INDYCAR: 'No one' likes racing Kimball - Power

IndyCar title contender Will Power suffered concussion-like symptoms after a crash with Charlie Kimball at Watkins Glen.

Power's Penske Dallara-Chevrolet drilled into the tire barrier and hit the steel reinforcement in a incident at two-thirds distance in Sunday's race.

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He was checked at the track's infield medical center but not cleared to drive again and will need to be re-examined before he is allowed to return to action.

Power, who missed the season opener in St Petersburg with symptoms initially diagnosed as concussion from a practice crash, had strong words for Kimball over the collision.

"No one in the paddock likes racing him," Power said. "They all talk about it – he's the most dangerous guy on the track.

"I haven't seen the replay, but he's just a pain in the ass."

Kimball went on to finish sixth, though he was also involved in two other incidents including a heavy crash for Graham Rahal.

"Everyone else that I made a run on coming up the hill stayed on the right to block," Kimball said of the Power clash. "I got next to him and he just kept following Carlos Munoz ahead like he had no idea there was someone behind him.

"He can be disappointed, but if he knew I was there, he drove me into the grass. We still have mirrors. I'm sorry we ran into him, but I'm sorry he squeezed me over.

Power entered the race 28 points behind Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud of France in the championship but now goes into the double-points Sonoma decider 43 points down on his title rival.

Asked if he should have raced Power differently as he was a championship contender, Kimball replied: "No, you're racing for every position and I feel bad that he got into me but I had the run and I was there.

"I'm sure the stewards looked at it and I didn't get a call for avoidable contact because I was alongside.

"You can't think about what other guys are doing. We kind of don't have anything to lose. Seventh to 12th [in the championship] is on the table for us. You have to take every position you can."

Pagenaud went on to finish seventh and just needs a top-five finish to claim his first IndyCar title.

LEADING CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

Originally on Autosport.com