Power pads series lead

SONOMA, Calif. - Back broken, front teeth scattered somewhere, head ringing, Will Power left the 2009 race at Infineon Raceway in a helicopter.

A year later, he walked away, a bit of payback and a trophy in hand, his first series title well within reach.

Shaking off a touch of early anxiety, Power returned to Infineon Raceway with a dominating win on Sunday, padding his IndyCar Series lead on a course that nearly ended his career.

"Unbelievable. I watched this race from a hospital bed last year," Power said. "I said it all year, I'm coming back to win this because I thought this track owes me because of what happened."

Power was admittedly nervous when he first hit the gas pedal at Infineon this week and felt a touch of anxiety every time he saw dust fly over the hill where his back-breaking wreck took place in 2009.

He showed no fear once the racing started, though, setting an IndyCar record with his eighth pole of 2010, then leading 73 of 75 laps over the technically demanding 2.303-mile circuit through the hills of the California wine country.

Rarely challenged over the 12-turn, elevation-changing course, Power has 59-point lead over defending series champion Dario Franchitti heading into the season's final four races. Ryan Briscoe was fourth.

"It's a fairly large deficit, but it's four tracks we've run well on," said Franchitti, who finished third behind Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon.

"There's places we've done very well at. I don't underestimate the challenge. Will's going to be very strong. A lot of people are kind of writing him off because of his lack of experience on the ovals, but I think he'll be up there. We just have to do a better job."

Power's last trip to Sonoma put his career in jeopardy.

Driving in a practice session last year, the Aussie came flying over a hill and didn't have time to react to Nelson Philippe's stalled car. Power hit him straight on and had to be airlifted from the track, his back and teeth broken, the season over.

Team Penske stuck with Power through his long rehabilitation and he's rewarded the loyalty with an impressive third IndyCar season.

The 29-year-old Power came into Sonoma with the inaugural IndyCar Series road course championship locked up thanks to four non-oval victories and had built a 41-point lead over Franchitti, the defending series champion.

"I definitely don't think this championship is mine. There's a lot of racing to go," Dixon said. "In four races, a lot can happen and you can lose a lot of that (points) in a hurry. I want to win a championship."

He's a step closer, a bad memory in his rearview mirror, no less.

Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Sunday

At Infineon Raceway

Sonoma, Calif.

Lap length: 2.303 miles

(Starting position in parentheses)

1. (1) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

2. (6) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

3. (3) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

4. (5) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

5. (2) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

6. (7) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

7. (9) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

8. (8) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

9. (16) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

10. (22) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

11. (20) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

12. (18) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

13. (11) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

14. (4) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

15. (21) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

16. (23) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running.

17. (14) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 74, Running.

18. (17) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 74, Running.

19. (15) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 74, Running.

20. (25) Francesco Dracone, Dallara-Honda, 71, Contact.

21. (10) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 67, Contact.

22. (24) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 67, Running.

23. (13) Bertrand Baguette, Dallara-Honda, 65, Contact.

24. (19) J.R. Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 38, Contact.

25. (12) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 0, Contact.

Points: Power 514, Franchitti 455, Dixon 419, Briscoe 384, Castroneves 370, Hunter-Reay 360, Kanaan 330, Wilson 290, M.Andretti 284, Wheldon 269.