Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
FIFA World Cup 2026 posterMcLaughlin and Power collide in IndyCar podium battle
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • June 1st, 2026 1:30 pm
Scott McLaughlin and Will Power | Photo: Photosport
The trans-Tasman rivalry continues in IndyCar, with Australian Will Power and Kiwi Scott McLaughlin coming to blows on the streets of Detroit.
The former Penske teammates were locked in a battle for a podium spot on Monday (NZ Time), when Power became wedged between McLaughlin and the wall while running 3rd and 4th with 23 laps to go in the Detroit Grand Prix.
The incident immediately forced Power to the pits, and his No. 26 machine was too damaged to continue the race.
Power, who started the race off the front row in second, shared his dissatisfaction for his 22rd finish result.
“We were in a good position there near the end and had a shot at a podium. Unfortunately, the contact caused suspension damage and that was it.
“It’s frustrating, but I have no doubt that our time on the top step of the podium is coming soon.”
McLaughlin who started third was also frustrated by the incident as it caused a broken toe-link for his No. 3 car, resulting in a 19th place after being off the pace for several laps.
The Kiwi driver said he was simply given no option by Power with a lock-up changing how things panned out.
“We were side-by-side out of Turn 3 and I got a little sideways which made me press him to the wall a lot more aggressively than I wanted which closed the hole.
“He locked the right front. I got up the inside of him. Honestly, I was going to go to the outside and he kept turning in and basically gave me no option.
“The whole way, no option. I went beside him, no option. Turned into the side of me and drove me into the right-side fence and another fence.
“I didn’t want to do that to him. I didn’t want to do that to my day.”
However the pair seem to have resolved the issue in a handshake after the race.
“I have so much respect for Will Power, he’s been my teammate for so many years, and helped me so much. We'll talk about it. I regard him as a guy with a lot of respect," McLaughlin said.
“Today, I felt like he gave me no option and I really didn’t want to see that happen with either of us. I’m super frustrated because I think we had a great car, and I don’t know what else I could have done.”
It was another win for championship leader Alex Palou who started the race from pole, while McLaughlin's compatriots Marcus Armstrong finished 11th from grid 8 and Scott Dixon who started 4th had a DNF after a hybrid failure.
