Will Power swears he doesn’t view 2026 as a revenge tour. He hasn’t thrown out his old Penske clothes. He feels the narrative that fans will see an unleashed Will Power is more created drama than reality.
But he also can’t avoid the reality that there are several Will Power personalities. The commercial for FOX even played on that theme.
As he told me at the Phoenix test last week, I was talking to “the race-car driver, not the lawyer.”
In a pair of interviews over the last month, the 44-year-old Power described the decision to leave Team Penske.
Will Power is getting a fresh start at 44 years old with Andretti.
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Penske provided him a one-year-deal final summer season for an 18th season with the group. As a substitute, he signed with Andretti International to switch Colton Herta, who has moved to Components 2.
“Late within the sport, Roger [Penske] did provide me one thing, however at that time, I used to be too far down the highway. And actually, only for myself, I wished to drive someplace completely different,” Energy informed me. “And originally of the 12 months, we talked about it with my supervisor, and we thought if there was a seat at Andretti, that will be the most effective spot for us.
“And funnily sufficient, it simply performed out like that.”
Energy will admit he feels rejuvenated, that issues obtained stale at Penske. And now that he has moved to Andretti, he feels extra concerned in giving suggestions to engineers and strategists who don’t know what he desires or would welcome his concepts (since they’re listening to them for the primary time) as they attempt to enhance.
One of many individuals he’ll discuss to is the staff principal, Ron Ruzewski, one of many Penske executives launched from the staff final Could amid technical violations discovered on two of the Penske automobiles.
Ruzewski gained’t characterize their working collectively as one the place they need to get again at Penske.
“I like Will, he’s an important driver and blissful that he’s right here,” Ruzewski mentioned. “Folks say, ‘Oh, he’ll be motivated’ or he’ll need to kick their butt or no matter. And, actually, I simply see a rejuvenated Will that desires to only show to himself, very like I do.
“I need to show to myself that I can do that for me.”
Will Energy is a sporting a brand new No. 26 in 2026.
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Who wouldn’t hearken to a driver with 45 profession victories and two collection championships with all however three of the victories coming in his 17 years at Crew Penske? That is a no brainer.
However that call to go away …
“I simply know in my intestine it was the appropriate resolution,” mentioned Energy, who gained 71 poles at Crew Penske. “I knew it on the time. I am sufficiently old now to go along with intestine emotions. It was the appropriate time.
“No matter occurs. that is what I wished to do, and I feel it will likely be good simply primarily based on what I’ve seen to date.”
At one level this offseason, Energy informed the Related Press, “There’s nothing extra I need to do that 12 months than beat Penske each single weekend.”
He revised that slightly bit when speaking to me per week later: “I am motivated to beat each driver. I am not similar to singling out a staff as a result of the one means you are going to win, you’ve obtained to beat the entire subject.”
In reality, Energy mentioned he would race his former Penske teammates doubtlessly slightly cleaner.
“When you’re a Penske teammate, you race your teammates tougher than you do everybody else,” Energy mentioned. “That is type of what they instill in that staff for some motive. That was it for the entire profession.
“It was such as you at all times had situations together with your teammates. I feel Roger likes the teammates to have a little bit of beef as a result of it pushes them tougher. I feel that is his philosophy.”
Energy admits it’s bizarre that he doesn’t drive the Verizon-sponsored No. 12. It has taken a while at testing to go to the Andretti haulers and automobile as the driving force of the No. 26.
“There is not any type of bitterness or something like that that is driving me,” Energy mentioned. “It’s enterprise as regular. Penske gave me an important profession so far. So there isn’t any animosity.”
Will Energy brings 45 profession victories and two collection championships to Andretti.
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As soon as he will get within the automobile and within the conferences, he feels just like the race-car driver he at all times has been.
“It feels similar to regular, man,” Energy mentioned. “I’ve moved on. It is simply when you get right down to enterprise, you are simply actually centered in your job and dealing with the individuals and simply understanding the route is enjoyable.
“It is pleasant. It is thrilling each time you exit since you’re attempting one thing new. And I feel at Penske, you are rolling off the truck fairly good for essentially the most half on a regular basis and we had been capable of swap philosophies shortly. It was a very well-oiled machine.”
He believes Andretti has the instruments, some even higher than he had at Penske. Energy notes that Andretti has had higher avenue course automobiles whereas Penske has for a very long time shined on the ovals.
And, once more, he swears he’s taking the identical method.
“It isn’t like I’m going to come back in with extra motivation, that is simply going to push me excessive,” Energy mentioned. “Folks look again and go, ‘Oh he is very motivated.’ However none of that is modified.
“It is the identical. Simply methodically going by means of the stuff that I have to and simply having the right method.”
Energy turns 45 on Sunday. He has gained two occasions at St. Pete, however his 2025 season obtained off to a tough begin when he bumped into the again of Nolan Siegel on the opening lap, ending the day for each in addition to Louis Foster.
So Energy could possibly be forgiven if he simply desires to get by means of the primary lap in his Andretti debut.
“March 1st shall be an thrilling day, however that’s considered one of 18 races, so a small portion,” Will Energy, the racer, mentioned. “All of them pay the identical factors. All of them matter, but it surely’s a small snippet of the season.”
That just about appears like a driver who made a transfer not anticipating to run in addition to he did the 12 months prior. Or it could possibly be a driver simply assured sufficient that he gained’t put an excessive amount of inventory into one race.
“I had the choice to remain at Penske, that is the factor,” Energy mentioned. “The query was do you need to undergo one other 12 months of unknowing [the future] if you wish to do one other 12 months after that? … It was pleasantly stunning that this [Andretti deal] really performed out prefer it did.
“It is form of the place I wished to be. I wished to strive a special staff. And it was simply the appropriate factor. I knew it in my intestine. That is why I have never even questioned it or doubted it.”
