Newgarden sweeps IndyCar season opener at St Petersburg

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Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden dominated IndyCar’s season opening round in St Petersburg, Florida, the two-times series champion leading 92 of the event’s 100 laps.

Staring from pole, Newgarden led from the drop of the green flag, only briefly relinquishing the front spot during his pitstop rotations.

The Nashville native was in a league of his own all afternoon, crossing the checkered flag 7.9s ecodns ahead Arrow McLaren charger Pato O’Ward whose presence among the front-runners prevented a clean sweep of the podium by Penske with Scott McLaughlin and Will Power completing the top four.

“I had a lot of fun today,” Newgarden said after his 30th career win in IndyCar. “I think it’s so deserving for the work they (Team Penske) put in.

“We’ve worked really hard to close the gap. We didn’t have the speed we needed on road and street courses last year, at least on a consistency basis, and today we brought that speed.

“We had the execution, as always.”

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.