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Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden survived a hair-raising moment and spin on lap 196 of 260 in Saturday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway to claim his fifth career win on the 1.25-mile oval.
But despite his miraculous recovery, it was controversial triumph for the two-time IndyCar champion who led a late restart with less than 10 laps to go in the race, only for his slow and hesitant pace at the head of the pack to stack up the latter, which caught out Newgarden’s Penske teammate Will Power.
The Aussie checked up and was inevitably rammed from behind by Arrow McLaren’s Alex Rossi which saw both cars veer into the wall and out of the race.
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Given the fierce battle for the IndyCar title this year, Power was anything but happy with his demise which he laid at the feet of Newgarden who went on to win from another Penske contender Scott McLaughlin and CGR’s Linus Lundqvist’s.
“The worst part (of the victory) is (Power) not making it home,” Newgarden said after the chaotic event. "I hate that that happened at the very end.
“I watched it on the TV and it kind of looked like the green went before I went – just momentarily – and it caused a big accordion (effect).
“So, I hate that that happened. That’s the last thing you want to happen with 10 (laps) to go is to create a mess.”
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“Where are you supposed to go?” reacted an angry Power, now 66 points out of the series lead.
“In between (Turns) 3 and 4, he just waited, then he went. He went, he stopped. I knew that was going to happen. As soon as I checked up because (others) checked up, I knew I was going to get pounded (from behind).
“Man, disappointing. We had such a good car.”
With three races left on the docket, Ganassi’s Alex Palou still holds a 59-point lead over Andretti’s Colton Herta and 65 points over his CGR teammate Scott Dixon.
IndyCar’s action will resume in Milwaukee on August 31.
