Josef Newgarden Triumphs at World Wide Technology Raceway
In a riveting display of skill and tenacity, Josef Newgarden clinched his fifth victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, further solidifying his dominance at the venue. The Team Penske driver showcased impeccable control and strategic acumen to fend off teammate Scott McLaughlin during two critical restarts, eventually seizing the lead with a late pit stop that proved decisive.
Despite a near disaster on Lap 196 where Newgarden almost spun out, he managed to keep his car off the wall, maintaining his composure in the face of adversity. This victory marks Newgarden's fourth win in the past five years at the track, illustrating a remarkable consistency and affinity for the oval course.
The race was not without its dramatic moments. Last year, Newgarden's winning streak at the venue came to an abrupt end due to a crash with 49 laps remaining. This year's race, however, saw a triumphant return for the No. 2 car, which had already enjoyed success earlier in the year when Austin Cindric won the NASCAR Cup race. Despite the on-track triumphs, attendance was noticeably lower compared to the NASCAR event, with empty seats scattered throughout the main grandstand.
Will Power, who led the most laps during the race, faced a tumultuous ending. A collision with Alexander Rossi on a restart with nine laps to go resulted in Power finishing 18th. His struggles in the final laps caused him 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," Power voiced his frustration post-race.
The final laps of the race were fraught with chaos. A last-lap wreck brought the race to an end under caution. Newgarden had taken the lead for the first time following a crash by David Malukas with 18 laps remaining, which brought out a crucial caution. Marcus Ericsson briefly held the lead for 13 laps before an unexpected slowdown forced him to pit on Lap 149, effectively ending his challenge. "It just doesn't want to go our way," a dejected Ericsson reflected. "We had the car and the speed to win that thing."
Pato O'Ward's race was cut short after just 42 laps due to engine trouble, a disappointing outcome for the driver who had been runner-up in four of the last five races at the venue. "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 commented on his season's unpredictability.
Defending series champion Álex Palou managed to extend his points lead amid the chaos. Meanwhile, Scott Dixon finished out of sequence with the leaders, two laps down following Newgarden's spin. The race also witnessed both Juncos Hollinger Racing cars crashing on Lap 17, and Conor Daly spinning on the backstretch during his first outing, replacing Augustin Canapino in the No. 78 car.
The climax of the racing season approaches, with the final road course race set for Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland, Oregon. Palou, who clinched his second series championship at the Portland track last year, will undoubtedly aim to continue his strong performance as the competition intensifies.