Fontana IndyCar: Defeated Will Power pays tribute to Penske and Ryan Hunter-Reay

Power was fighting Hunter-Reay on the track when he lost control and hit the wall 54 laps into the 500-mile race.

Despite the severity of the damage to the car, his team spent 45 minutes repairing it and managed to get him back onto the track just long enough to pick up another two points, although it was not enough to prevent Hunter-Reay from securing the title.

It is the third year in succession that Power has lost the championship at the final round.

"I feel bad for the team," he said. "I really do. I feel bad for my guys to be three years in a row so close, and you see the effort that they put in just to get me out to do 12 more laps in such a short space for a completely wrecked car.

"I don't know what to say. I feel sorry for Penske Racing to end up in this position again because of one of my mistakes.

"It's definitely frustrating, but when I look at it, three years in a row I convincingly won the road course championship, and it's very obvious that the ovals... I just don't know why I can't put my finger on one particular thing that I don't do right."

Power also acknowledged the achievement of Hunter-Reay, who won four races during the season to Power's three.

"It's easy to go and point fingers and all that as why we didn't win, but at the end of the day, Hunter-Reay did a very solid job," he said.

"He won more races than anyone. He won on ovals, road courses, and he's definitely a deserving champion. There is no question."