Saturday was a rough day for two of the sport’s biggest names. Six-time IndyCar champ Scott Dixon inadvertently caused a wreck with Will Power during practice Saturday that significantly damaged both cars and forced both drivers to start Sunday’s race from near the back of the grid.
Power was as angry as he’s likely ever been in IndyCar after Saturday’s wreck, shooting the middle finger to Dixon twice as he climbed from his wrecked car, then grabbed Dixon’s firesuit and shoved him, along with using extensive colorful language.
Come Sunday, Dixon was nothing short of outstanding. He started 23rd and finished fourth, a gain of 19 places on the grid, the most of any driver.
“Obviously, one spot away from a podium, which would have been nice,” Dixon said. “Congrats to the 10 car. He’s having a great championship run. We need to start working on trying to cut into that lead.”
Dixon is tied for fifth in the standings, 98 points back.
As for Power, he finished an unlucky 13th. He had an issue early in the race on Lap 11, drifting off-track into the grass and dirt and then bottomed out hard getting back on the pavement.
It’s unclear if Power’s car incurred any damage, but he dropped from 15th to 19th after the incident, and was never really a factor in the race from that point on.
Power made four pit stops in the first 15 laps, primarily to top off for fuel each time to get back on the same strategy as most other teams.
Power briefly grabbed the lead on Lap 44 due to pit stop sequences, but he would quickly lose that position two laps later due to needing to pit for fuel once again.
