Sometimes, no matter how much preparation or skill a driver brings to the track, fate has other plans. For Team Penske’s Will Power, Sunday’s Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway dealt a devastating blow to his IndyCar championship aspirations, as a freak mechanical failure — the undoing of his safety belts — put him out of contention early in the race.
Power, who started the 206-lap finale with hopes of challenging Alex Palou for the 2024 title, was suddenly forced into the pits when the main belt securing his waist disconnected unexpectedly just minutes into the race. Despite the quick action of Power’s No. 12 Chevrolet crew, led by crew chief Trevor Lacasse, five crucial laps were lost in the process of securing the belts. As a result, Power’s championship hopes unraveled in an instant.
“I was just driving down the front stretch, and I felt a pop in the lap belt. It felt kind of loose, and then I reached down, and the belt was off. That’s when I knew we had to pit,” Power explained.
The issue, which recurred later in the race, puzzled the team. Power and his crew were eventually able to resolve the problem faster the second time, but the damage to his race was already done. The Penske driver finished eight laps down and saw his second-place position in the standings slip to fourth overall.
“We’ll have to send the belts back to the manufacturer,” Power noted, still perplexed by the unusual failure. “It’s something I’ve never experienced before, and I’m just thankful it didn’t become a bigger safety issue.”
Despite the crushing setback, Power maintained his signature sportsmanship. He was among the first to congratulate his friend and rival Alex Palou, who went on to secure his third IndyCar title in four years with a dominant performance.
“I’ve had all sorts of failures before — engines, gearboxes, and now a belt failure. It’s disappointing, but a huge congratulations to Alex. He’s been a tough competitor, and I’ve enjoyed racing against him,” Power said. “It’s been a solid season for the whole team, but of course, we wanted that championship. We’ll come back stronger next year.”
For Power, the loss in Nashville may have ended his 2024 title bid, but it has only fueled his determination to return even stronger in 2025.
