Nashville Tennessee’s Josef Newgarden only led 12.5 miles of Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, but was there when it counted winning Sunday’s 107th running of the event. The two-time Indy series champion passed last year’s race winner, Marcus Ericcson to win in Newgarden’s 12th attempt at the “greatest spectacle in racing.”
Newgarden, who started 17th, passed Ericsson on the back straightaway with an outside move just before Turn 3 and snaked down the front straightaway to victory in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Penske Chevrolet. Ericsson, driving the No. 8 Huski Ice Spritz Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing, fell just .0974 of a second short of becoming the first repeat winner since Helio Castroneves in 2002. It was the fourth-closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.
“Everyone just kept asking me why I haven’t won this race,” Newgarden said. “They looked at you like you’re a failure if you don’t win it. I wanted to win it so bad. I knew we could. I knew we were capable. It’s a huge team effort, as everybody knows. I’m so glad to be here.”
After the race, Newgarden went into the nearly sold out grandstands to celebrate with the fans who had came from all over the globe to experience the event. Newgarden then returned to the yard of bricks to celebrate with his family and team.
The two hundred lap event could be told as a tale of two different 100-lap races. The first half of the race ran nearly caution free, and looked to be one of the fastest-running Indy 500’s in history. The race changed with a “flip of a switch” when Sting Ray Robb drew a yellow flag for a single car accident. The drama, yellow flags and even two red flags continued from that moment.
AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferucci finished in 3rd, followed by pole sitter Alex Palou in 4th, and the 2016 race winner, Alexander Rossi finished in 5th.
The series heads to the streets of Detroit next Sunday for the Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit. Coverage begins at 2pm on 1027 The Game with coverage brought to you by Battery Headquarters.
-Blake Smith, Host of Let’s Talk Racing
