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Pagenaud Focused On Championship

IndyCar Series point leader Simon Pagenaud barrels out of pits. [Joe Jennings Photo]

By Joe Jennings

Long Pond, Penna. – Holding a 58-point lead as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season winds down, Simon Pagenaud is totally focused on winning the coveted championship for the first time. With four races to go, the Frenchman’s confidence level is high but he knows anything can happen in racing.

​A year ago, Juan Pablo Montoya led Scott Dixon by 54 markers but lost the championship to Dixon in a tie-breaker. The turn-around took place in the final, double-points race at the Sonoma Raceway when Dixon won the race and Montoya ended up in sixth place.

​Adding to the story is that Pagenaud’s chief rival is teammate Will Power. Team Penske wants another championship to add to its 50th anniversary celebration, and the iconic team doesn’t play favorites.

​On the performance side, Pagenaud has the edge with four wins, six pole positions and nine top-10s in 14 races while Power has three wins, two poles and nine top-10s in 13 races.

But Power has momentum on his side with three wins and two runner-up finishes in last five races.

​“You could look at several ways,” Pagenaud said during a weekend press conference. “I’m just going to do what I’ve been doing. Obviously, Will is in a good position, too. Everybody’s in a good position. At the end of the day, the best guy will win. It’s within my control, except for the outside factors, and I feel like we’re in good shape.”

​Power says the four Team Penske drivers share their data and information, and everyone gets along fine. “Every year you come into the season expecting to battle with your teammates. I had that last year with Juan (Pablo Montoya). I think the older you get, the less you worry about personalities and all that. You don’t weigh too much on emotional stuff between people. You get out on the track and the best guy is going to win. Whoever does win, good for them, because they deserve it,” he commented.

​Pagenaud likened the team harmony to that of a successful marriage. “We’re going to be teammates for a long time. We come to the track every week and if we don’t get along, it’s going to be a nightmare. At the end of the day, we both want to be fighting for the championship.  

“I think it’s the perfect situation. There’s no point on hating each other; it’s not going to make us any faster. You just do your business, focus on your thing and the best will win.”

Racing can be fickle at times and anything is possible, but at this time, Pagenaud looks to be in command.  

One certainty is that the final result will be known on September 18th when the season’s curtain drops at the Sonoma Raceway finale.

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