Scott Dixon Unpacks Will Power's Retirement Talk: A Champion's Enduring Legacy

In the high-octane world of IndyCar, where careers are often as fleeting as a pit stop, the specter of retirement looms large, even for the greatest champions. Recently, six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon offered a fascinating glimpse into a private conversation with fellow legend Will Power, revealing Power's fleeting thoughts of stepping away from the sport and marveling at his unprecedented longevity with Team Penske.

The candid revelation came from Dixon, who recounted a flight alongside Power from Australia back to the United States.

During this journey, Power, fresh off clinching his second IndyCar championship, confessed to Dixon, “I’m done.” It was a moment of pure, unvarnished honesty from a driver who had just achieved a pinnacle of his career. However, as Dixon elaborated, the competitive fire within Power quickly reignited.

“And then he was like, ‘Nah, I’m not really done. I still love competing,’” Dixon shared, painting a vivid picture of the internal struggle and the irresistible pull of the track.

Dixon, a veteran who understands the immense physical and mental toll of top-tier motorsport, empathized with Power’s initial sentiment.

The relentless travel, the intense pressure, the constant battle for supremacy—it all takes a heavy toll. Yet, for true competitors like Power, the thrill of the chase, the pursuit of victory, often outweighs the exhaustion, keeping them tethered to the cockpit for years, even decades.

Beyond the personal reflection on retirement, Dixon also shone a spotlight on an almost unimaginable feat in modern IndyCar: Will Power’s remarkable 16-year tenure with Team Penske.

Since joining the iconic outfit in 2009, Power has become synonymous with the Penske name, a partnership that has yielded two championships, an Indy 500 victory, and a record number of pole positions. “That’s a huge, huge deal,” Dixon emphasized, acknowledging the rarity of such a long-standing relationship in today's driver market.

In an era where drivers frequently switch teams in pursuit of better opportunities or competitive edges, Power’s unwavering loyalty and Penske’s enduring faith in him stand out as an anomaly.

Dixon highlighted this by comparing Power's tenure to that of another Penske legend, Rick Mears, who spent 14 seasons with the team. “For Will to be there now for 16 years, it just speaks volumes of his character, his ability, and what he’s been able to achieve for Penske,” Dixon stated, expressing profound respect for his competitor's consistency and dedication.

This kind of stability is almost unheard of now, making Power's achievement even more significant.

It's a testament to his consistent performance at the highest level and to Team Penske's commitment to nurturing and retaining talent. For Dixon, it also underscores a broader truth about racing champions: they rarely just “retire” in a conventional sense. Instead, they often transition, or the sport itself, through its relentless demands, gradually prompts their departure.

Will Power, however, continues to defy expectations, proving that passion and unparalleled skill can forge an enduring legacy that transcends even the thought of saying goodbye.