Will Power drives IndyCar for first time since Las Vegas crash which claimed the life of Dan Wheldon

Will Power

GaplekNews--Will Power has been back in a race car for the first time since breaking his back in the 15-car accident that killed two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon in the IndyCar season finale.

Power tested his new car at Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama and said he felt fine and had no soreness in his back. The test is scheduled to run for two days.

The Australian driver had been sidelined since sustaining two compression-fractures in his thoracic-vertebrae in the crash last month in Las Vegas.

"I was very much looking forward to getting back in the car, just getting back in the swing of things," he said.

"It was quite nice, and there were no problems at all. We got lots of miles in and that's basically all we're doing, just putting a lot of miles in."

It's the second time Power has broken his back in an IndyCar accident, and the Team Penske driver has grown increasingly vocal about safety improvements.

He wrote in a column for AutoWeek that pack racing is "just too dangerous" in IndyCar. He also called his accident at Las Vegas "frightening" because his car went airborne and toward the catchfence.

Power tested the new IndyCar for Chevrolet, the second time he's done so after running it at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but has yet to drive it on an oval.

But Power said he believes the car is good on road courses.

"The car no question is faster and has more grip," he said. "But it still needs some work. It still needs to get working a little better." Fox