Will Power’s much-anticipated debut with Andretti Global at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg quickly descended into turmoil after a severe accident during Saturday’s second practice session. The Australian driver, piloting the No. 26 Honda, locked up his brakes at Turn 10 just under three minutes into the session, crashing heavily into the outside wall and causing substantial damage to his car.
The incident occurred under humid morning conditions on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit, which left only a narrow dry racing line, adding to the challenge. Power’s crash forced his team into urgent damage control with qualifying scheduled later that day, placing pressure on both the crew and driver to recover swiftly.
Challenges Leading Up to the Crash During Practice
Power, a two-time winner at St. Petersburg and 2018 Indianapolis 500 champion, had been grappling with brake lock-up issues throughout Friday’s initial practice session. The slippery and confined street circuit only heightened the difficulty on Saturday morning. Despite his experience, the 44-year-old driver admitted the crash was a clear mistake.
“You start it, and then you’ve locked that wheel, and you’ve got to get off to unlock it. It was just poor,”
Power confessed when reflecting on the cause of the incident. His frustration was evident as he acknowledged the setback this missed session caused.
“I just feel bad for the team,”
he said.
“Just have to try and get it together before qualifying. We have actually a lot of time, but to miss this session was a big hit for us considering the session we had yesterday.”
Extent of Damage and Urgency for Repairs
The crash inflicted severe damage to Power’s car, particularly to the floor, which is critical for car performance and aerodynamics. The timing of the accident added to its severity; had the lock-up happened slightly earlier in the braking zone, Power might have avoided the wall. Instead, the lighter-than-expected brake pressure left little room for correction.
“If it had happened a little earlier, I would have been able to just go straight,”
Power explained, underlining the difficulty of recovering from such a late-lock situation. He also highlighted the challenge his Andretti crew faces in making repairs quickly as qualifying looms.
“It’s a lot of damage, the floor, all that,”
he added.
“So I think you’ve got to fix that stuff quickly. Yeah, we’ll see.”
Other Drivers Impacted During the Practice Session
Power was not alone in suffering setbacks during the morning session. Christian Rasmussen, racing the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, experienced a spin at Turn 1 with just over eight minutes remaining before the session was split into groups. The spin resulted in a collision with the barrier at Turn 2, ending his track time prematurely. Rasmussen emerged from the car with a damaged nosecone, further emphasizing the challenges that the St. Petersburg circuit posed for drivers.
Pressure Mounts as Qualifying Approaches
With qualifying scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET the same day, the incident significantly complicates Power’s weekend. The team must now work quickly to repair the Honda while the driver must refocus mentally after a disappointing start to his tenure with Andretti Global. Given Power’s proven record, including two IndyCar titles and the 2018 Indy 500 victory, expectations remain high despite this early misfortune.
Power’s remarks encapsulate the tension surrounding the situation:
“I just feel bad for the team.”
This sentiment underscores the pressure on both driver and crew to regroup and aim for a strong qualifying performance despite the damaged car and lost track time.
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