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Josef Newgarden, driver of the No. 2 Shell Team Penske Chevrolet, won the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500, after a rain delay of four hours, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The victory at The Brickyard is Newgarden’s second in a row, winning from starting third on the grid. A daring, perfectly executed last lap pass overtaking Pato O’Ward in No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, earned him a sip of Hosier milk. O’Ward grabbed the lead from Newgarden at the white flag and later said he thought he could hold him off, but Newgarden kept his foot down in Turn 3 and went around the outside. O’Ward tried to swap places, but couldn’t. The One-Two separation at the brick finish line was a mere (not Mears) 0.3417 of a second after 500 miles.
“We just had an incredible car. I got just a little out of position at Lap 150; we were restarting eighth. I don’t think I got that sequencing correct. I really thought I went too soon, and then tried to back up and then put us in a hole. JD came over the radio and said you’re going to have to win this the old fashion way, I can’t help you. There’s not going to be stops, not going to fuel. So, I just went for it. I said alright, the car was good enough. You guys have done your job, let me drive to the front. They backed me the entire way. You can’t win this race without a great car,” said Newgarden.
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Multiple early-race caution flags prompted different pit strategies among the 33 starters. Consistent with NTT IndyCar Series competition, the strategies played out during the final 40 laps as the battle for the win was fought out between five drivers. But in the end it wasn’t strategy, but pure driving skill and daring commitment that led to victory.
It was a bittersweet day for Honda, with Scott Dixon and Alex Palou having a shot at a win. It wasn’t to be.
“It was a disappointing day. All things considered, we weren’t good enough on the day. We’ll regroup, lick our wounds, focus our efforts, and come back. That’s how racing works,” said David Salters, President, Honda Racing US.
Nonetheless, Honda remains One And Two in the IndyCar 2024 Standings. The racing also remains tight and fierce with the Top Ten places evenly split between Chevy and Honda at five apiece. Onward to the appropriately named mean streets of Detroit.
Detroit, to our eyes last year was too narrow, too short and way too bumpy. The longest straightaway needed to be resurfaced – like many Michigan roads – smoothed so passing can occur without bumps and carbon-fiber wing benders. This is an IndyCar problem. Restarts lead to more restarts, but on street circuits – the best way to overtake and pass is on the restart where everyone is bunched up – more accidents, more flags, more restarts with little sustained racing. (AutoInformed on Ganassi Racing Honda Wins Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix)
Chevrolet at The Brickyard
Wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 12
- 1988: Rick Mears
- 1989 Emerson Fittipaldi
- 1990 Arie Luyendyk
- 1991: Rick Mears
- 1992: Al Unser, Jr.
- 1993: Emerson Fittipaldi
- 2002: Helio Castroneves
- 2013: Tony Kanaan
- 2015: Juan Pablo Montoya
- 2018: Will Power
- 2019: Simon Pagenaud
- 2023: Josef Newgarden
- 2024: Josef Newgarden
Pole Awards at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 13
- 1987: Mario Andretti
- 1988: Rick Mears
- 1989: Rick Mears
- 1990: Emerson Fittipaldi
- 1991: Rick Mears
- 2002: Bruno Junqueria
- 2012: Ryan Briscoe
- 2013: Ed Carpenter
- 2014: Ed Carpenter
- 2015: Will Power
- 2018: Ed Carpenter
- 2019: Simon Pagenaud
- 2024: Scott McLaughlin
Old Fashion Racing as Newgarden’s Daring Pass Wins Indy 500
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Josef Newgarden, driver of the No. 2 Shell Team Penske Chevrolet, won the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500, after a rain delay of four hours, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The victory at The Brickyard is Newgarden’s second in a row, winning from starting third on the grid. A daring, perfectly executed last lap pass overtaking Pato O’Ward in No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, earned him a sip of Hosier milk. O’Ward grabbed the lead from Newgarden at the white flag and later said he thought he could hold him off, but Newgarden kept his foot down in Turn 3 and went around the outside. O’Ward tried to swap places, but couldn’t. The One-Two separation at the brick finish line was a mere (not Mears) 0.3417 of a second after 500 miles.
“We just had an incredible car. I got just a little out of position at Lap 150; we were restarting eighth. I don’t think I got that sequencing correct. I really thought I went too soon, and then tried to back up and then put us in a hole. JD came over the radio and said you’re going to have to win this the old fashion way, I can’t help you. There’s not going to be stops, not going to fuel. So, I just went for it. I said alright, the car was good enough. You guys have done your job, let me drive to the front. They backed me the entire way. You can’t win this race without a great car,” said Newgarden.
Click for more.
Multiple early-race caution flags prompted different pit strategies among the 33 starters. Consistent with NTT IndyCar Series competition, the strategies played out during the final 40 laps as the battle for the win was fought out between five drivers. But in the end it wasn’t strategy, but pure driving skill and daring commitment that led to victory.
It was a bittersweet day for Honda, with Scott Dixon and Alex Palou having a shot at a win. It wasn’t to be.
“It was a disappointing day. All things considered, we weren’t good enough on the day. We’ll regroup, lick our wounds, focus our efforts, and come back. That’s how racing works,” said David Salters, President, Honda Racing US.
Nonetheless, Honda remains One And Two in the IndyCar 2024 Standings. The racing also remains tight and fierce with the Top Ten places evenly split between Chevy and Honda at five apiece. Onward to the appropriately named mean streets of Detroit.
Detroit, to our eyes last year was too narrow, too short and way too bumpy. The longest straightaway needed to be resurfaced – like many Michigan roads – smoothed so passing can occur without bumps and carbon-fiber wing benders. This is an IndyCar problem. Restarts lead to more restarts, but on street circuits – the best way to overtake and pass is on the restart where everyone is bunched up – more accidents, more flags, more restarts with little sustained racing. (AutoInformed on Ganassi Racing Honda Wins Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix)
Chevrolet at The Brickyard
Wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 12
Pole Awards at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – 13