Reigning IndyCar champion Will Power shoved six-time champ Scott Dixon after the two were involved in a collision during Saturday’s practice at Road America.
The altercation came after several drivers lost control on the 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course. The course was repaved during the offseason, creating a high grip on a new smooth surface that has since produced such high speeds that track records have been threatened.
The conditions caused the practice to be stopped for red flags five times in one hour during Saturday’s practice, including when Dixon spun his No. 9 Dallara-Honda into a runoff area just before Turn 12.
As Dixon reentered the track ahead of Romain Grosjean and Power, Dixon allowed enough room for Grosjean to pass, but with Power coming up with speed behind Grosjean, there was not enough space to avoid a collision between Dixon and Power’s No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet. Contact was made, sending the left side of Power’s car into a concrete wall.
After the collision, Power exited his car and approached Dixon while the two exchanged words. Power then shoved Dixon in the chest and attempted to do so a second time before AMR safety workers separated the two.
Power also kicked the air in frustration as he walked away.
Both cars were heavily damaged, with the teams having only three hours to rebuild the vehicles before qualifying later Saturday.
However, after being seen and released by the IndyCar Medical Unit, Dixon said the pair had worked things out.
“We were on really old tires, spun going into 12 there, and I saw Grosjean out of my mirror after I recovered and I didn’t realize Power was even there,” Dixon told NBC Sports. “Really sorry for him and obviously his team. Just a mistake on my behalf, and feel frustrated for wrecking our car and his car as well.”
Power echoed those sentiments.
“Scott moved abruptly, and I was coming,” Power told NBC Sports. “It’s a very unfortunate incident. Nothing I could really do there. I just didn’t expect him to move. Such a pity. Felt like we had a pretty good car. We’ll rebuild it and see what happens there.
“Not a good situation but these things happen.”
–Field Level Media