Despite crash, Penske driver Power says 2009 'been great year'

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar driver Will Power looks at 2009 as a success.

He drove for Roger Penske, won the race at Edmonton and demonstrated his versatility with strong finishes on road courses and ovals. Even the frightening crash that ended Power's season prematurely hasn't changed the Aussie's perspective.

"It's been a great year," he said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "You know, I got to run with a team I wanted to be with, and I got to show them what I can do."

Power proved to everyone in the series that, with the proper equipment, he can be as good as anyone on the track.

He finished sixth at St. Petersburg, second in Long Beach, fifth at Indy and third at Toronto before winning at Edmonton. He was ninth at Kentucky and was scheduled to run again at Sonoma, Calif., too, before withdrawing when his car went through a blind corner and slammed into Nelson Philippe's car on Aug. 22.

The crash sent both drivers to the hospital. Philippe, of France, had a broken right leg and needed surgery to repair an open fracture in his left foot. He was released four days later.

Power broke four bones in his back, had a concussion and chipped his left front tooth in the collision. During his time in the hospital, Power replayed the crash in his head.

"I did think about that a little," he said. "It was a complete surprise. I came over the hill and I had about a second to think about it and then bam! I thought maybe I could have gone really fast to the other side, but there was nothing I really could have done."

Dr. Terry Trammell, the series' orthopedic specialist, examined Power on Monday and said it would take three to four months for Power to make a full recovery.

The good news: Power doesn't need surgery.

He is already walking around, albeit with a back brace, is off pain medication and has spoken with another IndyCar driver, Vitor Meira, who sustained similar injuries during May's Indianapolis 500. Meira hasn't been back in the cockpit since but is anticipating a return for October's season-finale in Homestead, Fla.

"I feel great," Power said. "It's just a matter of a slow recovery from an aggravating injury. The back hardly hurts at all now. It's been a huge improvement over two weeks ago."

Yet as strange as Power's season has been these next few months could be even more challenging.

Power joined Team Penske as a replacement driver for three-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves, who was facing tax evasion charges at the start of the season. The job lasted one race. By the second race of the season, in Long Beach, Calif., Castroneves had been acquitted. Power spent the rest of the season racing whenever Penske could find funding.

But now the 28-year-old is focused on getting healthy.

Power's early rehab consists of just walking short distances, and though he feels better, there are painful reminders of the crash.

"I can't really bend over [with the brace], which you don't really want to do anyway," Power said. "And it's not quite comfortable when you sleep."

By the time he's back to 100 percent, Power could find himslef back in silly season -- a time rumors run rampant and drivers change teams.

Power's choice would be returning to Penske. Team officials, Power said, have told him he "has a home" with the team though they are still trying to line up enough money to run a third car full-time.

If that doesn't come through, there's no telling where Power might land.

"We'll see over the next couple of months what happens," Power said. "They're working hard to get that third car and if that happens, it would be awesome. You know it has been a good season. My results have been really good, it just ended in an unfortunate way."