LONG BEACH, CA – Will Power was given a penalty for contacting an AJ Foyt Racing pit crew member in pit lane on the lone caution of the day in IndyCar’s Grand Prix of Long Beach.
As the entire grid pitted to prepare for a restart, the rear right rear of Power’s No. 26 Andretti Global Honda ran over Ryan Marzec, the rear left tire changer on AJ Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevrolet, driven by rookie Caio Collet. Marzec was carted out of pit lane into the infield care center, but a team spokesperson tells IndyStar he has been treated and released with no broken bones. Ace bandages have been placed on both of Marzec’s feet, and he will fly back to Indianapolis on the team’s charter.
Power was given a drive-through penalty for the contact, knocking him back to 24th in the leaderboard, which was last of the active cars on track. Marcus Ericsson, Power’s Andretti Global teammate, retired early from the race due to a mechanical failure and finished 25th. Power made his way back to 19th to end the race.
“It’s a very, very tight pit lane, so I feel bad that I hurt (Marzec),” Power said. “It’s very difficult to almost have three cars wide of you.”
Power, who’s in his first season with Andretti Global after 17 seasons with Team Penske, has just one top-10 finish in five starts with the team. The two-time IndyCar champion now sits 14th in the championship standings.
“That is a very disappointing result on a number of fronts,” Power said. “Ran over a guy, but also another terrible result. (Expletive) unbelievable, man. (Expletive) incredible.”
Power was fine that the penalty was assessed, although he said he couldn’t see Marzec and didn’t feel like he could go further left to exit the pits.
“Very (expletive) frustrating, very (expletive) frustrating,” he said. “(Expletive) incredible.”
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Power penalized in Long Beach after hitting Foyt pit crew member
Reporting by Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
