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Graham Rahal frustrated after Will Power contact: 'He’s made a lot of rookie mistakes'

ELKHART LAKE, WI – Sunday's Grand Prix at Road America ended on a caution due to contact on the final lap between Will Power and Graham Rahal.

While going into Turn 12 on the 14-turn road course, Power's right front on his No. 26 Andretti Global Honda connected with the left rear of Rahal's No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. The incident sent Rahal spinning into the wall, ending his day with a 23rd-place finish while Power remained on track and finished third behind winner Christian Lundgaard and David Malukas.

Rahal was trying to defend from Power near the end of the lap as he chased his third podium finish of the season. Rahal passed Power earlier in the lap and wanted to keep his ground, but as he veered left, the contact occurred, causing the race to end on the yellow flag.

"Look, I've got a lot of things to say about Will and the way he's been driving and stuff, but I'm just not gonna say it," Rahal told Frontstretch after being released from the medical unit. "I don't need to say it. I think people see it. You make a mistake into (Turn) 8, lick your wounds and move on. You don't need to ruin somebody else's day."

Power felt Rahal incorrectly left his line and that Rahal was at fault for ending his race unceremoniously.

"From my perspective, I could not do anything," Power said. "I mean, I was at the capacity of braking. He moved it. There's nothing I can do."

Power and Rahal are both veterans looking to perform at levels they reached earlier in their careers. Power, a two-time IndyCar champion, came into Sunday with just one podium finish through nine races in his first year with Andretti Global. Rahal, who hasn't finished top 10 in the championship since 2021, hasn't had four podium finishes in 11 years. Rahal is now 12th in the championship, Power is 14th.

Power was relieved to be back on the podium for the first time in three months.

"I think you just got to accept top five sometimes," Power said. "I think if you've got a shot for a win, you should always go for it. We're in a position, not going to win the championship, so we probably can take some risks on strategy and so on to go for a win."

Rahal felt he raced Power "perfectly clean," which he claimed isn't in Power's vocab.

"He’s made a lot of rookie mistakes this year," Rahal said. "He continues to do it, I just don’t get it. I don’t get it. And clearly, the pressure is getting to him, and he keeps doing the same things over and over. It's pretty annoying."

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: Graham Rahal frustrated after Will Power contact: 'He’s made a lot of rookie mistakes'

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