Tag: Josef Newgarden

Newgarden paces Day 1 of Indy 500 Open Test

A full day of running was put to good use by 33 NTT IndyCar Series drivers on Thursday at the Indy Open Test which was led by Team Penske and Josef Newgarden. With the last two hours of action filled with drivers chasing each other in higher …

A full day of running was put to good use by 33 NTT IndyCar Series drivers on Thursday at the Indy Open Test which was led by Team Penske and Josef Newgarden.

With the last two hours of action filled with drivers chasing each other in higher downforce race-day trim, Newgarden hit a peak of 237.023mph on entry to Turn 3 and used the speed in the draft to claim the fastest lap in the No. 2 Chevy, but he also found speed on his own, recording the second fastest no-tow speed of the day at a 220.648, which bodes well for the two-time IndyCar champion when the series returns in May.

In the final minutes of the day, Conor Daly shot to P2 in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy (227.466mph), displacing Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who’d held the spot for a good while in the No. 9 Honda (226.788mph). Kyle Kirkwood maintained his impressive form of late with a lap that placed the No. 27 Andretti Autosport Honda in fourth (226.727mph), and CGR’s Takuma Sato completed the top fix in the No. 11 Honda (226.265mph).

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With rain forecast for Friday, IndyCar adjusted Thursday’s schedule to start early and give veterans a two-hour session from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Reigning Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson topped the field with a best lap of 224.330mph in the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

The next session, dedicated for rookies and veterans in need of refresher runs, saw Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti lead the nine-deep group with a 221.569mph in the No. 98 Andretti Honda. Every member of the group passed their mandatory phases and all rookies were cleared to participate in the afternoon session.

It was the 2-6:30 p.m. window that turned interesting as climbing temperatures reached 85 degrees and escalating winds fired gusts of 30mph at all angles. As a whole, most teams used the final session to pile on more of the newly-available downforce and sample its effects while running in a pack, but with the thin air and high winds, most drivers struggled to get a read on the car’s behavior in such unstable conditions.

“We started with last year’s race downforce and then we added two of the options,” Dixon told RACER. “We did finish the run with everything on. It will be interesting to see where everybody ends up in the race and how much stuff people put on.”

After the Penske-Ganassi-Andretti top five, the stars of the day were Stefan Wilson in sixth and Ryan Hunter-Reay in 14th as both made their debuts for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, the lone Indy-only entrant at the test.

The only contact that took place occurred on pit lane when Callum Ilott was released into the path of Rinus VeeKay; VeeKay clouted the outside wall, but both drivers were unharmed. Ilott was assessed a five-minute hold penalty by the series.

Friday’s running is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weather permitting.

RESULTS

Newgarden and engineer Mason strike gold fast in Texas

Another Texas IndyCar race win for Josef Newgarden, another first-time win for Newgarden’s new race engineer. Not only did Team Penske’s two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion earn back-to-back victories at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend, but he …

Another Texas IndyCar race win for Josef Newgarden, another first-time win for Newgarden’s new race engineer.

Not only did Team Penske’s two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion earn back-to-back victories at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend, but he also completed a rare year-to-year feat of introducing his race engineers on the No. 2 Chevy to their first triumphs as engineering leaders in IndyCar.

In 2022, it was Eric Leichtle, who went on to capture five wins with Newgarden on the way to placing second in the championship. After Leichtle took a job with SpaceX during the offseason, it was time to find the American’s replacement, and who better than his assistant race engineer, Australia’s Luke Mason?

Presented with the opportunity to take the engineering reins on Newgarden’s Dallara DW12, Mason only needed two races to steer the Tennessean to victory lane.

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“I think the world of Luke,” Newgarden told RACER. “Just to look back a year ago, I felt the same way about Eric. I think Eric did a tremendous job for us in 2022. I can’t speak highly enough about the job that he did. Then for Luke to step into the role, I’ve just got a high level of confidence in that man. He is just so excellent at what he does. He is a phenomenal race engineer. You got to understand the definition of ‘race engineer’ to really understand that praise. But he is phenomenal. I’m excited for him.”

Just as Mason was an important part of Leichtle’s cast on last year’s timing stand, Newgarden praised the revised support engineering core who form the No. 2’s technical collective.

“[Their success] obviously extends much further than Luke,” Newgarden added. “Luke has a great team behind him: [assistant engineer] James [Schnabel], we have Mustafa [Malik], aka ‘Simba,’ on the stand now, a new guy on our team doing performance and helping Luke. You have the entire crew obviously behind him. It’s a big team effort. But I think the world of Luke and the entire team. Just to repeat, I feel really good about where we’re at.”

In typical Newgarden fashion, the Texas win introduced a new celebratory wrinkle to the series as Schnabel, who was on the No. 2 car in 2022 and also doubles as race engineer for Penske-affiliated Indy NXT driver Ernie Francis Jr., was awarded Mjolnir — aka Thor’s hammer — at Texas, which replaces the Chalice of Excellence, the former intra-crew award presented to a member of Newgarden’s team.

Forget the Chalice of Excellence, now it’s all about Thor’s hammer. James Schnabel lofts Mjolnir with Newgarden in victory lane. Brett Farmer/Motorsport Images

And in a final Texas-related note for Newgarden, statistician Scott Richards reports that with his win, the 32-year-old has joined an elite group after securing an oval victory in his eighth consecutive season, most among all active IndyCar drivers, and second only to a pair of legends in Johnny Rutherford (1973-1981) and Bobby Unser (1968-1976) who hold the record with nine straight years of oval wins.

VIDEO: IndyCar Texas race winner Josef Newgarden

PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway race winner Josef Newgarden joins RACER’s Marshall Pruett to discuss his first victory of the season. Presented by: Through a steadfast commitment to honesty, unrivaled customer service and safety, HMS Motorsport has …

PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway race winner Josef Newgarden joins RACER’s Marshall Pruett to discuss his first victory of the season.

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Presented by:

Newgarden takes last shot in Texas shootout

There was Pato O’Ward, and then there was everyone else taking part in the NTT IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway who were powerless to stop the Arrow McLaren driver who lapped up to second place by lap 161 of the 250-lap PPG 375 event. But …

There was Pato O’Ward, and then there was everyone else taking part in the NTT IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway who were powerless to stop the Arrow McLaren driver who lapped up to second place by lap 161 of the 250-lap PPG 375 event. But leading strong and leading the last lap are two different things.

More cautions followed, and with a late restart on lap 239 and a wild scramble to the checkered flag, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden fired past the McLaren driver and went on the secure back-to-back victories at TMS in the No. 2 Chevy after front-running contender Romain Grosjean crashed his Andretti Autosport Honda on lap 249 and the breathtaking race finished under yellow.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, who fought his way past O’Ward and Newgarden at various points to lead in the latter half of the race, settled for third in the No. 10 Honda.

“I don’t know what else to say but our car was fast​,” Newgarden said​. ​
“​Pato was walking away but we got the tuning back and we were in the position (to win) in the end. We are on the board. We weren’t on the board in St. Pete, but we are on the board.”

If there was a consolation prize for O’Ward, it’s his takeover of the championship lead on the strength of a pair of second-place runs to open the season.

“It’s been a hell of a start to the championship, but it’s a long year,” he said.

Behind Palou, emerging oval specialist David Malukas put on another show as he survived a late gaffe — failing to pit during a caution, which was rectified when another crash quickly slowed the field and allowed him to dash in for fuel and tires — to challenge the podium runners before claiming fourth in his No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports Honda.

CGR’s Scott Dixon finished fifth during a busy day moving forwards and backwards in the No. 9 Honda after starting second, and Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was the biggest riser, improving from 15th to sixth.

Among the crazy three- and four-wide mome​​nts during the race, one of the smallest teams with two of the least experienced oval racers in Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott (P9) and rookie Augustin Canapino (P12) ran ahead and finished ahead of IndyCar champions and Indy 500 winners.

Of those who left TMS in a state of disappointment, Penske’s Will Power fell from eighth to 16th, losing a wheel during one pit stop during a day where his car wasn’t overly competitive. Graham Rahal’s crash — an innocent bystander when Devlin DeFrancesco crashed in front of him — was the worst part of a forgettable weekend for his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team as his stablemates Jack Harvey (P18) and Christian Lundgaard (P19) never factored.

The PPG 375 had elements of an old IRL race during certain stages with swarms of drivers passing high and low — sometimes with tires dipped onto the grass — and wheel-banging moments among the leaders as they went full throttle without mercy.

AS IT HAPPENED

Polesitter Felix Rosenqvist led the field into Turn 1 and it lasted one lap as Scott Dixon swept by the next time around. Dixon was passed for the lead on the next lap by Josef Newgarden as Rosenqvist fell to P5. Dixon took the lead back from Newgarden the following lap as close running was the early order of the day.

Lap 9 saw Alex Palou demote Rosenqvist to P6 and the next lap, Pato O’Ward took P2 from Dixon who fell to fourth. Lap 15 saw Newgarden leading O’Ward, Palou, Dixon, Rosenqvist, and Alexander Rossi in P6.

By lap 30, Newgarden held 0.9s over O’Ward as drivers started to stretch out as they went beyond the halfway point in their opening stint. Lapping began on the 33rd tour as Christian Lundgaard and Conor Daly.

The first caution of the race was triggered by Takuma Sato who crashed exiting Turn 2 on lap 49. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver was uninjured after sliding up into the wall and mangling the No. 11 Honda’s suspension.

“I was going too high and got into the gray,” Sato said of his crash.

The first round of pit stops on lap 52 went smoothly, barring a crash between Rossi and Kyle Kirkwood, which bent the front suspension on Rossi’s car, as Kirkwood went from the outside lane to his pit stall — rather than from the inside lane — and drove across the front of Rossi’s car as he was leaving the pits. There was no apparent damage to Kirkwood’s car, but the specter of a penalty was looming.

The lap 61 restart saw Newgarden lead into Turn 1 but Palou soon went to the high side and fought hard for multiple laps before settling for second. IndyCar then announced Rossi, not Kirkwood, would receive a drive-through penalty for the contact.

Palou finally got past Newgarden on lap 67 as Romain Grosjean began hassling O’Ward in P3. Newgarden retook the lead on lap 71. O’Ward took P2 from Palou on lap 75 and the running order was Newgarden, O’Ward, Palou, Grosjean, Dixon, and the surging Colton Herta in P6.

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Lap 95 and leader Newgarden laps teammate Will Power in P18. Kirkwood pits on lap 100 and parks his car with a suspected mechanical issue. Leaders are Newgarden, O’Ward, Grosjean, Dixon, Palou, and Herta in P6.

“We had a rear-right upright failure. It’s in meltdown phase right now,” Kirkwood said.

Lap 110 and Newgarden pits as O’Ward stays out. Palou and O’Ward and Dixon and Grosjean, among others, follow on lap 115.

With the field cycled through, Newgarden’s early stop helped to draw out a bigger lead over O’Ward but O’Ward trimmed the gap down with aggressive passing in traffic. At the halfway point, it was Newgarden, O’Ward, Grosjean, Dixon, Palou, and McLaughlin.

Lap 130 saw O’Ward execute a daring pass in Turn 2 to take the lead. Lap 148 and O’Ward has lapped up through P7 and is holding a giant 5.2s lead over Newgarden.

Lap 150 and it’s O’Ward, Newgarden, Grosjean, Dixon, Palou and Herta in P6. Lap 151 and O’Ward laps Dixon, leaving only four cars on the lead lap. Lap 157 and the gap to Newgarden is 6.7s.

Lap 161 and O’Ward has lapped Grosjean, leaving Newgarden — 7.5s back — as the only other driver on the lead lap. Incredible.

Lap 165 and Newgarden pits. O’Ward follows on lap 169.

Lap 177 and it’s O’Ward by 5.8s over Newgarden, followed by Palou, Grosjean, Dixon, and David Malukas in P6. All behind Newgarden remain a lap down.

Caution on lap 179 as Rosenqvist, exiting the pits, crashed in Turn 4, tagging the rear of the car against the outside wall. He was uninjured in the incident.

Lap 183 and O’Ward and Newgarden pit. Newgarden returns on lap 188 under caution to top up his tank as most drivers will need to save fuel to make it to the finish.

The Lap 194 restart saw O’Ward lead into Turn 1 and Newgarden challenge around the opening corners before falling back to P2 and that’s just what Palou needed to blow by and take the lead. Lap 199 and Newgarden takes the lead from Palou as Malukas holds third.

Lap 200 and the leaders are Newgarden, Palou, O’Ward, Grosjean, Malukas and Herta in P6. Lap 204 and it’s Newgarden followed by Herta and then Herta goes by for the lead as fuel saving is dictating their desire to run at the front.

Lap 209 and Palou is back to the lead ahead of O’Ward, Newgarden, Grosjean, Herta, and Dixon in P6.

The third caution was required on lap 211 after Sting Ray Robb made hard contact exiting Turn 2. Robb said he was OK, but “got his bell rung.” Fuel saving is no longer an issue.

Lap 214 and Palou stays out while O’Ward and Newgarden pits.

The Lap 219 restart featured Palou leading Grosjean, Herta, Dixon, O’Ward, and Dixon in P6.

Lap 221 and Grosjean takes the lead as O’Ward goes around him and Palou for the lead on lap 222.

Fourth caution flies on Lap 224 as Graham Rahal and Devlin DeFrancesco make contact in Turn 3. After understeering into the Turn 2 wall, DeFrancesco drove towards the pits but slid up from the apron into Rahal’s path in Turn 3 which sent Rahal’s car flying before coming down and hitting the wall. Both drivers appeared to be uninjured.

Lap 227 and Grosjean and Dixon pit.

The lap 239 restart featured O’Ward leading Palou, Newgarden, Herta, Malukas, and Scott McLaughlin in P6. Palou takes the lead entering Turn 3. lap 241 and Newgarden takes P2 from O’Ward. Lap 243 and Newgarden takes P1 from Palou and O’Ward challenges him for the lead. Malukas takes P3 from Palou.

Lap 247 and Palou is up to P3 as O’Ward chases Newgarden for the lead. Lap 249 and Grosjean crashes, cementing the win for Newgarden ahead of O’Ward, Palou, Malukas, Dixon, and McLaughlin.

RESULTS

IndyCar Champ and Titans fan says Henry is bigger priority than Tannehill

What if you had to choose between Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill?

The Tennessee Titans have some important decisions to make with free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft looming — especially as far as quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry are concerned.

There’s always a chance the Titans could retain both players, franchise tagging one and signing the other to a multi-year deal.

But what if you had to choose just one?

IndyCar Champion Josef Newgarden, who is a fan of the Titans, was faced with that exact question this week on “Good Morning Football”.

“I think you can’t let Derrick go,” Newgarden said. “I think he’s your main guy, your rallier. I think all the team kind of thrives around him, right? But you have to have that integral piece like a Tannehill. If they’re losing Tannehill, they’ve got to get someone close to him, but I think Henry’s your priority.”

A rumor is out there that the Titans could place the franchise tag on Henry, while allowing Tannehill to test free agency.

That may be unsettling to Titans fans who have kept a close eye on the quarterback position and are still high on the career season Tannehill had in Tennessee last year.

But this issue couldn’t present itself at a better time, as the team enters a favorable time period with a free agency and draft class stacked with talent at quarterback if Tannehill plays elsewhere next year.