Will Power and Kyle Kirkwood found themselves embroiled in a fierce on-track confrontation during the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, marking the second consecutive IndyCar weekend with aggressive encounters between the two drivers. The tension peaked on Sunday as both exchanged intense moves that impacted their race results.
Early in the 55-lap race, on lap 4, Power was fighting to defend fifth place against Alex Palou while targeting Kirkwood, who was running in fourth. Attempting a bold maneuver to maintain his position, Power lunged late into Turn 12, known as Canada Corner, braking too late and running off the track. This forced Kirkwood to ease off to avoid a collision, allowing Palou to slip past both competitors to grab fourth position.
“The f**k was that,” Kirkwood said on his team radio. “They (Power) should give us that position back.”
During the subsequent caution, Kirkwood drove alongside Power and questioned his rival’s move with a hand gesture. The rivalry escalated on lap 17, after pit stops shuffled the field; Kirkwood retaliated with a forceful pass against Power, who was also recovering on the track.
“Should be a penalty for Kirkwood. Banged me off the track,” Will Power said on his team radio.
By the race’s conclusion, Kirkwood secured fourth place, while Power fell to 14th after numerous caution periods disrupted strategies. Reflecting on the intense battle and his difficult day in a post-race interview, Power acknowledged Kirkwood’s aggressive response but lamented the rough outcome.
“I understand Kyle getting me back (laughs),” he said [0:07 onwards]. “I was racing with Palou, and I locked up a bit, so I was like, ‘Arghhh!’ I mean, he did a good job to avoid an incident. Just an overall rough day, man.”
Kyle Kirkwood Advances in Championship Standings Amid Palou’s Win
Kirkwood’s solid fourth-place finish lifted him above Pato O’Ward into second place in the IndyCar championship rankings. However, Alex Palou, having won the race, increased his lead, extending the points gap over Kirkwood from 75 to 93, affecting the title battle significantly.
Power Reflects on Frustrating Weekend, Looks Ahead to Mid-Ohio
Will Power entered the Road America weekend with competitive speed, ranking third quickest in both practice sessions. Despite this, he failed to advance to the Fast 6 during qualifying and started the race eighth on the grid. His No. 12 Team Penske squad struggled tactically amidst multiple caution flags, which compounded his difficulties during the race.
Power summed up his mood after the event in an Instagram post, signaling his frustration and determination to recover at the next race venue:
“Not ideal. Pretty frustrating day. Time to bounce back at Mid-Ohio.”
Team Penske extended its winless streak this season as Josef Newgarden crashed out after spinning on lap 30, and Scott McLaughlin managed the team’s best finish in 12th place despite starting fourth. The team’s challenges at Road America highlight ongoing struggles as the season progresses.
