IndyCar driver Will Power hated racing on ovals. He wasn't a fan of Indianapolis Motor Speedway either and figured he would never win the Indianapolis 500.
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But on Sunday he became the first Australian to win the famous race, pulling away in the final moments to win the 102nd running of the Indy 500.
Power had to change his thinking and his performance on oval tracks.
He learned to respect the speedway and the 37-year-old Power is now a winner of one of the biggest races in the world.
"I've slowly changed to be a more positive person. It's hard when you're very negative," Power said.
"You've got to have determination. That's what I had. You work hard at something, it comes to you. It eventually comes to you. (Indy) was the last box to tick, to be considered as a very successful driver."
The different approach landed Power in the most storied winner's circle in history when he gave Penske a 17th victory in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Power actually swept the month of May at Indy after winning on the road course two weeks ago and his 34 wins tied him with Al Unser Jr. for eighth on IndyCar's all-time list.
Power is also the most successful IndyCar driver in Team Penske history with 31 wins.
He is the first Australian victor in 102 editions of the race, and joined countryman Daniel Ricciardo as winners on the biggest day of the year in motorsports. Ricciardo won Formula One's Monaco grand prix earlier on Sunday.
Power celebrated the chequered flag by screaming into his radio: "Show me respect, (expletive)!"
When he got to the winner's circle, he screamed some more. Some two hours after the race, he was exhausted.
"I just screamed like I've never screamed before. It was just amazing," he said.
"The last two laps, the last lap, seeing the white flag, the chequered, I mean, you can't explain it.
"It's what I needed so badly, what I wanted so badly, and it came true. Anyone here knows how that would feel. You want something so much, it comes through to you through hard work and determination."
As Power held off pole winner Ed Carpenter to win his first Indy 500, the 81-year-old Roger Penske pumped his fist in the air and clapped.
In the winner's circle, Power could not contain his glee.
He screamed to wife, Liz, took a sip of the traditional milk, then dumped the rest over his head and around his crew. Liz Power reached for the empty milk bottle, then pointed out to her husband that he'd sprayed milk all over one of the Indy 500 princesses. He apologised, then started screaming again.
Australian Associated Press
