Josef Newgarden Stays Silent on Breach but Eyes Indy 500 Win

Josef Newgarden is starting the 109th Indianapolis 500 from 32nd on the grid after Team Penske’s rules violation last Sunday. Officials discovered modified rear attenuators on both his No. 2 car and teammate Will Power’s No. 12 entry during the Fast 12 session.

As a result, both drivers were dropped to the back of the field for the race. The penalty comes after a controversial week for Penske: on Wednesday, three team leaders—team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski, and general manager Kyle Moyer—were dismissed following the technical breach.

Cindric, who acted as Newgarden’s chief race strategist, had worked at Penske for 25 years. Meeting reporters on Thursday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Newgarden chose not to discuss the modified parts or his team’s off-track problems.

Instead, he focused on the excitement and unpredictability of the Indy 500, telling media he wanted to talk about the race, not the controversy. He said he is “proud of everything we have done up to this point” and is “ready to go to work with our group.”

Newgarden, who won the last two Indianapolis 500s, said that despite his starting spot, he’s confident about contending for a third consecutive win. The Nashville driver explained that his focus remains on what he can control, especially with the race fast approaching and so much instability behind the scenes.

Newgarden said, “You have to focus on what you can control. That’s the difficult part about this job.” He noted that every year brings new challenges at the Speedway and that staying mentally prepared is key.

Getting the car right for Sunday is his priority, and he believes that the Penske crew has done strong work all month leading up to the race. Newgarden will try to become the first driver in Indy 500 history to win from the 32nd starting spot.

He referenced Rick Mears’ famous line that you can win at Indianapolis from any seat in the house, adding that he enjoys hearing stories from fans about their own seats. “There’s no bad seat in this house,” he said, drawing a comparison to his position near the back of the grid.

While no one has ever won the race from that deep in the lineup, Newgarden says his team has continually improved and that the car “just seems to be getting better every year.” He didn’t share a specific strategy for the 500-mile event but trusts Penske’s experience and the strength of his Dallara-Chevrolet.

“I don’t have a plan at the moment,” Newgarden said. “If we can get the car where it needs to be on Sunday… we’re going to be completely in the fight.”

He knows race conditions can change by the minute at Indianapolis, but he is keeping an open mind and plans to adapt as the day unfolds. The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday in front of a sold-out crowd.

Newgarden, with 29 career IndyCar wins, hopes to make history and join the short list of drivers to win three straight 500s. Despite the difficult week for Team Penske, Newgarden is focused on racing forward, saying the team “has the tools and the people to battle to the front.”

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.