IndyCar’s return to Milwaukee served up two excellent encounters and plenty of jaw-dropping action, including massive ramifications for the championship fight.
Will Power missed out on an incredible opportunity to close the gap to championship leader Alex Palou, as the Spaniard suffered electrical issues that sent him nearly 30 laps down in race two of the Milwaukee Mile.
After gaining the net lead of the race and remaining in contention through multiple cautions, Power managed to put his Team Penske car in the wall on lap 131.
It cycled him into the midfield and he was never quite able to recover, finishing 10th and missing out on a prime opportunity to apply some real pressure on Palou.
Will Power shares Milwaukee ‘surprise’ in spin
At the speed he spun, Power was lucky not to be collected by any of his rivals – saved by the high line that he took into the final corner.
He was guaranteed a top-five finish under normal circumstances, meaning that the Aussie has left at least 10 points on the table.
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“Yeah, it was a faster than normal restart, or maybe it was starting back there, and I was in second gear, just caught me by surprise,” he told Motorsport.com.
“I did not expect that. I was really happy to keep it off the wall and not get hit by anyone. Yeah, we lost a lap changing that wing; I don’t know how damaged that wing was.
“Man, that was close. God gave us a chance there and kind of let it go. That’s the season, man. You just can’t have those mistakes. It was getting a bit hectic on those restarts, maybe it would have been better to stay out. I don’t know.”
Can Power achieve the impossible in Nashville?
Power needs to overcome a 33-point gap in order to usurp Palou and beat the Spaniard to winning a third IndyCar crown.
He knows that a win is required at Nashville, otherwise he can wave goodbye to any hopes unless his rival retires from the race.
Palou knows that ninth will be enough to claim his third title in four seasons and stamp his authority down on the field yet again, as the youngest driver to reach the tally.
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It’s a change for IndyCar this year, although the finale will still be held in Nashville, it will be held at the Speedway, not the street course.
Power is strong on ovals and Palou is yet to win on one, so that hands him a chance, but expect there to be yet more chaos – much like Milwaukee, in Tennessee for the decider.