Two-time IndyCar champion Will Power is nursing a “strange” feeling as he transitions from Team Penske to Andretti Global in 2026. The Aussie driver had been with Penske since 2009, when he ran a part-time season.
In six races that season, Power’s worst finish was a P9, and four of the other five were Top 10 finishes, including a race win in Edmonton. Team Penske couldn’t overlook him after such an exceptional run and signed him to pilot the No. 12 Chevy full-time from 2010 onwards.
The partnership became one of the most iconic ones in IndyCar that saw Will Power win two championships, the 2018 Indy 500, and achieve a record 71 poles (65 with Penske) before an unfortunate communication breakdown in 2024-25 led to its conclusion after the 2025 season.
Power reflected on his glorious time with Team Penske in a recent appearance on “The Offseason,” an IndyCar exclusive hosted by James Coker. When asked about what he’ll miss the most about driving for Penske, the 44-year-old said:
“The relationships that I forged over that time, the people I worked with for so long. The engineer I worked with was more than 17 years, actually. We started in ’07, was the first time together. So that’s 20 years or something with Dave (Faustino). It’s all the people you became friends with, worked with, won championships and races with, poles, all the stuff.”
“I went into that shop almost every day. It will be strange for me. I feel fortunate to have driven for Penske. Great team, giving you equipment, and the people, and the atmosphere to achieve a lot. So yeah, I had a great time there, great time,” Power added.
Though Will Power looked back fondly on his time at Team Penske, he emphasized that “it was the right time to do something different” by joining a new team, Andretti Global.
Will Power wasn’t ‘completely comfortable’ at first IndyCar test with Andretti Global
Will Power’s first day at Andretti Global was January 1, once he was free from the shackles of his Team Penske contract. He underwent a seat fitting at the shop in his No. 26 Honda and participated in his first test with the team on Wednesday, January 7.
Firestone organized the test at the Phoenix Raceway as part of its tire development program. Power and his former Penske teammate Josef Newgarden were the two drivers summoned for the test day.
After completing the test, Will Power reflected on his integration into a new team for the first time in 17 years.
“It did feel like the first day of school,” he told RACER. “First day at a new team, learning people’s names and not feeling completely comfortable because you don’t know everyone yet. But it’s a nice feeling to not have any sort of complacency or anything; you’ve got to make sure you’re on your game.”
Will Power should get more comfortable with his new team once the IndyCar preseason testing gets underway in February and before the 2026 season opener at St. Petersburg on March 1.
Edited by Yash Kotak