Power’s play puts Penske back in front for Indianapolis GP

INDIANAPOLIS » Will Power brought back normalcy to Indianapolis on Friday. Finally.

After a two-month race delay and a onemonth hiatus between IndyCar’s first two races, Power reclaimed his status as favorite for Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix favorite by overtaking Jack Harvey in the final seconds of qualifying with a pole-winning run of 1 minute, 10.1779 seconds on the track’s road course. It took everything Power had to eke it out. “I left nothing on the table on that lap,” Power said. “I knew that Harvey had a pretty good time up there, so I put on my best set (of tires) for the final run and thankfully it was enough.”

Barely enough on an unusual — and rare — qualifying day.

Simon Pagenaud, Power’s teammate and the defending race winner, didn’t make it past the first round. Five-time series champion Scott Dixon missed out on the final round. And two-time series winner Josef Newgarden, also with Team Penske, didn’t even complete a lap after making the fast six.

Heck, even Tony Kanaan, the IndyCar iron man, was out of the car — ending his record streak of 318 consecutive IndyCar starts.

Hamilton picks up where he left off

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA » World champion Lewis Hamilton picked up where he left off on the first day of the Formula One season, setting the fastest times in the first two practices for the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday.

He last drove competitively on Dec. 1 when he dominated and won the 2019 finale. Seven months later, Hamilton looked typically assured.

“It’s great to be back, it’s been a long time coming,” he said

The British driver twice finished ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on the 2.7-mile Red Bull Ring circuit.

Nasr tests positive for virus before Daytona sports car race

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. » Felipe Nasr has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the IMSA sports car race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Action Express Racing said Gabby Chaves will replace Nasr and the Brazilian would quarantine in Miami. Nasr said he began to feel ill while driving Thursday to Daytona Beach.

“I wasn’t feeling just right,” he said in a statement. “So before I went to the track or met with my team or anyone in motorsports, I went and got tested and, unfortunately, I tested positive.”

Rival teams still want answers

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA » Rival teams still want answers about whether Ferrari’s engine last season was legal or not, after an investigation was closed following a private settlement with governing body FIA.

Questions were raised as to whether Ferrari’s fuel-flow exceeded its maximum permitted amount of 100 kilograms per hour. Teams argued that this may have been a key reason for Ferrari’s notably superior speed on long straights and its remarkable run of six straight pole positions.