way.”