Will Power shoves Scott Dixon after ‘abrupt’ crash in eventful Road America practice

Defending IndyCar series champion Will Power was infuriated with Scott Dixon, shoving the six-time champ after they collided during an eventful Saturday morning practice at Road America.

Several drivers lost control while trying to find the limit on the 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course that was repaved during the offseason. The high grip on the new smooth surface has produced speeds that threaten track records, and the one-hour practice was stopped five times for red flags.

The second was about 20 minutes into the session after Dixon spun into a runoff area just before Turn 12. His No. 9 Dallara-Honda was crawling along while rejoining the track.

INDYCAR AT ROAD AMERICA: How to watch, weekend schedule, entry lists

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session II l Combined

Dixon allowed Romain Grosjean to scoot past, but he then accelerated into the right side of Power’s No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet, which also was coming by at speed behind Grosjean. The contact sent the left side of Power’s car hard into a concrete wall in Turn 12 and also left Dixon’s car with heavy damage.

.@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

“We were on really old tires, spun going into 12 there, and I saw Grosjean out of my mirror after I recovered, and I didn’t realize Power was even there,” Dixon told NBC Sports’ Dillon Welch. “Really sorry for him and obviously his team. Just a mistake on my behalf and feel frustrated for wrecking our car and his car as well.”

After exiting his car, Power made a beeline toward Dixon while angrily waving his arms. They had to be separated by AMR safety workers as Power briefly got a