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Article(s) posted on July, 2010

Penske Driver Will Power: He's Fast and Funny

By CURT CAVIN, The Indianapolis Star

Will Power has speed in his name, but that isn't what makes Roger Penske's newest race car driver go.

In addition to being the Izod IndyCar Series' points leader at the season's halfway point, he is a practical joker, an old-school rapper, a fitness junkie and a trained seamstress.

That's not all.

The 29-year-old Australian quit school at age 15 to work in his father's canvas manufacturing company. Not wanting to sew and stitch the rest of his life, he pursued professional skateboarding before turning to car racing.

Power might have a career shaping up like that of Rick Mears, but he never has been a typical Indianapolis 500 driver. He can break dance, recite Sugarhill Gang lyrics and recall almost every Ali G skit ever made public. An ideal night of television includes episodes of the reality show "Scare Tactics" and the dry British version of "The Office."

Even the electronic drum set in his bedroom is a contradiction. He idolizes a guitarist, Slash, of Guns N' Roses.

"He's a total goofball," fiancee Liz Cannon said of her boyfriend of four years. "People never think Will does all those things, but he does and then some."

Like rhythmically banging his hands on a counter in the team's transporter. While driving for KV Racing in 2008, a team member finally asked him about it.

"He said he just loved music and the drums, so I invited him over to my house and I taught him to play," race engineer Alex Castrounis said. "He has cool tastes."

And a funny bone that can be tickled at odd times.

Power admits to waking Cannon with his hearty and mischievous laugh in the middle of the night.

"He just starts laughing," she said.

Even connecting with Cannon when they worked together at Indianapolis-based Walker Racing has a funny side.

"She knew (of) Ali G," he said, proudly. "She liked hip-hop, 50 Cent, and I was really impressed.

"I thought, 'This is the right girl for me.' "

They will marry Dec. 17 in Maui, Hawaii. He is sewing the gift bags.

No one should be surprised if there is a prank at the ceremony.

The usually shy Power loves them and plans them during his round-the-clock fitness schedule.

In May, Power thought of a way to get teammate Helio Castroneves back for something the Brazilian paid to have done to him. Power won't say if it has been executed, but he believes it's OK to keep others on the edge as he stays true to himself.

"(Teammate Ryan Briscoe) is 'Penske' through and through, and I don't know what (Castroneves) thinks of me," Power said with yet another laugh. "I'm still aware that I'm the new guy on the team, and loyalty is very important there. You've got to pay your dues, and I'm very respectful of their positions.

"But the best way is to be yourself and never try to be someone else because eventually the real you comes out anyway."

Power caught himself in a dilemma in April. When team president Tim Cindric mentioned there was an extra seat for dinner with Slash, Power quickly volunteered.

The catch was clothing. Cindric always is Penske-pressed; the wild-haired guitarist usually is anything but. That it would be "a very nice steakhouse" in Long Beach, Calif., added to the complexity.

Power immediately called Cannon, a public relations representative for Dreyer&Reinbold Racing, for advice.

"What do I wear?" he asked.

Power settled on Euro-looking all-white tennis shoes, jeans and a buttoned shirt. Cindric didn't comment on the attire, but Slash did.

"'Jeesh, they're bright shoes,'" Power recalled.

Power, who is blindingly fast in his craft, might be on the verge of slowing a bit off the track. Just before marrying, he and Cannon will move into the first home being built in a subdivision in Troutman, N.C., near Team Penske's headquarters.

The neighborhood will have bike and hiking trails and maybe - someday - children. But for a while, at least, Power will remain the kid at heart.

Photo Credit(s) on this page Copyright 2009 Gannett News Service: Tom Brady by Brad Kemp/USA TODAY, Peyton Manning by Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY, Annika Sorenstam by Suzanne Starr/Arizona Republic, Jeff Gordon by Michael Madrid/USA TODAY, Barry Bonds by Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY, Michael Jordan by Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY, Hockey fight by Sandford Myers/The Tennessean, Tiger Woods by Eileen Blass/USA TODAY, Soccer by H. Darr Beiser/USA TODAY, Boxing by Greg Pearson/The Times, Skating by Eileen Blass/USA TODAY, Tiger Woods by H. Darr Beiser/USA TODAY, Snowboard by Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic, Hockey by Jack Gruber/USA TODAY, Michael Phelps by Daniel J. Powers/The Post-Crescent, Anna Kournikova by Eileen Blass/USA TODAY, Olympic Track by Robert Deutsch/USA Today, Horse racing by Bill Luster/The Courier-Journal, Wrestling by Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY, Fencing by Michael Madrid/USA TODAY, Olympic Basketball by Eileen Blass/USA TODAY

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