Australia’s Will Power has finished on the podium in the Indycar series event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington.
The Toowoomba driver finished 14.7 seconds behind Alexander Rossi, who won Sunday’s race for his second IndyCar victory of the season and fourth overall.
Rossi started from pole and used a two-stop strategy to run away from the field, finishing 12.8 seconds ahead of rookie Robert Wickens in the caution-free race on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course. The race covered 90 laps and 202.3 miles.
They were followed by Power, Josef Newgaden and points leader New Zealand’s Scott Dixon.
Rossi also won the street race in Long Beach, California, in April. The victory Sunday was Andretti Autosport’s 60th in the series.
The 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner had a 23-second lead over Wickens when he made his second pit stop on Lap 59. Wickens took the lead but because he had been so far behind when Rossi pitted, it was only a matter of time before he would fall behind again.
It happened on Lap 65 when Wickens went to the pits and Rossi regained the lead as Power temporarily moved to second.
Rossi cruised from there and his only problem was trying to do a post-race doughnut in celebration but stalled.
“We knew we could two-stop if we committed early,” Rossi said.
He led for 66 laps.
Dixon heads the series with 494 points, 50 more than Rossi. Newgarden, the defending champion is third (434) while Power is fourth 88 behind the leader.
Rossi led the first 30 laps until pitting, allowing Wickens to take the lead. Prior to that on Lap 26, Newgarden made a bold inside move to pass Rossi but because he pitted on the same lap he was not credited with the lead.
On Lap 31, Rossi and a charging Dixon touched tyres, but both remained on the track.
Power assumed the lead on Lap 40 after Wickens made his first stop and had to replace a blistered right front tyre. He kept it pitting on the 49th, allowing Rossi to regain the lead but was almost immediately passed by teammate Newgarden as they raced side-by-side.