Newgarden Triumphs at World Wide Technology Raceway with Fifth Victory
In an electrifying race at World Wide Technology Raceway, Josef Newgarden clinched his fifth victory at the track, marking his fourth win in the past five years at this venue. Newgarden, driving for Team Penske, displayed remarkable skill and resilience, overcoming multiple challenges to secure the win.
The race was dramatic from the start, with Newgarden taking the lead during a pivotal late pit stop. His path to victory was far from easy as he fended off teammate Scott McLaughlin in two critical restarts. Newgarden's composure was tested on Lap 196 when he nearly spun out but impressively managed to keep the car off the wall, maintaining his position in the race.
Newgarden's victory was a redemption of sorts, as he had crashed with 49 laps remaining in last year's race, abruptly ending his winning streak at the track. This year, his ability to navigate the twists and turns of the race and avoid potential pitfalls highlighted his experience and control behind the wheel.
The race had smaller crowds compared to the NASCAR event earlier in the year, with several empty seats noticeable in the main grandstand. Despite the reduced audience, the intensity on the track was undiminished. Team Penske celebrated a sweep at the venue, with Austin Cindric having triumphed in the NASCAR Cup race earlier this year.
Will Power, who led the most laps, faced a challenging race. His fortunes took a turn when he collided with Alexander Rossi during a restart with only nine laps to go, resulting in Power finishing 18th. This incident also caused Power to drop to fourth in the points standings.
"I don't know why—I do not know why—he would just keep backing up and going, not going," lamented Power after the collision, expressing his frustration.
The race ended under caution due to a last-lap wreck, with Newgarden leading for the first time following David Malukas's crash with 18 laps to go. Marcus Ericsson had a brief stint in the lead for 13 laps during the race, but his race ended prematurely as he spent extra time in the pits on Lap 149 following an unexpected slowdown. Reflecting on the race, Ericsson said, "It just doesn't want to go our way," adding, "We had the car and the speed to win that thing."
Pato O'Ward faced disappointment as well, 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 his early exit all the more disheartening. "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," O'Ward remarked, maintaining a hopeful outlook for the remainder of the season.
Defending series champion Álex Palou managed to extend his points lead amidst the race chaos, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the series. Meanwhile, Scott Dixon faced difficulties after Newgarden's near spin, as he found himself two laps down and finished out of sequence with the leaders.
The race also saw significant incidents early on, with both Juncos Hollinger Racing cars crashing on Lap 17 and Conor Daly spinning on the backstretch during his first race replacing Augustin Canapino in the No. 78 car.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on the final road course race set for Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland, Oregon. Last year, Palou secured his second series championship on the Portland track, a memory that will surely buoy his confidence as he seeks to maintain his lead.