Will Power felt ‘out of place’ at Andretti Global after participating in testing with Josef Newgarden in Phoenix ahead of the 2026 IndyCar season, but also felt a little uncomfortable being in a completely new place.

In a poignant moment that underscored the magnitude of change in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, two-time champion Will Power stepped into the cockpit of his new No. 26 Andretti Global Honda for the first time on January 7, 2026, during a Firestone tire test at Phoenix Raceway.

The session, shared with his longtime former teammate Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, marked Power’s debut with the team after a remarkable 17-year tenure with Roger Penske’s organization — a stretch encompassing 272 races, 45 victories, a series-record 71 poles, and championships in 2014 and 2022.

The Australian driver, now 44, had signed with Andretti Global back in September 2025, replacing Colton Herta, who departed for a Formula 2 campaign and a test driver role with the Cadillac F1 team.

However, contractual obligations kept Power bound to Team Penske through the end of 2025, delaying any hands-on integration until January 1, when he symbolically donned Andretti gear and shared a lighthearted social media video of himself running in the cold, embracing his “first day of work” with the new squad.

The Phoenix test served primarily as a tire validation exercise for Firestone, refining compounds and constructions for the series’ return to the 1-mile oval on March 7, 2026 — part of a crossover weekend with NASCAR and the first IndyCar event there since 2018.

Cold temperatures limited the on-track time to about four hours, but the outing allowed Power to experience the remodeled track, the hybrid-powered Dallara DW12 chassis, and the unique dynamics of a short oval under modern specifications. Notably, the right-front tire featured significant updates compared to previous configurations.

For Power, the day carried deep emotional weight. After nearly two decades of familiarity with Team Penske’s Verizon Chevrolet program, climbing into a Honda-powered car — his first since 2011 — and working with an entirely new crew felt disorienting.

He was paired with veteran race engineer Andy Listes, who previously guided INDY NXT talent, and began learning the intricacies of Andretti Global’s operations alongside teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson.

“It’s funny, you feel very out of place,” Power reflected in comments captured during the test. “But once you get in the car and you get rolling, then it’s just like, ‘Oh.’ It’s an Indy car.

It’s going through the same processes.” He described the initial runs as “very good,” praising the car’s responsiveness despite the suboptimal conditions, which Newgarden noted still made the track “drivable” and productive for tire feedback.

The presence of Newgarden added another layer of surrealism. The two drivers had been teammates at Penske since 2017, combining for three championships and numerous iconic moments, including multiple Indianapolis 500 triumphs. A generation of fans grew up knowing them only as Penske stablemates.

Now, they found themselves on opposite sides of the garage, Power in an all-black firesuit with minimal patches and Newgarden in his familiar No. 2 Chevrolet.

Their shared history — Power joining Penske in 2009 as a stand-in for Helio Castroneves while Newgarden was still racing in British Formula Ford — made the moment particularly striking.

Power admitted the adjustment extended beyond the car itself. “It’s the typical stuff,” he said.

“I’m just trying to understand how everything works in this team — I’d been with Penske 17 years — it was just like second-nature being there.” He spent time familiarizing himself with personnel, processes, and the overall team culture, acknowledging that building those relationships would take time.

Despite the initial discomfort, Power expressed optimism. The test provided valuable baseline data, and he looked forward to more comprehensive sessions, including an open test at Phoenix on February 17-18, where the full field would gather.

His first competitive outing with Andretti Global will come at the season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1, a 100-lap street course event where he has historically excelled.

The move represents one of the biggest offseason storylines heading into 2026. Andretti Global, now under TWG Motorsports ownership, aims to leverage Power’s experience and qualifying prowess to complement Kirkwood’s consistent speed and Ericsson’s road-course strength.

Questions linger about the team’s performance on natural road courses, where it has struggled in recent years, but Power’s arrival brings a proven winner capable of challenging for poles and victories across all track types.

For Power, the shift is energizing. “Sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh start is very energizing,” he said upon signing. While the Phoenix test highlighted the awkwardness of transition — a champion feeling momentarily out of place in a new environment — it also signaled adaptation underway.

As the 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on how quickly Power settles into his new reality, turning initial discomfort into the familiar pursuit of speed that has defined his storied career.