Newgarden Triumphs Yet Again at World Wide Technology Raceway
In a masterclass of driving under pressure, Josef Newgarden claimed his fifth victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, reinforcing his dominance at this venue. Despite facing intense competition and nearly spinning out on Lap 196, Newgarden managed to keep his car in contention and emerged victorious.
The victory, which marked his fourth in the past five years at this track, did not come easily. Newgarden had to fend off his Team Penske teammate, Scott McLaughlin, during two critical restarts. This resilience was evident as Newgarden took the lead during a late pit stop and navigated various challenges, including the nearly disastrous moment late in the race.
One of the pivotal moments came after David Malukas’s crash with just 18 laps remaining, which brought out a caution. Newgarden capitalized on this opportunity, taking the lead for the first time and never looking back. Reflecting on last year’s race, where he crashed with 49 laps to go and broke his winning streak, this win was particularly sweet for Newgarden.
Team Penske's Strong Performance
It was a notable day for Team Penske, as their No. 2 cars continued their sweep of the venue, including Austin Cindric’s earlier triumph in the NASCAR Cup race. However, the race had its share of challenges. Will Power, who led the most laps, collided with Alexander Rossi during a critical restart with nine laps to go, ultimately finishing 18th and dropping 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 remarked, reflecting on the frustrating incident. The race ended under caution due to a last-lap wreck, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the event.
Ericsson and O’Ward’s Misfortunes
Marcus Ericsson, who had briefly held the lead for 13 laps, saw his race come undone after extra time spent in the pits on Lap 149 due to an unexpected slowdown. “It just doesn't want to go our way,” mused Ericsson, who expressed his frustration despite earlier optimism. “We had the car and the speed to win that thing.”
Pato O’Ward, who had been a runner-up in four of the last five races at this venue, faced an early exit after only 42 laps due to engine trouble. O’Ward acknowledged the turbulent season but remained hopeful. “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.”
Championship Battle Intensifies
Defending series champion Álex Palou found a silver lining amidst the chaos by extending his points lead, further strengthening his position as the championship battle heats up. Scott Dixon's race, however, did not fare as well; he finished out of sequence with the leaders after being two laps down following Newgarden's near-spin.
Other incidents included 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.
Looking Ahead to Portland
The racing calendar now shifts focus to the final road course race set for Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland, Oregon, where Palou secured his second series championship last year. As the season enters its critical final stages, the battles for race wins and championship points are sure to intensify, promising more dramatic moments in the races ahead.