Though Will Power is among the 13 drivers in championship contention with four IZOD IndyCar Series races remaining, he’s resigned to assisting Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves secure his maiden series title.

It’s a different mind-set, an uncomfortable and uncontrollable position for Power, who is eighth in the standings after finishing as the series’ runner-up the past three seasons. A bright spot and mental lift, though, occurred Aug. 25 on Power’s personal roadway – Sonoma Raceway – where he won the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma for the third time in the past four years.

Click it: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma box score || Power wins after Dixon penalized

“Of course I would love to be in the battle right now,” said Power, who beat Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing to the finish line by 1.1930 seconds. “We just have had one of those years where things don't flow. But it's slowly coming on.

“Obviously, next year's mind-set is different. This year is to make sure Helio wins the championship. We're going to help him any way possible for the next four races.”

Castroneves, who finished seventh in the 85-lap race on the 2.385-mile, 12-turn course, takes a 39-point lead over Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon into the Sept. 1 Grand Prix of Baltimore presented by SRT on a 2-mile street circuit.

It was Power’s 19th career victory and first of the season. He’s the 10th different winner through 15 rounds. That list includes four first-time winners (James Hinchcliffe, Takuma Sato, Simon Pagenaud and most recently Charlie Kimball on Aug. 4 at Mid-Ohio).

The record is 11 different winners during the 20-race 2001 CART season, which matched the 20-race 2000 season.

There were eight different winners each of the past two seasons (the final year of the Dallara chassis-Honda sole engine supplier platform and the first year of the new-for-2012 Dallara chassis and engine manufacturer competition between Chevrolet and Honda platform).

Power presented Team Penske its fifth consecutive victory at Sonoma and secured his fifth top-five finish of the season. The victory was his first since April 29, 2012, at Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Power said he’s “learned a lot about myself” through the uncharacteristic results on the mixture of road/street courses and ovals.

“I just think you start really looking close at your weaknesses,” he said. “My oval performance wasn't very good. This year I definitely had to get points on ovals because we weren't winning races on road courses. Also, the mental aspect. I really believe it makes you stronger, having a year like this. You'll come back next year a serious contender.”

Different winners this season: