It was Newgarden’s fifth victory on the observe previously often called Gateway, and his second of the 2024 season.
“I believe the workforce wanted it,” stated Newgarden, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion.
“They’ve completed a fantastic job, on the No. 2 automotive, particularly, they’ve completed a very good job. They’ve given me race-winning vehicles all year long, even previous Indy they usually haven’t materialized. So, it’s good to get one other one on the board.”
Late-race restart chaos
He mirrored on a late restart with lower than 10 laps to go, during which a sluggish launch by him led to vehicles stacking up and crashing, together with team-mate Will Energy, who was third, that led to a crimson flag. Energy flipped him off within the aftermath of the crash.
“The worst half about that’s clearly the No. 12 (team-mate Will Energy) not making it dwelling,” Newgarden stated.
“I hate that that occurred on the very finish. I imply, I watched it on the TV, it regarded just like the inexperienced went out earlier than I went simply momentarily and it prompted a giant accordion. So, I hate that occurred. That is the very last thing you need with 10 to go is to create a multitude. I wasn’t attempting to try this, however this workforce did an incredible job. We’ve obtained quick vehicles proper from the beginning. Simply actually proud to have the PPG automotive again in Victory Lane with Staff Chevy.”
A Tennessee native, Newgarden led 17 of 260 laps, ending 1.7260s forward of Staff Penske team-mate and pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin.
Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Linus Lundqvist claimed third after a late battle with Andretti International’s Colton Herta.
The Race
McLaughlin will get the early leap over frontrow mate David Malukas, however Colton Herta is the early mover after choosing up six spots on the opening lap from twenty fifth to nineteenth.
Will Energy, who began third, made an inside go on the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda of Malukas getting into Flip 1 on lap 2 to maneuver into second behind Staff Penske team-mate McLaughlin.
Malukas responded on lap 8 with an inside go by Energy off of Flip 4, with the warning popping out the next lap after Ed Carpenter and Katherine Legge got here collectively in Flip 2. Legge remained parked on the within the nook, whereas Carpenter was in a position to proceed on. Legge was left as the primary retirement of the race.
A restart on lap 14 noticed McLaughlin as soon as once more make a clear getaway, however he misplaced the result in Malukas into Flip 3 the following lap. McLaughlin fell to 3rd as Energy glided by.
The warning returned on lap 17 after Rinus VeeKay obtained free off of Flip 2 and stacked up a number of vehicles, which led to contact between the Juncos Hollinger Racing duo of Romain Grosjean and Conor Daly and despatched the latter right into a 360-degree spin with harm. Kyle Kirkwood additionally collected harm, left to pit for repairs over the following a number of laps. He ultimately returned to the observe, 31 laps down.
Malukas led the sphere on the lap 27 restart, however misplaced the result in Energy into Flip 3.
The mix of an early begin and up to date warning elevated Herta as much as ninth by lap 34.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, operating fifth, known as for a suspected engine challenge over the radio on lap 41 and opted to pit the following lap. He shut the engine off because the crew regarded over the No. 5 Chevrolet earlier than pushing it behind the wall.
The No. 28 Andretti International Honda of Marcus Ericsson progressed to fifth after O’Ward’s challenge.
Energy in management early
By lap 50, Energy constructed up a lead of 0.757s over Malukas, whereas McLaughlin continued to carry third at 2s again.
Pit stops started on lap 60 as championship chief Alex Palou pitted from tenth, together with Herta and the Meyer Shank Racing pairing of Malukas and Felix Rosenqvist. Energy and Josef Newgarden pitted the following lap, with McLaughlin stopping for service on lap 63.
The pit cycle propelled Arrow McLaren rookie Nolan Siegel to the lead quickly earlier than pitting and making solution to team-mate Alexander Rossi. Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Linus Lundqvist additionally discovered the highest spot earlier than pitting and handing off to Graham Rahal.
Energy reassumed the lead as soon as Rahal pitted, with Malukas 0.684s behind on lap 80.
The warning got here out on lap 86 after Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Kyffin Simpson shunted in Flip 4.
Whereas the pits had been open, Ericsson pitted from fifth, together with defending winner Scott Dixon. Malukas, nonetheless operating second, started reporting a clutch challenge whereas operating below warning.
Energy was in a position to get a clear restart on lap 97 after Malukas spun the tires popping out of Flip 4.
In a battle amongst people who pitted, Ericsson was in a position to get by Dixon with an outdoor go off of Flip 2 to maneuver into thirteenth, after which moved by Siegel to take twelfth. Ericsson continued his march up, breaking again into the highest 10 after passing AJ Foyt Racing’s Sting Ray Robb on lap 105.
The lead for Energy expanded to 1.4631 by lap 110 over McLaughlin, who took second as Malukas fell to 3rd.
The second spherical of pit stops started on lap 119, with Malukas peeling off for service, together with Herta. Energy pitted on lap 120, whereas McLaughlin pitted on lap 122. Rossi took over the lead, whereas Ericsson, who was anticipated to solely have to cease two extra instances, elevated to 3rd after making manner once more for Robb, who took second.
Ericsson assumed the lead on lap 127 after Rossi and Robb pitted, with Dixon and Siegel vaulting to second and third, respectively.
Dixon then took the lead as Ericsson fell to 3rd within the strategy to lap 140. Ericsson light all the way down to fifth moments later in a determined try and hit his gas quantity. Lundqvist and Santino Ferrucci, who had been additionally on the identical pit technique as Dixon, Siegel and Ericsson, took over third and fourth.
Scott McLaughlin, Staff Penske Chevrolet leads at the beginning
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Photographs
Siegel took the lead from Dixon on lap 145. He, together with the remainder of the highest 4, pitted on lap 148, giving the result in Ericsson, who pitted the following lap. Ericsson was held after his pit cease by a number of seconds. In the meantime, Siegel was handed a drive through penalty after locking the rear tires and dashing on pit street. Ferrucci was additionally warning with the identical penalty, whereas Ericsson returned after a problem.
The sector reset with Energy holding a 1.276s lead over McLaughlin on lap 155. The run of pit stops for Malukas, Herta and others started as soon as extra at lap 169. Energy pitted the next lap, handing the result in McLaughlin, whereas Rossi rose to second. Rossi pitted on lap 171, together with McLaughlin. Robb discovered the lead consequently on lap 172.
Through the shakeup of the pit cycle, McLaughlin was in a position to transfer forward – nonetheless second total behind Robb – of Newgarden, whereas Energy fell all the way down to fourth. Robb ultimately pitted on lap 181, transferring the Penske trio up 1-2-3.
Dixon’s hopes of constructing it on another cease had been derailed after having to pit for a problem. The warning waived on lap 196 after Newgarden, urgent McLaughlin for the lead, spun off of Flip 2 and fell fourth.
McLaughlin pits on lap 200, together with Newgarden. Energy assumed the lead after opting to remain out.
The brand new operating order put Energy within the lead, adopted by Malukas, with McLaughlin and Newgarden third and fourth.
A heartbreaking finish for Malukas
Energy led the sphere to the inexperienced flag on lap 207.
Malukas pitted from second on lap 218, with Energy in for service the next lap. McLaughlin inherited the lead, with Newgarden second and Rossi in third.
Palau, operating sixth and at a lowered tempo to hit a giant gas quantity in an effort to not pit once more, fell a lap all the way down to McLaughlin on lap 225. McLaughlin lapped Herta with 27 laps to go, leaving three vehicles on the lead lap.
The warning got here out after a side-by-side battle with Malukas and Energy ended the previous crashing into Flip 2. Energy was operating on the skin of Malukas and pinched him to the curb, spinning him into the skin wall.
The warning allowed McLaughlin and Newgarden to pit with 18 laps to go, with each additionally taking recent tires. Newgarden obtained out forward of McLaughlin after a 5.1s pit cease. Newgarden ended up taking up the lead, with McLaughlin second and Herta third. Energy remained fourth.
A restart with 9 laps to go was waved off after a sluggish run by Newgarden led to contact between Rossi caught the rear of Energy and briefly caught air. Grosjean additionally sustained contact within the crash. The incident led to a crimson flag with eight laps to go. Energy, whereas climbing over the wall, offered the center finger salute to Newgarden as he escorted the sphere down pit lane.
After an in depth cleanup, the stoppage gave solution to vehicles peeling off pit lane as soon as extra after which went inexperienced flag on lap 154.
Newgarden obtained a clear begin this time, with a sizeable .0.6s hole over McLaughlin. Herta was below assault from Lundqvist for third and took the spot with 5 laps to go.
Newgarden coasted the remainder of the best way to the checkered flag, whereas McLaughlin got here throughout second, forward of Lundqvist in third. Herta and Palou rounded out the remainder of the highest 5.
