Newgarden Dominates Again at World Wide Technology Raceway
In a display of masterful driving, Josef Newgarden clinched his fifth career victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, further cementing his dominance at the venue. The Team Penske driver overcame a series of challenges to secure the win, including a dramatic moment on Lap 196 when he nearly spun out but managed to keep his car off the wall.
Despite heavy pressure, Newgarden successfully fended off teammate Scott McLaughlin during two critical restarts, showcasing his composure and skill under pressure. The turning point came during a late pit stop, propelling Newgarden into the lead, a position he would maintain through the race’s conclusion under caution.
"We had the car and the speed to win that thing," lamented Marcus Ericsson, who briefly held the lead for 13 laps before an unexpected slowdown on Lap 149 resulted in an extended pit stop that dashed his hopes of victory.
Defending series champion Álex Palou also capitalized on the race’s chaos to extend his points lead, as Scott Dixon found himself two laps down after Newgarden’s near-spin incident. Dixon finished out of sequence with the leaders, highlighting the unpredictability of the race.
The event was not without its share of drama and mishaps. Veteran driver Will Power led the most laps but saw his hopes of winning dashed during a restart with nine laps to go. A collision with Alexander Rossi relegated him to an 18th-place finish, causing him to drop to fourth in the points standings. Reflecting on the incident, Power expressed his frustration: "I don't know why -- I do not know why -- he would just keep backing up and going, not going."
Newgarden demonstrated his strategic prowess by taking the lead following David Malukas's crash with 18 laps to go. Despite the smaller crowds compared to the NASCAR event earlier in the year, the intensity of the competition remained undeniable.
Pato O'Ward, who has consistently been a strong contender at World Wide Technology Raceway, experienced a disappointing early exit due to engine trouble, retiring after just 42 laps. "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," he said, reflecting on his season and the upcoming challenges.
The race saw multiple incidents, including both Juncos Hollinger Racing cars crashing on Lap 17 and Conor Daly spinning on the backstretch during his debut race for the No. 78 car, replacing Augustin Canapino. These events contributed to a chaotic and unpredictable race atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Team Penske notched another impressive achievement with the No. 2 cars sweeping the venue. Earlier in the year, Austin Cindric secured a triumph in the NASCAR Cup race, showcasing the team's versatility and strength across different racing disciplines.
The race concluded under caution due to a last-lap wreck, leaving fans with a dramatic finale. As the final road course race approaches, set for Sunday, August 25 in Portland, Oregon, drivers and teams alike will be recalibrating their strategies. Notably, Palou, who secured his second series championship on the Portland track last year, will be looking to maintain his momentum.
Reflecting on the race, Marcus Ericsson summed up the sentiments of many drivers: "It just doesn't want to go our way." For Newgarden, however, it seems that World Wide Technology Raceway continues to be a venue where everything goes right.