Will Power Collides with Kyle Kirkwood in Shocking IndyCar Practice Incident

The Detroit IndyCar race weekend started with a strange, almost surreal moment in the first practice session. Veteran driver Will Power and up-and-comer Kyle Kirkwood found themselves at the center of it all.

At Turn 5—one of the tightest spots on the short, crowded track—Power repeatedly rammed into Kirkwood’s car. The hits caused real damage and quickly set off heated debates about what the heck Power was thinking, and why IndyCar officials didn’t step in right away.

The Incident: Power vs. Kirkwood

During that first practice, Will Power, racing for Penske, collided with Kyle Kirkwood’s Andretti car in a way that left everyone scratching their heads. Power was on a hot lap, came up behind Kirkwood moving slower, and instead of backing off, he just shoved Kirkwood through the corner.

The result? Kirkwood’s car took a beating, especially to the floor and gearbox casing. Not exactly what you want before a big race.

Power’s Explanation

After practice, Power tried to explain himself. He said the first contact was accidental—maybe—but then he figured he might as well keep going and push Kirkwood’s car ahead to make space.

“I thought I may as well get a gap now, so I just pushed him past the car in front, just moved him out of the way and got a really nice gap,” Power said, laughing. That explanation didn’t exactly clear things up or calm people down.

Kirkwood’s Reaction

Kirkwood, clearly frustrated but keeping it together, couldn’t believe what happened. “Everyone is going slow around here, the track’s not big enough to fit all the cars and he got frustrated,” he said.

Even with the damage, Kirkwood somehow finished the session in first place. He shrugged the whole thing off: “I don’t know, I’m not upset, I don’t care, we’re P1.”

IndyCar’s Response

IndyCar’s response? A spokesperson said there would be “no action” against Power. That decision split opinions—some folks think it sets a risky precedent, while others just call it a racing incident.

Community Reaction

David Malukas, another driver on track, saw the whole thing unfold. At first, he thought Power was just helping Kirkwood to safety, like something out of the movie Cars. Then he realized it was actually serious.

“For me it just felt like I was back playing iRacing or rFactor,” Malukas joked. The whole scenario kicked off a bigger conversation about sportsmanship and safety in motorsports, which honestly, probably needed to happen.

Historical Context

Funny enough, this isn’t Kirkwood’s first Detroit practice drama. Last year, he tangled with Santino Ferrucci at the same Turn 5.

Ferrucci later apologized for his behavior, which included some not-so-nice words aimed at Kirkwood and teammate Colton Herta.

Implications for the Future

This Power-Kirkwood mess really makes you wonder about how pro drivers should act, and what the sport’s governing bodies should do to keep things fair. Power did apologize to Kirkwood and his team after the fact, but his first reaction—and the lack of real consequences—left a lot of people uneasy.

Lessons for Aspiring Racers

These incidents are a reminder: sportsmanship and respect matter, even when the adrenaline’s pumping. Young racers watch veterans like Power and take cues from their behavior, for better or worse.

How the racing community chooses to handle moments like this will shape the sport’s future. It’s not easy, but it’s important.

Looking Ahead

The Detroit Grand Prix weekend rolls on, and honestly, everyone’s watching Power and Kirkwood right now. Both drivers have put on a show so far.

People will keep a close eye on how they perform in the next sessions. The recent incident just cranked up the drama for what was already a wild race weekend.

Want the nitty-gritty details? Check out the full article on The Race.