Will Power was involved in a crash on lap four of the IndyCar race from Mid-Ohio on Sunday, and sustained minor injuries in the process.
While fighting with Scott Dixon for fourth place just a few corners after the race was restarted, Power was pinched down into the curbing and could not keep control of his Team Penske Chevy.
Spinning out right in the middle of the track, he left a huge cloud of tire smoke that the rest of the field had to navigate.
Most were able to take to the grass and avoid the stranded veteran, but Ed Jones was not able to see where to go until it was too late.
The relatively minor collision damaged both cars’ front suspensions and ended both drivers’ days early, but no further damage seemed to be done.
However, it was later learned that Power injured his wrist in the accident and required the attention of the on-site medical staff.
After emerging from the care centre with some bandages on his right hand, Power explained to NBC Sports that he had neglected to let go of the steering wheel before the impact.
“It’s not broken, fortunately,” explained Power, holding his wrist after being released from the care centre.
“I foolishly left my hands on the wheel when there was all that smoke. Good lesson there.
“Scott [Dixon] squeezed me down so much, I had nowhere to go. I was on the curb. I should have known he’d be aggressive because he was on red [tyres], I was on blacks, so he really wanted to get by.
“If I could have maintained position, I think we could have had a pretty good race.”
The early retirement continued the Australian’s run of middling luck this season, and places him down in 11th in the points, just two positions higher than his rookie team-mate Scott McLaughlin.
Power has over a month to heal up and get ready for the next race which takes place on the streets of Nashville, TN on August 8.
