Q. How did you react when Tim called you either on the phone or into the office and said we've got a deal done for you for the entire season? What was your initial reaction? TIM CINDRIC: Stop taking so long.
WILL POWER: That's exactly right. Tim answered the question. No, it was a long process. I knew that it was in the works. There was a good chance it was going to come off, but I was very happy when I heard the news. Very relieved and it was just a great opportunity.
It was something that I wouldn't have dreamed would ever have happened, to end up at Penske Racing and driving the Verizon car. Yeah, it's unbelievable. I really need to focus on it, and do a great job.
Q. Does this essentially become the same team that worked the car, the yellow car for Will, the Edmonton crew? Is this the Grand-Am team just shifting to the IndyCar Series side?
TIM CINDRIC: No, not at all. The approach next year will be very different from that approach. Because that approach was in a lot of ways what was possible last year. And, you know, we've taken the approach in the off‑season here looking at everything from I guess a clean sheet of paper with the fortunate thing – you know, fortunate and unfortunate, the Grand-Am situation probably we're not planning on it being a team next year.
We're not planning on participating on that front, so we have a built in workforce, if you will, or resource. And with that we're combining that for the different areas, different positions and trying to optimize the three best programs for next year.
We've hired a new racing engineer for Will, going forward for next year. Dave Faustino who was with KV Racing Technology last year, and had worked with Will at Walker Racing. He's on board. He started this week. He and Will are very familiar with each other. I think we're going to hit the ground run running from the association that they've had in the past.
Again, there will be some of the guys that were on Will's team last year will be on the 3 or the 6. And some of the guys that were on the 3 and the 6 will be on Will's car. So we're looking at it from a three‑car perspective rather than a two and one, and a third car once in a while.
Q. So who is going to call Will's races?
TIM CINDRIC: Clive Howell will be the third man.
Q. I know that Ryan did some work with Rick Mears, and Rick is always there to offer advice. Will you be seeking him out particularly for advice on ovals before the season starts?
WILL POWER: Yeah, I did that this year. I'll be doing the same. I'll get as much as I can out of Rick. He's there every weekend. He's got unbelievable amount of experience. He always answers your questions very well because he's been there and done that. So I'll be doing everything I can to learn as much as I can.
Q. Might he perhaps spot for Will at any races or is that out of the question?
TIM CINDRIC: Right now, to be honest with you, Clive Howell has been Helio's spotter. I think Helio had some experience with Rick as a spotter before, so I think we'll leave that unchanged and have a different spotter for Will next year. It's not something we've really gone through, but just throwing it out here on the call that I anticipate Rick being on Helio's car next year.