Will Power admitted that the recent cheating scandal affecting Team Penske influenced his racing approach against teammate Scott McLaughlin at Barber Motorsports Park. Despite the controversy, Team Penske secured victory with McLaughlin leading Power to the finish. Power reflected on the challenges of racing in turbulent air and aims to secure his first win of the season, maintaining a strong position in the IndyCar standings as the series heads towards the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 12.

Will Power has acknowledged that the cheating scandal surrounding Team Penske altered his approach to racing teammate Scott McLaughlin in the battle for victory at Barber Motorsports Park.

All three of Team Penske's entries were affected by the investigation, which discovered rule violations in their cars.

Former IndyCar series leader Josef Newgarden was disqualified, along with teammate McLaughlin, for using Push-to-Pass when it was not permitted.

Power himself avoided disqualification as he did not use Push-to-Pass illegally, but he received a 10-point penalty for having the capability to do so.

Despite the controversy, Team Penske celebrated on the podium in Alabama with McLaughlin leading Power to the finish line.

The two engaged in a brief yet intense battle towards the end of the race, which ended with McLaughlin emerging victorious.

"It was aggressive. It was quite combative, actually," Power explained.

"When you've been running at the front in clean air and then find yourself in the pack with all that turbulent air, the car behaves differently. Initially, you're not prepared for it.

"You're also aware that Scott and I are potentially racing for the win in the pack. You're weighing up the risks versus rewards and making decisions accordingly.

"I probably wasn't aggressive enough. I should have fought harder to keep Scott behind. I didn't block him. Given everything that happened this week, I just didn't want two Penske cars off in turn one. So, I kind of let it go.

"Nevertheless, I was pleased for the team's success. Over the years, you start to feel genuinely happy for the team's achievements. It's not all about oneself. When you're young like him, you just go for it, which is understandable because you want a long career in this series."

Had it not been for the 10-point deduction, Power would be leading the points standings heading into the crucial month of May.

Instead, he currently sits in second place with 100 points, trailing Andretti Global's Colton Herta by just one point.

The top four drivers are separated by only seven points, with Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou and Scott Dixon occupying third and fourth places respectively.

Power is still aiming for his first win of the season but understands that consistently finishing at the front will put him in the best position to compete for a third IndyCar title.

"It feels like business as usual, but the one thing missing is a win," he admitted.

"That's starting to weigh on me. I really want to secure a win.

"I was slightly disappointed not to win when I had the opportunity. However, looking at the championship points, it was a smart day, another smart day.

"We're in a good position heading into the month of May. It would be fantastic to have a successful sweep."

IndyCar action resumes on May 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.