After an uneventful month of May, a frustrating weekend in Detroit, and painful memories from a year ago, Josef Newgarden found redemption today at Road America. The Team Penske driver dominated the four-mile circuit in Elkhart Lake and captured his third win of the season.
Newgarden was able to get around Alexander Rossi during the first round of pit stops, and retained the lead for the majority of the afternoon. He was being constantly hounded by Rossi, and was able to hold off two late-race charges following a caution with just eight laps remaining.
“It’s what makes IndyCar so tough,” Newgarden exclaimed. “It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen! That’s just what makes this series so difficult, and it makes it fun to be in. You’ve got to be on your toes at all times.”
After eight events, Newgarden is the only driver to win multiple races this season and collected a cool $1 million bonus for winning on a street circuit, road course, and oval track. The money is being split between his team and the SeriousFun Children’s Network and Wags and Walks Nashville charities, thanks to the PeopleReady organization.
This is Newgarden’s second victory and fourth podium finish at Road America, and the 23rd race win of his career. That ties him for 19th on IndyCar’s All-Time Wins list with Tommy Milton.
While Rossi managed another podium finish today, it was actually Marcus Ericsson that came away with the runner-up finish. The Indy 500 winner got around Rossi on the final restart, in what was an eventful day for the Ganassi driver.
The big moment came on Lap 4 when Ericsson got together with teammate Alex Palou while battling for 3rd place. Marcus made a late move on the inside of Alex in Turn 5 and the toe-link broke on the No. 10 car when he tried to turn behind the No. 8 Honda after the pass was made. Palou was extremely frustrated after the contact.
“I just think he was trying to win the race on the third lap, and the car broke and…
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