Josef Newgarden once again proved his dominance at World Wide Technology Raceway, securing his fifth win at the track in a thrilling 260-lap race. It wasn’t just another day at the office, though—this victory came with its share of nail-biting moments and some intense drama.
Close Calls and Team Tactics
Newgarden found himself in a precarious position on Lap 196 when his car nearly spun out. As he pushed hard through Turn 2, his car’s rear end started to give way. Somehow, he managed to avoid disaster, keeping his Chevrolet out of the wall. Looking back, he admitted it was a close call, saying, “I pushed a little too hard there, made a mistake, and was just thankful we didn’t wreck. I knew we still had a shot at winning.”
This near-spin brought to mind Danny Sullivan’s famous “spin and win” from the 1985 Indianapolis 500, though Newgarden was quick to downplay the comparison, humorously noting, “It wasn’t as graceful as Danny’s pirouette.”
Championship Implications
For those keeping score, Newgarden has now won four of the last five races at this track just outside St. Louis, his only hiccup being last year when he crashed late in the race. It’s safe to say, he’s made this place his own.
Team Penske enjoyed a sweep at this track, with Austin Cindric taking the NASCAR Cup win earlier in the year. The crowd for the IndyCar race, however, was noticeably smaller, with plenty of empty seats in the main grandstand. Nevertheless, Newgarden’s win was a significant one, and he acknowledged the role of a well-timed pit stop in his success. “That final pit stop was crucial,” he said. “It’s hard to say what would have happened without it, but it was definitely a key factor in us taking the win.”
Newgarden’s 31st Win and Points Shake-Up
This victory marked Newgarden’s 31st career win, adding to his triumph at the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year. Meanwhile, defending series champion Alex Palou extended his points lead after his closest rival, Will Power, was taken out in a late-race crash. Power was leading more laps than anyone else but found himself rear-ended by Alexander Rossi during a restart with just nine laps remaining. Frustrated, Power pointed the finger at his teammate Newgarden, accusing him of inconsistent pacing during the restart. “I don’t understand why he kept backing up and going, not going,” Power said, visibly annoyed. The crash relegated him to 18th place and dropped him to fourth in the points standings.
Controversial Restart and Team Dynamics
Newgarden defended his actions, explaining that he was trying to delay the restart as much as possible, but he insisted it was within the rules. “The last thing I want to do is cause a wreck,” he stated. “Maybe the green light came on a bit earlier than I expected, but I certainly wasn’t trying to get Will hit.”
As for Palou, he entered the race with a 49-point lead over Power and now has a 59-point cushion over Colton Herta, who finished fifth after being penalized for blocking. Palou’s consistency continues to pay off, and with only four races left in the season, his chances of securing another championship look strong.
Challenges on the Track
Newgarden’s path to victory was not without its challenges. He didn’t take the lead until a crash by David Malukas with 18 laps to go opened the door. It ultimately came down to a battle between the pit crews of Newgarden and McLaughlin, who started from pole position. Last year, fuel strategy decided the race, but this time it was Newgarden’s near-perfect execution that sealed the deal.
Not everyone had a good day, though. Pato O’Ward, who came into the race fifth in the standings, had engine trouble and retired after just 42 laps. Marcus Ericsson, another strong contender, saw his race end early due to an issue with his car’s hybrid system. Both drivers were understandably disappointed, with Ericsson lamenting, “We had the car and the speed to win that race. It just wasn’t our day.”
Scott Dixon, who had hoped to replicate last year’s success with a fuel strategy, found himself out of luck after Newgarden’s spin triggered a late caution just after Dixon had pitted. He ended up two laps down, unable to make up the lost ground.
There was also some intra-team drama at Juncos Hollinger Racing, where both cars were involved in a crash on Lap 17. Conor Daly, in his first race since replacing Augustin Canapino, got spun around but escaped with less damage than his teammates Romain Grosjean and Kyle Kirkwood.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the next challenge is the final road course race of the season in Portland, Oregon. Palou won there last year, and another strong showing could bring him one step closer to his second series championship in three years.
