Will Power has endured a rough day as Felix Rosenqvist taking victory in race two of the IndyCar double-header at Road America.
Rosenqvist overtook Pato O’Ward on the next-to-last lap to earn his first career win on Sunday and become just the second driver to finish P1 this year after his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon had posted three straight victories to start the series.
Power, who finished second to Dixon in Saturday’s opening race of the weekend, created some commotion at the start of Sunday’s race.
On the opening lap, his Team Penske car hit Ryan Hunter-Reay’s from behind and also made contact with the car of Graham Rahal in a separate incident, knocking both drivers of the race.
Power was penalised for avoidable contact and got sent to the back of the pack on the restart.
His tough day continued a few laps later when he hit a sign off Turn 13 but he recovered and briefly took the lead on the 17th lap before eventually finishing 11th – a spot better than Dixon.
“Man, just a rough race for us today,” Power said.
“I guess in the end, things could have been worse, and an 11th-place finish is a small victory. I don’t really agree with the penalty from early in the race.
“I felt that was just a racing deal.”
Pole-sitter O’Ward pulled ahead on the 43rd of 55 laps but his margin steadily decreased before Rosenqvist finally passed him.
“You’re never really too confident,” Rosenqvist said.
“But when I saw the gap with Pato decrease the last four or five laps, I only had one thing on my mind and my crew also had only one thing on my mind, and that was winning the race.”
Rosenqvist became the first Swede to win an IndyCar race since Kenny Brack’s 2002 victory at Mexico City.
Alexander Rossi, who won at Road America last year, finished third for the best result of what has been a disappointing season for the Andretti Autosport driver.
The weekend’s races in Wisconsin marked the first time spectators were allowed in the stands during this pandemic-delayed season.
IndyCar organisers are allowing fans on a case-by-case basis, relying on local and state health guidelines wherever the races are held.
