Josef Newgarden has become the first back-to-back winner of the Indianapolis 500 since Helio Castroneves achieved the feat 22 years ago. This victory also gave Roger Penske a record-extending 20th win in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Newgarden, hailing from Tennessee, emerged victorious after a thrilling final lap duel with Pato O’Ward. Despite the race being delayed due to rain, Newgarden managed to outmanoeuvre O’Ward in the closing moments, securing his place in history.
As he did in 2023, Newgarden stopped on track and climbed through the fence to celebrate with the crowd.
“I love this crowd. I’ve got to always go in the crowd if we win here, I am always doing that,” said Newgarden.
Race Highlights and Key Moments
Start and Early Challenges:
- The race, delayed by severe storms, began under challenging conditions, but Newgarden, starting from third, quickly positioned himself as a contender.
- Early in the race, Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing and Patricio O’Ward from Arrow McLaren Racing were among the primary challengers.
Final Laps Drama:
- In the final laps, Newgarden and O’Ward exchanged the lead multiple times, showcasing their competitive spirit and strategic driving skills.
- On the final lap, O’Ward took the lead at Turn 1, but Newgarden reclaimed it two turns later, ultimately finishing .3417 seconds ahead of O’Ward.
Emotional Responses:
- O’Ward, visibly emotional, expressed his disappointment after the race. “It is hard to put it into words — we went back, we went forward, we went back, some people were driving like maniacs,” he said. “We had so many near-race enders. Just so close again.”
- O’Ward has finished second to Newgarden in six different races and has been battling the flu and lack of sleep in the lead-up to the race. “I’m fine. It’s been a tough month, so much goes into this race,” he said.
Other Notable Performances:
- Scott Dixon finished third, marking the highest finish for a Honda driver. “It’s a privilege to race here, right? I’m in a situation where I’m lucky to have won, but Pato has come close a few times,” Dixon said.
- Alexander Rossi, O’Ward’s teammate, finished fourth, contributing to Chevrolet taking three of the top four spots.
Rebounding from Controversy
Newgarden’s win comes as a significant rebound after his March season-opening victory was disqualified due to Team Penske’s use of illegal push-to-pass software. The scandal led to the suspension of four crew members, including Team President Tim Cindric. “Absolutely, they can say what they want, I don’t even care anymore,” Newgarden said, addressing the controversy.
Impact on ‘Other Drivers’The Double’
The delayed start affected NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s attempt to complete “The Double” by running both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. Larson finished 18th in Indianapolis after two rookie mistakes but managed to head to North Carolina to participate in the NASCAR race. “I’m proud to have finished but disappointed in myself. Man, the restarts were a lot of fun. I had an issue on one and lost some spots, but I was able to learn a lot and work my way back forward. I hate that I got that speeding penalty. I think it would have been a lot of fun to battle there at the end,” said Larson.
