Many people consider the third time to be the charm. Count Josef Newgarden among them.
The Team Penske driver is hoping to find victory lane this afternoon on the historic streets of Long Beach. Newgarden has three podium finishes in his nine career starts but has never stood on the top step. He has been incredibly close in the last two trips here, finishing runner-up both times.
Newgarden has led laps in the last three Long Beach races, and earned pole position for last year’s event. He has finished behind the race-winning cars of Andretti Autosport each of the last two years, something he aims to change today.
Those two Andretti wins went to Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta. Oddly enough, Newgarden starts alongside Herta on the front row today.
Six-time series champion Scott Dixon has won here. Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato won this race in 2013. Newgarden’s former teammate Simon Pagenaud has a Long Beach win on his resume as well. His current teammate Will Power has two Long Beach wins, as does Rossi.
Every driver wants to add their name to the long list of winners of this iconic event. The Indy 500 is obviously at the top of everyone’s list, but most have Long Beach right behind that.
While Newgarden has two series championships to his name, the driver of the No. 2 Chevrolet has not been able to win either of the two most prestigious events on the calendar. Long Beach and IMS are two of the five venues on the 2022 schedule where he has never won. His resume is impressive, but it lacks a “crown jewel” victory.
A trophy is the goal for Newgarden today, but getting one at Long Beach would seem to be a little more special. “I would love a trophy,” he said. “I think it would be great. They’re all beautiful and special. I guess they’re like children. You don’t choose a favorite. They’re all special. I would love it. It would be great. Long Beach is an awesome place.”
“I would like to get a win there,”…
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