Newgarden Triumphs at World Wide Technology Raceway
Josef Newgarden secured his fifth victory at World Wide Technology Raceway this past weekend, bolstering his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on this circuit. The race, marked by dramatic moments and strategic maneuvers, saw Newgarden fend off teammate Scott McLaughlin during two pivotal restarts. It was during a late pit stop that Newgarden managed to take the lead, setting the stage for his triumph.
The victory was not without its challenges. On Lap 196, Newgarden nearly spun out but skillfully kept his car off the wall, a move that may have preserved his chance for victory. This win marks Newgarden's fourth in the last five years at this track, cementing his dominance. It’s a remarkable turnaround from last year, when a crash with 49 laps remaining ended his winning streak.
Team Penske continued its impressive form with the No. 2 cars, having swept the venue. Earlier in the year, Austin Cindric triumphed in the NASCAR Cup race, making it a clean sweep for the team at World Wide Technology Raceway. However, the race saw smaller crowds compared to the NASCAR event, with empty seats noticeably affecting the main grandstand's atmosphere.
Despite leading the most laps, Will Power’s race ended on a disappointing note. A collision with Alexander Rossi during a restart with just nine laps to go saw Power finish 18th and drop to fourth in the points standings. His frustration was evident when he remarked, "I don't know why -- I do not know why -- he would just keep backing up and going, not going." The race eventually ended under caution due to a last-lap wreck.
Newgarden's lead was secured after David Malukas crashed with 18 laps remaining, bringing out a caution. This pivotal moment allowed Newgarden to capitalize and take control, ensuring he stayed ahead until the finish line.
Marcus Ericsson, who briefly led for 13 laps, experienced another race of ups and downs. His performance was hindered by an unexpected slowdown, which forced him to spend extra time in the pits on Lap 149. Visibly frustrated, Ericsson said, "We had the car and the speed to win that thing," adding, "It just doesn't want to go our way." He eventually finished out of sequence with the leaders.
Pato O'Ward also faced difficulties, retiring after just 42 laps due to engine trouble. O'Ward had been runner-up in four of the last five races at this venue, making this an unexpected setback. Reflecting on his turbulent season, O'Ward commented, "It's been a year of ups and downs, and I think at this point we just want to be winning races. There's four to go, so there's plenty of points on the table."
The chaos of the race extended to other drivers as well. Both Juncos Hollinger Racing cars crashed on Lap 17, and Conor Daly, replacing Augustin Canapino in the No. 78 car, spun on the backstretch during his debut race in the series.
Meanwhile, defending series champion Álex Palou managed to extend his points lead amid the turmoil that unfolded during the race. Scott Dixon found himself two laps down following Newgarden's near-spin and ended the race outside the sequence of leaders.
The racing community now looks toward the final road course race set for Sunday, August 25, in Portland, Oregon. It was on this track last year that Palou secured his second series championship, making it a highly anticipated event for both drivers and fans.