INDIANAPOLIS – Josef Newgarden overcame past controversies to secure his place in history as the first back-to-back winner of the Indianapolis 500 since Helio Castroneves, 22 years ago. This victory also marks a record-extending 20th win for Roger Penske’s team in the prestigious race.
Newgarden, a native of Tennessee, dramatically overtook Pato O’Ward on the final lap of Sunday’s rain-delayed race, mirroring Castroneves’ consecutive wins for Penske in 2001 and 2002. True to tradition, Newgarden stopped his Chevrolet-powered car on the track and climbed through a hole in the fence to celebrate with the fans in the grandstands.
“I love this crowd. I’ve got to always go in the crowd if we win here, I am always doing that,” Newgarden declared, basking in the adoration of the spectators.
Meanwhile, O’Ward expressed bitter disappointment, slumping over his steering wheel. He had been vying to become the first Mexican winner in the 108-year history of the Indy 500.
This victory represents a significant comeback for Newgarden, whose March season-opening win was disqualified due to Team Penske’s use of illegal push-to-pass software. The manipulation, which provided additional horsepower, went undetected for nearly six weeks, leading to the disqualification. As a result, four crew members, including Team President Tim Cindric, were suspended. Cindric’s absence was particularly impactful, given his reputation as the best strategist in the series.
Newgarden expressed relief and defiance after his victory. “Absolutely, they can say what they want, I don’t even care anymore,” he said, referring to the scandal.
The race’s start was delayed by four hours due to rain, dashing NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s hopes of running “The Double” — competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The delay caused Larson to miss the start of the NASCAR event, where he ultimately finished 18th after two rookie mistakes.
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing finished third, making him the highest-finishing Honda driver. Alexander Rossi, O’Ward’s teammate at Arrow McLaren Racing, came in fourth, contributing to Chevrolet’s dominance with three of the top four spots.
Newgarden’s triumph at the Indianapolis 500 not only marks a personal victory but also solidifies Roger Penske’s legendary status in the world of racing.
