IndyCar's Will Power won't return for 18th Team Penske season - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Will Power, the consummate company man who won two IndyCar titles and the Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske, will not return to Team Penske for an 18th season.

The long-expected announcement was finally made Tuesday, two days after the season finale, and nearly a year after speculation began that Power would not be renewed when his contract expired as the team eyed a younger driver. Power turns 45 at the start of next season.

«As we sat down to talk about our future together, Will felt that it was time for him to make a change beginning with next season,» Penske said in a statement. «He has been an outstanding driver and teammate for our organization. His results speak for themselves, and we wish him the very best in the next phase of his career.»

As the season dragged on without any movement from Penske, Power's departure became more and more obvious. He showed up at the season opener in March — on his birthday weekend — facing questions about the possibility of 23-year-old David Malukas replacing him at the end of the year. The speculation was never silenced by Team Penske, but Malukas was not confirmed as Power's replacement Tuesday.

After Sunday's season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, Power was both reflective and grateful for the time he'd had at Penske, where he won 42 races, two championships and the Indy 500 and became IndyCar's career pole winner with 71.

«It's been the honor of my life to drive for Roger and the Penske organization,» Power said. «We have accomplished so much together, and I will always be grateful for my time with the team and my teammates who have supported me along the way. After much consideration, I felt like a change for me was the right move at this time.»

Power,