Will Power was left fuming after a collision with Scott Dixon on Saturday morning during the second practice for the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR.
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet of Power followed Romain Grosjean as the pair went through Canada Corner (Turn 12) and then approached Dixon, who was off pace after a spin in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. After Grosjean’s No. 28 Delaware Life/DHL Honda slipped by, Dixon then drifted left and made contact with Power, sending both into a heavy crash into the wall upon corner exit.
“What the ****!” Power shouted over the radio.
Upon exiting his car, an incensed Power approached six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon and delivered a quick shove before being separated by members of the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team. Power’s displeasure continued as he walked away, kicking a piece of debris from Dixon’s damaged car that was littered on the ground in the walk to the safety vehicle. Power and Dixon were 10th and 12th, respectively, at the time of the incident, which brought out the second of five red flags in the session.
“We were on really old, almost 20-lap tires just trying to get some balance checks (and) kind of spun going into (Turn) 12 there,” Dixon said. “I'm just watching the replay here now. And then I saw Grosjean out of my mirror after I recovered. I didn't realize Power was even there. So, really sorry for him (and) obviously, his team. Yeah, mistake on my behalf and feel frustrated for wrecking our car and his car, as well.”
Power, a two-time and defending INDYCAR SERIES champion, expressed his vantage point of the collision as Dixon “moved abruptly as I was coming.”
“It was a very unfortunate incident, there was just nothing I could really do there,” Power said in measured remarks that contrasted his heated initial reaction at the incident site. “I didn’t expect him to move. (It’s) such a pity, felt like we had a pretty good car. We’ll rebuild it and see what happens.”
According to Dixon, the two drivers diffused the situation on the drive to the infield medical center.
“We ended up getting in the medical car together; he was fine after that,” Dixon said. “Everybody gets pretty fired up and especially with how tight things are at the moment. It is what it is, but I feel bad for the situation.”
Power, visibly distraught, was simply left saying, “These things happen.”
Team members for Power were seen bringing out a new rear end and bodywork pieces such as a new floor as part of the repair preparations for this afternoon’s qualifying bout. Meanwhile, Ganassi crew members were seen bringing out a backup car for Dixon.