Rasmussen Furious After Power Incident Ruins Phoenix Comeback

Contact with Will Power's car cut Rasmussen's tire, ending his shot at victory.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Andretti Global's Will Power, the two-time IndyCar series champion, started last at the Phoenix race but worked his way to the lead by Lap 201. However, his comeback was spoiled by contact with Ed Carpenter Racing's Christian Rasmussen, which cut Power's tire and ended his race. Rasmussen continued on but said his car was damaged, ultimately finishing 14th after leading for 69 laps. Rasmussen was furious, accusing Power of running him "straight into the wall" and costing him the victory.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the intense competition and rivalries in the IndyCar series, where drivers will aggressively battle for position, sometimes resulting in contact and damaged cars. It also raises questions about racing etiquette and whether Power's move was overly aggressive, especially given Rasmussen's dominant performance up to that point.

The details

In the closing laps, Power and Rasmussen were fighting for the lead when they made contact exiting Turn 2. Rasmussen's left front wing hit Power's right rear tire, cutting it and ending Power's charge. Rasmussen continued on but said his car was damaged, with issues in the front and rear suspension. He was ultimately unable to hold off Kirkwood and Newgarden, finishing 14th after leading for 69 laps.

  • The incident occurred on Lap 201 of the 250-lap Phoenix race.
  • Rasmussen led the race for 69 laps before the contact with Power.

The players

Will Power

A two-time IndyCar series champion driving for Andretti Global.

Christian Rasmussen

An Ed Carpenter Racing driver who was leading the Phoenix race before the incident with Power.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's very clear what happened, right? We were the class of the field today, the best car out there. I was so happy with the car, and you kind of just run people into the wall, which was what happened today. He ran me straight into the wall and after that I had damage—I think lower wishbone front, lower wishbone on the rear, and a toe link. Obviously, some of that was probably from after [the incident], but the car was just impossible to drive after that. And yeah, I just did what I could to sell it today and I crashed a car, but this is frustrating, man, so frustrating, because we should have won the race today and obviously didn't.”

— Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing driver (Indianapolis Star)

What’s next

The IndyCar series will investigate the incident between Power and Rasmussen to determine if any penalties are warranted.

The takeaway

This race at Phoenix showcased the intense rivalries and high stakes in the IndyCar series, where even the slightest contact can ruin a driver's chance at victory. The fallout from this incident will likely continue to play out in the coming weeks as the series looks into the matter.