Josef Newgarden Reflects on Missed Victory at Road America Despite Strong Performance

Josef Newgarden secured a second place in the IndyCar race at Road America on Sunday. Despite his strong performance, Newgarden believes that with better pit stop planning, he could have clinched the victory. In the final stages of the race, the three Team Penske drivers, including Newgarden, made their pit stops. However, the decision to stop earlier than his teammate, Will Power, ended up costing Newgarden the win. Reflecting on the race, Newgarden expressed his disappointment in not capitalizing on the advantage of staying on track for longer. He acknowledged the strong performance of the three Penske cars but felt they missed an opportunity to secure a 1-2-3 finish in the race. Newgarden attributed the defeat to the significant advantage of the overcut strategy on a day when tire management was crucial. He admitted that the decision to stop early was a mistake and resulted in them being overtaken by Power in the final stages of the race. Despite the missed opportunity, Newgarden’s second place marked his second podium of the season, following his victory at the Indy 500. Currently, he sits in eighth position in the championship standings, with a points difference equivalent to a whole race compared to his teammate and current championship leader, Will Power.