INDIANAPOLIS – Josef Newgarden finally won his long-awaited Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and gave team owner Roger Penske his 19th win and first since purchasing the Model Track. Indianapolis, daring race winner Marcus Ericsson in a frantic 2.5-mile sprint to the finish line.
After the race was red flaged for the third time in the closing laps, Newgarden was driven from fourth to second place. The two-time IndyCar champion, who was 0 to 11 in “Race’s Greatest Spectacle,” capitalized on that by slingshoting Ericsson around in restarts and holding him off for two turns. in the end to win.
Newgarden pulled his Chevrolet-powered car to a stop on the ramp ahead, jumped out, and found a hole in the fence, plunging into part of the crowd estimated at more than 300,000 to celebrate. Newgarden then climbed the fence to imitate longtime Team Penske racer and four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves.
“I am very grateful to be here. I started out as a fan in the crowd, and this place is amazing, no matter where you’re sitting,” Newgarden said after pouring a bottle of whole milk over her head. “People keep asking why I didn’t win this race, and they look at you like you’re a loser if you don’t win. I know I have the ability. I know I can.”
Ericsson is second in a Honda’s motobike for Chip Ganassi Racing, and he immediately criticized IndyCar’s decision to raise the green flag on the first lap out of the hole and establish a one-round run for the pieces.
“I think it’s an unfair and dangerous way to finish the race,” Ericsson said. “I think I did everything right behind the wheel.”
Following Newgarden and Ericsson was Santino Ferrucci, who helped AJ Foyt, 88, have his team’s best record in the iconic race that the Super Tex has won four times since Kenny Bräck. won in 1999.
Chip Ganassi Racing favorite and pole watcher Alex Palou finished fourth and Alexander Rossi finished fifth in a disappointing day for Arrow McLaren.
The race on track to become the fastest Indy 500 in history ended with three red flags in the last 16 laps.
The first was in a collision involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood, who were near the front of the lead group. Rosenqvist hit the fence in Turn 1 and couldn’t stop his Arrow McLaren car from sliding down the track. Kirkwood ejected his right rear tire and went upside down into the barrier, embarking on a terrifying, sparkly ride through the short slide.
One of Kirkwood’s wheels darted over the fence and narrowly passed the packed stands. No one was injured.
“All I know is that I was in the fence, which is never a good thing in IndyCar. Thank God these cars are very safe,” Kirkwood said. “I saw sparks flying everywhere. That’s the scary part. You’re upside down and you’re stuck at that point.
On the reboot, Pato O’Ward – who had his restart delayed because the speed setting was too slow – was shuffled from first to third as Newgarden rose to the top. O’Ward and Ericsson then side-by-side into Round 3 and hit the wheel, O’Ward slid into the wall and was knocked out of the race in another bitter disappointment for Arrow McLaren.
Agustin Canapino does a 360-degree spin behind him, breaking a break line. He was unable to stop and collided with O’Ward’s car.
“I was a little too good there,” O’Ward said. “I just feel so sad for the team. We have four very fast racing cars, now there are only two left in the race. … I stepped on my apron to make room for (Ericsson). I was squeezed. Yes, I won’t forget that.”
Once one of the fastest Indy 500s in history suddenly got a second red flag with six laps.
Last year’s race was red flagged with five legs, with Ericsson leading O’Ward to the finish line. Ericsson held him off for the rest of the run, and many criticized O’Ward for not making a more drastic move to win.
Newgarden did not make the same mistake with Ericsson in front of him.
As they crossed the brick field, Penske and his entire team jumped to celebrate on a raised platform near the starting line. And for a moment, the 86-year-old team owner looked like a child filled with joy.
“Just pure emotion,” Newgarden said. “I tried to keep the game. I was very emotional during the last 10 laps because I knew we were in a position to fight to win. I cannot speak highly enough of the team. They worked really hard all month.”
