Remember the two-fingered salute from Will Power back in 2011 at New Hampshire Speedway? Now we have him back in the news for his ‘unsatisfactory’ reaction to fellow IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon and Romain Grosjean at the Sensio Grand Prix at Road America in Wisconsin. While he may have physically pushed Dixon, lambasted the Road America circuit and expressed that Grosjean needs a punch in the face, the greater crime maybe the lack of action by the NTT IndyCar Series officials which appear to be condoning what took place last weekend.
In 2011, the Australian driver was unhappy after crashing out of the IndyCar Series race following a restart with 10-laps remaining in slippery conditions as light rain fell at the Speedway. Power showed his displeasure by giving the one-fingered salute to officials.
Move on another 12-years and this time Will Power finds himself in a bizarre crash with Scott Dixon during Saturday morning’s practice session for the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America. Dixon had spun and allowed Romain Grosjean to pass before re-joining the track, not knowing that Power was right behind Grosjean. The two collided causing substantial damage to both cars, which in turn had an impact on the qualifying.
After both got out of their cars, an incensed Power pushed Dixon to express his displeasure and then unloaded all his frustration at a post-qualifying interview, particularly at Grosjean who had initially blocked him on a straight forcing him wide part-way onto the grass.
He said, “…and Grosjean is a piece of crap, if you saw what he did in practice. He needs a punch in the face.”
You would have thought that knowing Dixon was involved in the crash, that Power would have wondered what had gone wrong for the experienced campaigner to have made such a mistake, coming back onto the track and not seeing Power. Did warrant a physical altercation?
Now I can’t comment on Grosjean’s on-track behaviour, but to call someone a ‘piece of crap’ and advocate violence, is a step too far. Coupled with his pushing Dixon, it says more about Power and less about the incidents.
We don’t know what has been said behind closed doors by IndyCar officials to those involved. However, for IndyCar not to publicly comment or to instigate some sort of action is tantamount to condoning Power’s words and actions.
I’m just not sure what message IndyCar is sending to their fans. It’s almost allowing Power’s behaviour to be acceptable. Well, maybe it is in the USA. Here in NZ, you can only compare it with sporting codes that take place across Australasia (I’m sure that the NRL wouldn’t put up with it)!
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