Rahal fumes after Vautier crash at Pocono

Graham Rahal blasted part-time driver Tristan Vautier after the pair crashed during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono.

On lap 93 of the 200-lap affair, Vautier made contact with Rahal causing both Honda drivers to crash heavily into the wall at Turn 3.

Rahal, who went into the race nine points behind series leader Juan Montoya, was seething following the incident which has put a dent in his stocks of winning the series at Sonoma next week.

The Ohio native has slipped to 34 points behind Montoya ahead of the double-points closing round.

“He (Vautier) just didn’t give me any space. We were two wide, he knows that; he sees that,” Rahal said.

“He’s not known as the sharpest tool around here, that’s fine.

“It just hurts us as I said he’s a part-timer. You know I’m in the championship hunt and driving a Honda why would you do something like that and he has no answers.

Rahal said the Rahal Letterman Lanigan outfit will now go into the double points finale at Sonoma in full attack mode.

“We are down but not out. We’ve had a good year and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

“We are going to go to Sonoma in attack mode.

“The shame of today was that when we were ahead of (Juan) Montoya and (Simon) Pagenaud we were better than them. Our car was better and they couldn’t keep up with us.

“I felt good even behind (Scott) Dixon just taking my time here.

“Next thing you know we couldn’t fuel (fuel filler proved troublesome engaging into the nozzle) and we fall way back.

“As they say when you’re back with the squirrels you’re bound to get your nuts cracked.”

Vautier explained that he had been squeezed for room and tried to go down the apron to avoid any incident.

“I didn’t get any room. I tired to go down the apron and brake but it was too late,” Vautier said.

“You are always going to be the bad guy in this kind of story.

“I feel really bad for the guys we were all wanting to get to the end.”

Points standings