Will Power is living his childhood dream.
A kid from Toowoomba, Australia — “a small town” with a population less than 200,000 people — Power would envision the life he’s currently experiencing. The Formula 2 car stored in his family’s garage from his father, Bob’s racing days, was a token of what it meant to breakthrough in the racing world.
Power’s done more than breakthrough. He’s competed in INDYCAR for 19 seasons, winning 43 races and two championships. Yet he’s still awestruck at the chance to drive in the first-ever INDYCAR race in Washington, D.C.
“When I look back at it, I tell people, ‘I’m living my childhood dream’ because when I was a kid my brother and myself used to play racing,” Power said, speaking with Will Buxton during Friday’s episode of SPEED on FOX. “Getting to go to the White House, or meeting the President — for a boy from Toowoomba, a small town in Australia — that is incredible.”
Power and his competitors tested out the course for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. during Saturday morning’s practice. The roadcourse begins across from The Capitol on 3rd Street. Drivers take a left on Pennsylvania Avenue, where pit road sits. The race continues on Constitution Avenue, then the Washington Monument enters the backdrop.
Before the practice, Power had only experienced the race via sim.
“The track is cool, just based on the sim,” Power said on SPEED on FOX.
“Seven’s proper tight,” Buxton said, chuckling. “It’s going to be fun.”
Power’s feel for the Freedom 250 will certainly improve ahead of Sunday’s race, with coverage on FOX set to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday with the green flag scheduled for 1:13 p.m. ET.
When that green flag waves, his realization of his dream will be put on pause as he enters the mode of competing to be the inaugural winner in Washington, D.C.
Will Power and Will Buxton sat down in front of the Washington Monument for the latest episode of SPEED on FOX. (Credit: Jon Hill/FOX Sports)
