Rasmussen Blames Power for Phoenix Crash, Missed Win | INDYCAR 2024
PHOENIX – Christian Rasmussen’s frustration was palpable after Saturday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Phoenix Raceway, a race he felt was snatched from his grasp by an aggressive move from veteran Will Power. The 25-year-old driver didn’t mince words, stating unequivocally that Power drove him into the outside wall, ultimately costing him a likely victory in the Good Ranchers 250.
“You can’t just run people into the wall, which is what happened,” Rasmussen said on the FOX broadcast, his disappointment evident. “He ran me straight into the wall, and after that I had damage.”
Rasmussen, driving the No. 21 ECR Stevia Splenda Chevrolet, had been steadily closing in on Power, and appeared to have the advantage with fresher Firestone tires. He had charged through the field from an 18th-place starting position, taking the lead on Lap 73 and demonstrating a pace that suggested a dominant performance was within reach.
The incident occurred coming off Turn 2, as Rasmussen attempted a pass to the outside. Power drifted in the same direction, leaving the two cars with nowhere to go. Rasmussen’s car slammed into the wall, and the subsequent contact damaged both machines. Power’s right rear tire was cut by Rasmussen’s left front wing.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Rasmussen radioed to his team immediately after the contact, a premonition that proved accurate. While he initially continued, the damage sustained significantly hampered his car’s performance. He ultimately finished 14th, a far cry from the win that seemed so attainable.
A post-race inspection revealed the extent of the damage: “Lower wishbone (on the) front, upper and lower wishbone on the rear and the toe link,” Rasmussen detailed. “Obviously, some of that was from (the last wall impact), but the car was just impossible to drive after (the Power incident), and I just did what I could to salvage the day and not crash the car.”
He added, with a clear sense of what could have been, “It’s just frustrating, man, so frustrating because we should have won the race today and obviously didn’t.”
Power acknowledged the incident, offering Rasmussen an explanation after the race, attributing it to a communication difference with his new spotter from Andretti Global. “If I heard he’s got a wing on you, it’s on me,” Power told reporters. “I can’t blame anyone but myself. There it was for the win. So, you keep it tight. But I should have given him more (room). New spotter this year. He’s really good, (but) there’s a little bit of terminology that would be different there. My old spotter I had for 17 years, he has different terminology. It’s just teething things, you know, I feel bad.”
Power conceded that Rasmussen was the class of the field, stating, “Rasmussen deserves that win. He is very quick. It was going to be a good fight to the end, but he was strong. I was trying my best to take his air and try to use his tires up. But, you know, you could see like, if he had the run there, he was going to get me next corner.”
Rasmussen’s performance wasn’t solely defined by the incident with Power. Throughout the race, he demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, navigating several challenging situations. He even made contact with six-time series champion Scott Dixon, damaging his front wing and Dixon’s rear tire, yet both drivers managed to continue. He also skillfully avoided a spinning Dennis Hauger, showcasing his ability to react quickly and maintain control.
Officially leading 69 laps, Rasmussen was arguably the effective leader for even longer, as other drivers cycled through different pit strategies in an attempt to match his blistering pace. He was the dominant force in a race that saw a remarkable 565 on-track passes, 323 of which were for position, further highlighting his control and speed.
“The best car out there,” he said with a sigh, summarizing the day’s events and the lost opportunity.
The race ultimately went to Josef Newgarden, but the narrative surrounding the Good Ranchers 250 will undoubtedly center on Rasmussen’s impressive performance and the controversial incident that denied him a second career victory, following his win at Milwaukee last year. He had led only the last 16 laps in that race, but this performance at Phoenix demonstrated a level of dominance that suggested a brighter future for the young driver.