There were dramatic scenes in Saturday's IndyCar practice, as defending champion Will Power and six-time series champ Scott Dixon were involved in an unusual and scary crash at Road America.
This weekend's race is round eight of 17, and both Power and Dixon are looking for a big result to help their chances of claiming another IndyCar crown in 2023, but Saturday's incident between the pair will have done neither any favours.
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IndyCar: Power lashes out at Dixon after terrifying free practice incident
Midway through Saturday's second practice session for this weekend's IndyCar race at Road America, New Zealander Scott Dixon spun at the high-speed exit of Canada Corner. After recovering, Dixon slowed to allow ex-F1 driver Romain Grosjean through, but did not realise that defending champ Power was also on a flying lap behind him.
Dixon swerved to the left to move off the racing line, seemingly unaware that Power was approaching, and Power was helpless in slamming into the Chip Ganassi Racing car.
.@12WillPower and @scottdixon9 have been seen and released following this incident in practice 2.#INDYCAR // #SonsioGP pic.twitter.com/43FSpGd6Yk
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) June 17, 2023
It was a terrifying incident, with Power left with nowhere to go on approaching Dixon and both cars wrecked with damage.
As the two drivers emerged from their cars, Power stormed towards Dixon, and swung his hands at the 42-year-old before appearing to attempt to grab at his neck.
Things are a bit spicy this morning.#INDYCAR // #SonsioGP pic.twitter.com/JkdIGIhJqT
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) June 17, 2023
The drivers had to be separated by the trackside marshalls, and continued their heated debate on their way back to the pitlane in the medical car.
Speaking live on air later in the IndyCar practice session, Will Power revealed what the pair had discussed in their ride back to the pits:
Scott moved abruptly and I was coming. It's a very unfortunate incident, there was nothing I could really do there. Didn't expect him to move. It's such a pity, it felt like we had a pretty good car.
We'll rebuild it and see what happens there, but...yeah.
I just said [in the medical car] I didn't expect such an abrupt move. Not a good situation, not a good situation. These things happen.
Dixon also spoke about the incident in his interview with the host broadcasters:
We were on really old tyres, almost 20 lap tyres, just trying to get some balance checks. I spun going into 12 and then I saw Grosjean out of my mirror after I recovered. I didn't realise Power was even there, really sorry for him. Obviously, it was a mistake on my behalf and I feel frustrated for obviously wrecking our car and his car as well.
We ended up getting in the medical car together, he was fine after that. Everybody gets pretty fired up - especially with how tight things are at the moment. It is what it is but I feel bad for the situation.
Though Power appeared to have calmed down somewhat by the time he spoke to the media on the incident with Scott Dixon, he was fuming once again after a disappointing qualifying.
Before his collision with Dixon, Power had been held up by a slow-moving Grosjean at the same section of track. After a frustrating day at Road America, Power chose to revisit both incidents, saying that Grosjean needed a "punch in the face":
Just pissed, what Dixon did this morning has ruined our whole weekend, just a terrible move.
Man, frustrating because I felt like we were really quick this morning. Disappointed with what happened.
And Grosjean is a piece of crap if you saw what he did in practice. He needs a punch in the face.
This evening's IndyCar race at Road America gets underway at 6:15pm Irish time, with Colton Herta lining up on pole position. Championship leader Alex Palou starts in P3, while Grosjean, Power, and Dixon will start 19th, 22nd, and 23rd respectively.
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