What could've been a fourth IndyCar podium for Graham Rahal in the last seven races turned into heartbreak on Sunday. On the last lap of the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, Will Power rear-ended Rahal into the wall, a move that would secure him his second podium with Andretti Global this season.

The duo was battling for the final podium spot in the closing stages of the race. On lap 55, the last lap, Power was in third until Turn 8, where he went wide and lost a position to Rahal. However, the No. 26 Andretti driver managed to stay close behind.

But disaster struck in Turn 12. Power tried to go on the outside heading into the right-hander, but Rahal tried to close the door on him and went left. Consequently, Power's right front made contact with Rahal's rear-left, and the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver spun, hit the outside barriers, and went into the gravel.

“Overall, it is what it is. It was just Power being Power," an upset Rahal said post-race (via Motorsport.com). "I had every right to move to the right at the end of the brake zone. People can say that I came back to the left, but he ran into the back of my car; he wasn't even next to me."

For Will Power, it was a much-needed IndyCar podium in what has been an underwhelming first season with Andretti. Graham Rahal felt that it was this slump that led the two-time IndyCar champion to force such a move.

"He’s made a lot of rookie mistakes this year," Rahal told Frontstretch. "He continues to do it, I just don’t get it. I don’t get it. And clearly, the pressure is getting to him, and he keeps doing the same things over and over. It's pretty annoying."

Will Power felt 'surprised' by Graham Rahal's late move

While Graham Rahal felt that he raced Will Power "perfectly clean," the latter's opinion was far from that. The 2018 Indy 500 winner felt that his fellow veteran rival suddenly moved to the left in Turn 12, which caused the incident.

In the post-race IndyCar press conference at Road America, Power explained his side of the incident, saying:

"Yeah, unfortunate there. I was braking, he was braking. I don't understand why that was. It took me by surprise, obviously. That's what caused that. It's a pity."

Power's third-place finish matched his season-best from the Grand Prix of Arlington. As a result, he ascended to 14th in the standings, while Rahal, who had a chance at advancing into the Top 10, dropped to 12th.

The star of the race was Christian Lundgaard. The Arrow McLaren driver went from sustaining front wing damage on lap 1 and becoming last before rising all the way to the top for his second win of the season after the Sonsio GP. Team Penske's David Malukas finished second.

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Written by

Yash Kotak

Edited by

Yash Kotak