Will Power won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle Raceway on Sunday, demonstrating his mastery of IndyCar tyre management.

In 2022, the Team Penske driver won his first NTT IndyCar Series race, defeating Alexander Rossi by 1.0027 seconds.

With his 41st IndyCar victory, Power moved one spot behind Michael Andretti for fourth all-time. With the 100th win for Chevy since the brand returned to the series in 2012, He has now won at least one IndyCar race in 16 straight seasons, second only to Scott Dixon (who had 17 as of 2022).

Power told Marty Snider, "I just drove it as straight as I could, really nice on the brakes, and nice on the throttle." "I knew we'd be okay if I could preserve a reasonable space to the end, but I was concerned after seeing how horribly (the tyres) died. In the end, there was a lot more rubber on the track.

"The team did an outstanding job. Because you had to cut through the field, fight hard, and pass well, it was a delightful race."

Power started 16th on the primary tyre compound (slower at the start of a stint but more durable) and passed many of the drivers on the alternate red tyre (which is faster but less durable) on Lap 14 to take the lead.

On the fourth lap, Rossi pitted for the first of three stops for his No. 27 Dallara-Honda to get off the softer red compound (IndyCar drivers are required to use each combination during a race).

With 20 circuits to go, Power chose to make two stops, switching to reds. Rossi sliced enormous chunks out of a 16-second lead in the closing ten laps, but he eventually ran out of time.

Rossi told Snider, "I believe one more lap would have been incredibly fascinating." "You have to give Will and the other 12 guys credit." It's challenging to keep going as the game progresses. Appreciate the boy's efforts. 

Rossi's best finish since finishing second in Portland last September. Rossi, who will leave Andretti Autosport for Arrow McLaren SP at the end of the season, will try to stop a nearly three-year winless drought next week at Road America, where he last won on June 23, 2019.

Rossi commented, "We're finally just executing our potential," noting that he hasn't finished in the top five since October 2020. "I've been bothered by that for a long time."

"Many thanks to them, and we're off to Road America, where we've had some success in the past." It would be fitting to finish the cycle there next weekend with a victory, so that's what we'll aim for."

Power dominated last year at Belle Isle but ended 20th because his car didn't refire in the lead quickly after a red flag with four circuits remaining.

This year, though, he was able to partake in the winner's celebratory dip in the James Scott Memorial Fountain.

"Yes, yes, yes!" he radioed his squad after taking the checkered flag on Sunday. Boys, it's time for redemption! Redemption!"

"Those last ten laps, I was simply waiting for anything to happen," Power later told Snider. "I just maintained a laser-like focus."  I'm laser-focused. Mentally, I had a fantastic performance. I always evaluate my performances, and I didn't leave anything on the table this time.

"I was able to put out incredibly rapid laps since I was right in the sweet area of the zone."

Last year, Power used a strategy that had previously failed teammate Josef Newgarden, who led 67 of the 70 laps but finished second to Pato O'Ward due to some ill-timed yellow flags.

Newgarden took the opposite tactic on Sunday, starting from the pole position on red tyres and nursing them to the first pit stop. Newgarden finished fourth after dominating the opening 13 circuits of the 2.35-mile street course, which ended with a final-lap yellow but no additional red flags.

Newgarden told Dave Burns, "It's hard not to get angry." "When we need a race to go completely green, it doesn't." Last year, we were in desperate need of that. Last year, we followed Power's method, but that was not the case this year.

Today would have been the day, but because of what happened last year, we tried not to do it today.

"I'm not sure what to say to you. We did well in the race. It didn't work out in terms of strategy alone. The track has less grip at the start of a day like today. As a result, the reds aren't favoured in the early going. However, you don't want to run the risk of yellows, like we did last year when we ran reds at the end. I'm not sure.

"We ran a good race today, but it wasn't the race to run." I'm not sure who I can blame. It's just typical of the IndyCar series. These things are impossible to predict. It's exciting to see a Team Chevy car win. 

Team Penske and Will are to be congratulated. "It's a tad irritating."

Scott Dixon started ninth and finished a season-best third, returning from a bitter 17th-place finish in the Indy 500 with his first podium since the 2021 season finale, using the identical approach as Power.

Snider was told by Dixon, "Kudos to Will, who jumped us at the start by driving aggressively." Rossi also did an outstanding job, particularly on the reds in the first set." It's fantastic to see the No. 9 on the podium again. It's great for us, and hopefully, we'll be able to maintain our momentum here.

"I'm unable to stop it" (Indy). I was gutted, guy, but primarily because of the team's efforts.

Power now leads Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson by three points and Pato O'Ward, who started sixth and finished fifth on Sunday, by 12 points.

Rossi has climbed to eighth place in the standings.

"We will strive to win this title," he stated, referring to his squad and himself. "I am unconcerned about any external variables. We've come here to win, and we'll keep pushing until we succeed."