Breaking down Will Power's exchange with Alex Palou during IndyCar at Mid-Ohio practice
Power approached Alex Palou after Saturday morning's practice at Mid-Ohio, frustrated by what he felt was Palou's tepid pace, preventing him from turning full-speed laps in preparation for qualifying.
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Fox Sports cameras caught their exchange on pit road, bleeping out some of Power's language. After Power walked away, Palou laughed and suggested Power complain to Barry Wanser, Palou's strategist, who was sitting on the timing stand.
"He came out a lap later in front of me, staying there, and spent four laps going slow. Backing up, backing up, backing up, which is frustrating," Power told Fox Sports, adding that process repeated itself minutes later.
Insider: Buckle up, IndyCar's silly season revolves around wily veteran Will Power. What we're hearing
Power said Palou acknowledged the issue.
Several drivers complained during practice and qualifying that others didn't allow them enough space to run full out on the 13-turn, 2.26-mile road course.
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"Look, I think if you look at Practice 1 or 2, everybody is complaining about traffic, and we're all angry that we don't get clear laps. But maybe he thought we did something personal to him. For sure that was not the intention," Palou said in his post-qualifying news conference. "I don't know if you saw, but I was always like a second or two seconds in front of him. He was just having to back off. I never tried to defend or anything.
"I think he was just a little bit upset, and that's OK. But yeah, I knew that he was coming (down pit road) — I just didn't want to start to get into an argument. Yeah, it happens. It was my first time with him, so it's good."
Starting grid: IndyCar Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio qualifying
"We're struggling," Power said. "We're trying to get an idea of what our car is doing, and if you keep backing up, losing tire temps, you don't know."
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Palou qualified for pole position and Power 22nd.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Power mad at Alex Palou after IndyCar practice at Mid-Ohio
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