Kiwi Scott Dixon has given himself a serve, after a "rookie mistake" cost him a chance to all but close out the IndyCar Series Championship.
The series leader sat a comfortable second during Monday's race at Mid-Ohio, when he accelerated too quickly out of a corner, went wide onto the grass and spun, dropping as low as 20th.
Dixon recovered to finish a creditable 10th, but with championship rival Josef Newgarden also having a frustrating day, the five-time champion could have dealt a killer blow in the points race.
Newgarden came home eighth, trimming Dixon's lead to 72 points with three races to go.
"I got a little bit aggressive," Dixon says. "I hit the overtake on the exit to one and just way too much Honda power there, and it spun the tyres and spun the car.
"Totally caught me off guard - a total rookie mistake. I'm bummed for the team.
"It was such a stupid mistake I shouldn't have made."
The race weekend was disappointing for 2008 Indy 500 winner, with two 10th place finishes representing the worst back-to-back results for Dixon this season.
American Colton Herta won the race, with teammates Alexander Rossi and Ryan Hunter-Reay completing an all-Andretti Autosports podium.
A three-week break awaits the drivers, before a double race weekend at the Indianapolis road course where Dixon has several race wins to his credit.
"We need to get back to winning. I'm not going to points-race to chase this title.
"If we win races, we will win the championship."
