Sports: Motorsports: Indy 500 welcomes Will Power, he seeks breakthru

"A year ago, Will Power came to Indianapolis hoping to simply finish the race. That won't be nearly enough this time," says Washington Post. Will Graves in AP via WP, "Job secure, Power eyeing Indy 500 breakthru" (May 27, 2k10).

...[T]he affable Australian admits his attitude last May [in his first Indy event] was decidedly guarded. He didn't race so much as he learned how to race at the demanding 2.5-mile oval [of the Indy race-track, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA].

"There was a bit of pressure (on myself) just to finish," he said. "It wasn't like focusing on the win because ... being consistent gave me a better chance of running some more races."

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For a driver facing unemployment, that's not a bad strategy. His goal was to land a job, not chug milk in Victory Lane.

That won't be good enough this year. Not by a long shot.

In the meantime, he broke his back in a crash, and recovered to now have a place alongside his team-mate, the venerable Helio Castronevea, the Brazilian "who is seeking his fourth Indy crown." Power placed in the qualifying run to be located in Row 1, behind Castronevea, by topping 227 mph, the only other besides Castronevea to do so. The privilege is reserved to a qualifier who gets the Pole position, at the head of Row 1.