Brake Failure Leads to Barber Qualifying Crash for Will Power

By David Morgan, Associate Editor

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The trials and tribulations of Will Power’s first season at Andretti Global have rolled on this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park.

Two weeks removed from his first podium finish for the team in Arlington, Power was optimistic heading into Sunday’s running of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, but early in qualifying, the bad luck that has seemed to follow him all season found him again.

Heading into Turn 5 on the 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course, Power suffered a braking issue, causing him to be unable to make the downhill left hander and he was just along for the ride at that point, sending him plowing through the gravel trap and into the tire barrier at high speed.

The driver of the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda was able to climb from the car under his own power a short time later and eventually seen and released from the IndyCar Medical Unit seemingly no worse for wear.

“The brake just went to the floor. I think the fronts were working, so it was a brake failure on the rear. That’s all I know,” said Power of the issue that cut his qualifying run short.

Before his reprieve in Arlington, Power had suffered issues in the first two races of the season, including crashes in practice, qualifying, and the race in St. Petersburg, along with a crash in qualifying and contact during the race at Phoenix that derailed his day.

MASSIVE HIT FOR WILL POWER IN ROUND 1 OF QUALIFYING 😬 pic.twitter.com/rTTaDOYbHN

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) March 28, 2026

Despite the long odds having to start from the back of the field on Sunday, Power remains upbeat about his chances for the race once his team remedies the braking issue.

“Once we find the problem it’s no big deal. It’s just a pity for qualifying,” said Power. “I think we had a good car. I haven’t had a clean lap this weekend, but the car is actually very good. I thought we’d make it through to the Fast Six, definitely the top-12. It’s unfortunate.

“Definitely found the wall quite a few times this year already. It’s incredible, but you know, that’s how things go sometimes. We’ll look and see what happened and the guys will fix the car.

“We’re starting from last, but you can definitely win from there.”