In Josef Newgarden’s first public remarks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since Team Penske was rocked with grid penalties and a major management overhaul, the reigning champion of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge left no doubt he believes he can win Sunday’s race for an unprecedented third consecutive year.
“Oh, absolutely,” he said during Thursday’s Media Day. “Absolutely.”
Newgarden, who has won the past two “500s” with last-lap passes, said he has no set plan on how he will drive to the front from the 32nd starting position. He has never started lower than 22nd since joining Team Penske in 2017.
“There is no one formula (to win),” Newgarden said. “I know ‘a’ formula, and I don’t think it changes starting 32nd. We know what we need to do throughout the race to give ourselves an opportunity to go for the win. I think that’s really not the secret, but it’s just the formula. You have to give yourself a chance at the right time.
“That seems simple, but this race is an endurance in a lot of ways. It’s 500 miles. A lot you have to calculate your way through, the way you manage yellows, where you put yourself in the strategies, when you make moves, when you don’t. There’s a cadence to it.
“We’ve done it before, and we’ll try and do the exact same this (Sunday).”
The three top executives released by Roger Penske in the aftermath of the second rules infraction in the past two seasons also were scheduled to be the Race Day strategists for Newgarden, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin. In the place of former team president Tim Cindric, Ron Ruzewski and Kyle Moyer will be Luke Mason, Jonathan Diuguid and Ben Bretzman, respectively.
Newgarden declined to answer many of the questions associated with the challenges of the week, insisting he just sees “a bigger mountain” ahead of him in his pursuit of a history-making achievement.
Power: Indy Always Presents ‘Curveballs’
Power said Team Penske is locked in for Sunday, and he noted he has started on the last row before. He rolled off 32nd in 2021.
“People have to step up now because we’re missing some key individuals, and that can be motivating for people,” he said. “It’s like, ‘All right, I’ve got to take on more work and responsibility.’ You know, that’s all of us in the team right now.
“I think you get the best out of people in those situations. No one is ever ready for that. That’s why competition is so good. I think that’s what always gets the best out of me is tough situations. You see how good you really are.”
Power admitted it’s another curveball in a long list of them thrown over the years in this event.
“An incredible number of circumstances that you would have never dreamed would play out like this,” he said. “It’s just crazy. That’s Indianapolis. You just never know, man.
“PREMA (Racing) turns up first year on pole and two of our cars (start) on the back row. Scotty (McLaughlin) crashed in practice with probably the car for pole. That’s Indy. A lot of pressure. So much effort goes in, and these sort of things happen, you know?
“In some ways, having been (in the sport) so long, it’s not that shocking.”
Dixon, Helio Cherish Working Together
The evolving dynamic between Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian highlights a compelling new chapter in one of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ longest-running rivalries.
Dixon has 58 wins, including the 2008 Indy 500, and has also earned six series championships. Castroneves has 31 wins, including a record-tying four in the “500.” Three of the four came with Team Penske, with his latest in 2021 at Meyer Shank Racing.
After over two decades of competing against each other, often at the very top of the leaderboard, their relationship has shifted from fierce competitors to reluctant collaborators, thanks to the technical alliance between Chip Ganassi Racing and Meyer Shank Racing that began this season.
“It’s been different,” Castroneves said. “We’ve been competing against each other for so many years. It’s great.
“Obviously, Ganassi, it’s not winning so many races because they’re just lucky. They have a great group of people there. I have been enjoying working with all of them.”
Dixon poked fun at Castroneves, joking about his incomplete post-practice notes. But in reality, he’s genuinely intrigued by his old rival’s techniques.
“It’s been really relaxed,” Dixon said. “It’s kind of cool to see everybody evolve in different ways throughout the practice sessions. I know at one point last week we went to the 06 (Castroneves) setup just to try it because I want to see what he’s been working on, what it feels like. I think a lot of us maybe merged in some directions of what he’s been doing.”
Kirkwood Strives To Capitalize on Fast Car
Castroneves, in 2001, was the last driver to win the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and Indianapolis 500 in the same season. Ironically, he starts alongside 2025 Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood, in Row 8.
Kirkwood dominated the April 13 race from the pole and believes his No. 27 Siemens Honda of Andretti Global can charge forward on Sunday despite starting 23rd.
“This is the best race car I’ve ever had around this place,” Kirkwood said. “I don’t want to see it go to waste.”
Only 12 drivers have both prestigious victories on their resumes, not necessarily in the same season, with Kirkwood aiming to join Dixon, Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Simon Pagenaud, Takuma Sato, Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan and Mario Andretti.
Andretti the ‘Dad’ of Andretti Global
Marco Andretti’s 20th Indianapolis 500 start marks a full-circle moment – not just in his career, but in the generational arc of Andretti Global.
From the 19-year-old phenom who nearly won his rookie race in 2006 when he finished runner-up to Sam Hornish Jr. to now being the veteran at 37, Andretti has become the elder statesman, or as he joked, the team “dad.”
Starting 29th in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda for Andretti Herta w/Marco & Curb Agajanian, Andretti is surrounded by younger full-time teammates, Colton Herta (25 years old), Kirkwood (26) and Marcus Ericsson (34).
“I’ve got to keep them in line somehow,” Andretti said with a laugh.
When Andretti joined the series in 2006, he was teammates with Bryan Herta, who was 36 at the time, 33-year-old Dario Franchitti and 31-year-old Tony Kanaan.
Herta was considered the “dad” role then. He remains with the team but as the race strategist for Kirkwood.
“Now he’s the granddad,” Andretti said.
Andretti: No Use for ‘Wind, Chaos’
Marcus Armstrong had engine problems at the start of last year’s “500,” and he was able to turn only six laps before retiring from his first Indy start. Thus, he’s something of a race rookie.
Starting 30th in Sunday’s race, Armstrong said the windy conditions that make driving more challenging “would be good for us.” Andretti took exception with that.
“You can tell it’s his first ‘500,’” said Andretti, who will make his 20th start in the event. “I wouldn’t want wind and chaos.”
McLaughlin, Carpenter Wager On Pacers-Knicks
A lighthearted showdown between McLaughlin and Ed Carpenter adds a fun off-track narrative to the intense NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.
Knicks’ fan McLaughlin and Pacers’ fan Carpenter are invested in more than just racing this week. The Pacers’ Game 1 overtime win Wednesday night gave Carpenter bragging rights, at least temporarily.
Carpenter, confident in a Pacers’ series win in six games, gave McLaughlin every other outcome in their bet.
There’s also an internal competition among Ed Carpenter Racing drivers Carpenter, Rossi and Christian Rasmussen to sell the most Java House drinks made in their honor. Carpenter, trailing in the contest, made a side deal that if he loses the Knicks-Pacers’ bet, McLaughlin will help close the gap up to $2,500.
While Carpenter put McLaughlin on the spot, McLaughlin floated either a charitable donation or a haul of Good Ranchers steaks (a nod to his sponsor) as a potential win prize.
“No one gets much out of this, apart from maybe Ed’s reputation,” McLaughlin said.
Ericsson Enjoys Pacers’ Thriller
Since joining Andretti Global in 2024, Ericsson has become a dedicated Pacers’ fan. That’s no coincidence that Gainbridge, a major Andretti Global sponsor, also holds naming rights to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers’ home arena.
Ericsson described a relaxed, fun evening with his No. 28 Allegra Honda team, watching the Pacers’ thrilling comeback win while enjoying a cookout hosted by his engineer, Olivier Boisson.
“He was doing burgers for the whole 28 crew,” Ericsson said. “We were having a great time. I was also watching the game and eating burgers. It was a fun night.”
The Pacers host the Knicks in Game 3 this Sunday evening. Ericsson already has his post-race Sunday mapped out.
“When we win on Sunday, I want to go to the game, bring the Borg-Warner Trophy and be celebrating on court while at the game,” he said.
Lundgaard Enjoys Hanging with Golfer Watson
Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, and Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard was among those who joined the appearance.
Lundgaard, an avid golfer, enjoyed the camaraderie with another professional athlete.
“I know he’s self-taught,” Lundgaard said. “He’s never taken a golf lesson in his entire life. At the end of the day, I feel like it’s the same way I grew up. Even though I had a dad who used to race, you have to go out there and learn by doing. I saw a little familiarity in that.
“It’s always fun to pick athletes’ brains on how they approach things. Obviously, when you reach a certain level, you feel the same kind of pressure in this situation that I do. How do you approach it, and what is your thought process, how do you get away from it?
“I always find it kind of interesting to ask those questions.”
Robb Enjoys Similar Car to Daly
Instead of encouraging diverse driving preferences, Juncos Hollinger Racing benefits from the fact that Conor Daly and Sting Ray Robb both want the same type of car setup.
“Identical,” Robb said. “You could copy one setup sheet to another.”
That kind of synergy can streamline engineering, reduce testing complexity and allow the team to focus on development without having to split resources between contrasting styles.
Daly starts 11th in his No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet while Robb rolls off 17th in his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.
Despite driving for different teams last year, both drivers had nearly identical success in the “500.” Robb led 23 laps for AJ Foyt Racing and Daly 22 for DRR-Cusick Motorsports.
Carpenter, Simpson Share Same Row … Again
Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing) makes his second “500” start Sunday. This year and last year, he started alongside veteran Carpenter.
Last year, Carpenter started in the middle of Row 6 with Simpson outside. On Sunday, Simpson starts on the inside of Row 5 and Carpenter’s No. 33 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet in the middle.
“We were talking about that,” Carpenter said. “We need to do better next year. If we’re going to keep being together, we need to do better.”
‘100 Days to Indy’ Premiere
All new episodes of the second season of “100 Days to Indy” are available on FOX Nation. Over the course of three episodes, which will be released weekly, this season takes a look into the lives of the drivers and their teams as they navigate the 100-day countdown to the Indy 500.
In addition, FOX Nation acquired seasons one and two of the series and will release a playback of the full 2025 Indy 500 race on the platform starting Monday, the day after its airing on FOX.
FOX Sports Teams with Purple Heart Homes
FOX Sports announced an initiative with national nonprofit partner Purple Heart Homes to renovate and restore the homes – and lives – of U.S. military veterans in Indianapolis ahead of the network’s inaugural coverage of the “500.”
Last week, veterans Kevin Smith (U.S. Air Force), Gary Dean (U.S. Army), Donald Covington (U.S. Marines) and a U.S. Army veteran who asked to remain anonymous began receiving personalized home renovations thanks to this initiative.
The initiative, powered by a charitable grant from the FOX Sports Gamechanger Fund and Fox Corporation’s FOX Forward program, enables Purple Heart Homes to complete major home renovations for four local veterans in Indianapolis and highlights a shared mission to ensure veterans in the local community can age in place with safety, dignity and independence.
O’Ward Enjoys New Technology with Indianapolis Students
Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward spent time Wednesday with Indianapolis-based Monarca Academy students as they were introduced to the Arrow Electronics and N50 Project.
O’Ward visits the school each May and helped debut the model lab, which is equipped with 20 workstations, interactive SMART boards, an AI tool, 3D printer, FIRST Robotics kit and a stable internet connection.
Additionally during the event, Monarca Academy unveiled a mural celebrating O’Ward as a Hispanic role model for the 240-plus students enrolled in the school.
Odds and Ends
- Hunter-Reay brought his oldest son, Ryden, to his media availably session, and Ryden sat at the podium with a microphone to field questions. Turns out he’s missing his last week of fifth grade. The best part of being at IMS? “Riding a scooter everywhere,” he said.
- The past few days haven’t been kind to Kirkwood, who has been sick. He was still keeping his distance during Thursday’s content gathering. “I feel like I haven’t had much of a rest, if I’m being honest,” he said.
- Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren said he empathizes with Jacob Abel of Dale Coyne Racing, the lone entered driver failing to earn a qualifying position. That was Siegel last year. “It’s just hard,” said Siegel, who watched the Last Chance Qualifying session on pit road with Jack Harvey, with whom he was teammates last year at Indy with DCR. “Someone has to go home, but no matter what there’s no one in the field that you want to see go home.”
- Detroit Lions President and Chief Executive Officer Rod Wood was named grand marshal for next Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. Wood joins a growing list of Detroit Lions personalities who have served in that role at the event, including linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, running back Zonovan Knight and defensive lineman Alim McNeil in 2024, offensive lineman Penei Sewell (2022), head coach Dan Campbell (2021), guard T.J. Lang (2017) and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (2012).