Power Joins the Sim Grid at Barber

The official Verizon IndyCar Sim-Racing League powered by iRacing.com and RACER continued on Tuesday with Week 2 of its 12 week season at Barber Motorsports Park for the first road race of the season.

Running under the Alabama Grand Prix banner, the round brought together the best IndyCar sim-racers in the world to race alongside the 2014 IndyCar champion and Team Penske driver Will Power for 45 laps around the 2.38 mile circuit.

British iRacing driver Alex Simpson took pole position with a 1m06.663s with last week’s winner Tim Holgate joining him on the front row.

Further back, Power showed that despite his limited sim-racing experience, he was ready to compete as he qualified inside the top-ten in eighth position.

At the green, Simpson opened an early lead over the 36-car field as Power began his virtual march. By the time Power was inside his first pit window, he had moved up to fifth.

However, an incident on pit entry cost Power a considerable amount of time as his pit stop changed from only tires and fuel to repair work as well.

After emerging from a lengthy stop in ninth, Power (RIGHT) once again began to make up ground. Although his Dallara DW-12 IndyCar still carried a bit of damage to the rear wing from the earlier incident, Power was able to move into eighth before his second and final stop.

While Power was on the move, the front of the field was ablaze. Simpson, who had spun earlier and lost the lead to iRacing NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series driver PJ Stergios was able to reclaim the lead after Stergios got loose and spun while going through Turns 11 and 12. After just barely missing Stergios, Simpson was able to push ahead.

As the final laps approached, Holgate made the move around Simpson for the lead of the race. As the two closely battled, Power was putting the moves on Xavier de Carvalho for seventh. Just as Power was able to make it stick, however, the earlier incident and lengthy pit stop caught up to the IndyCar star and he was put a lap down.

When the checkered flag waved, Holgate held on to go two for two, with Simpson taking second by less than 0.4s. Matt Pawelski claimed the final step of the podium in third with Stergios fourth ahead of Joshua Chin.

Despite being put a lap down, Power retained his seventh position and he crossed the line in what was a difficult race for many drivers due to the slick track conditions.

Next Tuesday the Verizon IndyCar Sim-Racing League shifts back to ovals and heads back to Iowa Speedway.

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