On Sunday, Will Power‘s first race with Andretti Global at the 2026 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg ended abruptly due to a crash at Turn 10. The two-time IndyCar champion, celebrating his birthday, had to retire early after his No. 26 Honda made contact with the barriers, halting his season opener in frustrating fashion. This marks a difficult start for Power as he faces challenges with his car throughout the race weekend.
Repeat Crash Reflects Ongoing Tire Lock-Up Issue
The crash Power experienced during the race mirrored an earlier incident in Practice 2 on Saturday. Both involved him locking up his front tires at Turn 10, resulting in his car hitting the wall nose-first. The practice crash occurred under damp conditions, but the race incident unfolded on a dry track. The common problem was the front-locking tire issue that plagued Power all weekend, causing him to drift wide and impact the barriers with his right front and rear tires, damaging the suspension.
On team radio, Power expressed immediate frustration, stating,
“Oh f***, I hit wall. Right rear suspension is bent.”
Though Power managed to bring his car back to the pits, the damage was too severe to continue. After a brief assessment by his pit crew, the decision was made to retire the car from the race.
Power Shares Disappointment After Premature Exit
Following his crash, Power held a brief discussion with his team at the timing stands before speaking with FOX pitlane reporter Kevin Lee. He candidly described the recurring issue that cut his race short.
“Kind of like the same issue I had the other day when I hit the wall, exactly the same problem we’ve had,” said the Andretti Global driver. “Feel really bad for the guys. We were doing such a – The car was really good. It just plagued us all weekend, this thing, and haven’t been able to fix it for qualifying. Feel really bad.”
This setback adds to Power’s recent misfortune at St. Petersburg, as he also retired from last year’s Grand Prix following a first-lap collision with Nolan Siegel.
Similar Misfortune Shadows Colton Herta’s 2025 St. Pete Experience
Power’s difficulties this year draw a parallel to the troubles faced by his predecessor in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda, Colton Herta, during the 2025 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. While Power struggled with car handling and tire locking issues, Herta’s challenge came from his pit crew’s errors during a critical pit stop, which cost him valuable track position. Once a podium contender, Herta dropped to 16th place after losing significant time during the slow stop.
“Remember this feeling. It sucks,” Herta said on team radio. “I don’t want to feel like this ever again. And I know you guys don’t too. I got your back though, as long as you got mine.”
Both drivers’ setbacks highlight the importance of flawless pit operations and car performance in securing success at St. Petersburg.
Implications for Andretti Global’s Season and Future Challenges
Will Power’s debut with Andretti Global ending in a Did Not Finish (DNF) result places immediate pressure on the team to address the technical problems affecting his car. With Power acknowledging unresolved handling issues and the team’s inability to fix them before qualifying, focus now turns to upcoming races where improvements are crucial. Overcoming these problems will be vital for Power to leverage his championship experience and contend for strong finishes in the 2026 IndyCar season.
