INDIANAPOLIS — Will Power looks at the statistics and shakes his head.

Runner-up in his last IndyCar race at Long Beach. Sixth in the opener at St. Petersburg. Ninth in points this season, and No. 9 on the 33-car starting grid for Sunday's Indianapolis 500.

And Sunday's race could be Power's last of the year.

The 28-year-old Australian understood this was possible when he accepted Penske Racing's offer to temporarily replace Helio Castroneves in January. Powers opted to join the series' most prominent team while the two-time Indy winner fought federal tax evasion charges.