(Photo Credit:@JosefNewgarden)
In 2021, Josef Newgarden looked to be sailing away with a win at one the most entertaining races in the INDYCAR schedule, but due to a late caution and gearbox issues the win went to the eventual INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou. In 2022, after late cautions and close racing, Newgarden captured the win at the Grand Prix of Road America.
Alexander Rossi led the field to green at the start of the race with Newgarden in hot pursuit for the first fifteen laps until the first scheduled pit stop of the day and both of them made stops at the same time. Newgarden had a better stop and was aided by Scott McLauglin pitting ahead of Rossi as he was on pit road which made Newgarden vault ahead of Rossi to take the lead.
We have to fast-forward as Newgarden has set sail but after the final pit stop of the day on Lap 42, Rossi began to close on Newgarden and was doing so until eight to go as the Arrow McLaren SP of Pato O'Ward began to lose power and stopped at Turn Eleven.
The race restarted with five laps to go and Newgarden timed his start perfectly and he jumped out to a five car length advantage over Rossi but a caution flew again on the same lap as Helio Castroneves spun his car and stalled.
The final start came three laps later as Newgarden again set sail over the field as Marcus Ericsson passed Rossi for a second place finish.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has four weeks off as the series returns Independence Day weekend for the Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 3rd on NBC.