Australian driver Will Power has recorded his first IndyCar Series victory with a win in the Indycar Grand Prix of Edmonton in Canada.

Starting from pole Power won the 95-lap race from Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and New Zealand driver Scott Dixon.

Power’s fellow Australian, Ryan Briscoe was fourth ahead of Dario Franchitti and local fan favourite Paul Tracy.

“It caps a perfect weekend,” Power said.

The race was headed for the first without a caution in IndyCar Series history until Tomas Scheckter’s No. 23 MonaVie car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing made contact with the concrete barrier in Turn 10 of the 1.973-mile, 14-turn circuit. The previous low was one yellow flag for two laps at Infineon Raceway last August.

A scary situation developed during what was supposed to be a routine Lap 34 pit stop when the fueling hose remained open after the stop, splashing 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol onto the side of the car and on driver Tony Kanaan. The fuel ignited, with Kanaan scrambling to extricate himself from the car as Team Penske and Panther Racing crew members doused the car to retard the flames.

Kanaan suffered burns on his thumbs and face and will be re-evaluated by Indy Racing League medical personnel this week.

Graham Rahal finished seventh, Justin Wilson was eighth and Robert Doornbos tied his season high with a ninth-place finish. Marco Andretti, who started 18th, finished 10th.

Dixon now leads the series as the teams head back to the oval at Kentucky Speedway on August 1.

with Indycar Media