How Indianapolis changed Newgarden’s life: “The greatest feeling”

Credit: Ryan Fleming

The excitement. The nerves. The memories.

For Josef Newgarden, little compares to the first drive through the gates of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on Indianapolis 500 practice week. Even now, in his 15th season, the feeling never changes and never gets old.

“More than anything, I appreciate its place in motorsport. I really do,” he tells DIVEBOMB, with a backdrop of the infield at IMS. “The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world and it deserves the credit that a lot of people put its way. It should be held to a very high standard on the highest stage you can imagine. 

“It’s the most historic motorsport event that you’re going to find. It’s from the very beginning of introducing a road car; this is what this place was built for, in a lot of ways, was a proving ground. And then it became this iconic event. So I just appreciate the history and where it stands within motorsports as a benchmark. It’s very cool to be a part of it.”

For over a decade, Newgarden toiled in pursuit of the great prize. Fifth. Fourth. Third. But never better, even with two IndyCar championships to his name in the span of three years after taking the series by storm following his 2017 move to Team Penske.

But in 2023, after 12 agonising years of waiting, everything changed. On the final lap, no less, a backstretch pass on Marcus Ericsson confirmed Newgarden’s date with destiny and the life-affirming defining of his legacy in the sport.

Credit: Chris Owens

“For me it’s pretty instant,” he reflects, speaking on how his life changed, three years on from his long-awaited success. “I don’t know if this is the answer that people expect or want [but] your relationship with the Speedway changes a hundred feet before the line is my experience with it. It is absolutely instant when it happens. 

“It’s very hard to describe it to people. It is a tremendous feeling that you get. I think it’s got to be the greatest feeling you can have if you’re a motorsports person; that’s that instant gratification that you’ve been working towards. That immediately removes some pressure on yourself. You can be at ease. That’s how it has changed my life.”

So when he comes through the Speedway’s gates now, there is something extra. Not that his adoration for the race ever wavered, but it has been notched up again.

“When you win this race, it’s unbelievable the feeling that you can have about the facility,” Newgarden adds. “I’ve always had tonnes of respect for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but you gain even more appreciation for what this place is, what it’s come from, what it is now, what it represents. 

“It all changes. It’s hard to describe completely that feeling and your relationship with it, but I can just tell you that you gain a higher appreciation for what this race means.”

The floodgates were open for Newgarden. One year later, it was timed to perfection again. On the outside of Turn 3 on Lap 200, he broke Pato O’Ward’s heart to go back-to-back at the Speedway - a feat not achieved for over two decades. He could be knocked no more.

Credit: Ryan Fleming

Yet still, without a title since 2019, there is no end to the 35-year-old’s own ambitions.

“I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to prove to anybody - it certainly changes that aspect,” he admits of the weight lifted after winning at Indianapolis. “I still have a lot that I want to prove to myself; there is a lot that I want to accomplish. All of that stays the same. 

“There’s plenty. I have a high bar internally. We’ll see if we can keep notching everything up. Look, we could sit here forever and make a list. It’s like Roger. Roger makes a list with 15, it turns to 20, then 25. It’s never going to stop. That’s how I operate, too.

“I have all the numbers in my head. That’s where they’ll stay for now.”

Newgarden has endured a bout of difficult seasons since finishing three successive campaigns as runner-up in the standings from 2020 through to 2022 - immediately following his latest title. The 2023 season saw four oval wins salvage him fifth in points, though in the last two years he has slumped to eighth and 12th - both his worst since joining Penske.

The start to 2026 has been improved, with a win in Round 2 at Phoenix Raceway - his second in three races after winning the Nashville finale last year - and a fourth-place finish at the recent Grand Prix of Indianapolis, putting him one top-five result shy of last year’s tally.

This improved consistency has him sitting fifth in the standings, albeit 75 points adrift of Álex Palou’s lead, heading into the Indy 500, as he pursues ending his seven-year title drought.

Credit: Dominic Loyer

“We’re making very good progress as a team, pulling our programme back to where we expect it to be week in, week out. The GP was another representation of that where we’re trying to steer the programme into consistent speed and performance. 

“We’ve had two top fives, which was great for the team. How can we convert that to wins more consistently? That’s the goal. We’re making a lot of progress. I feel very encouraged. Certainly from a championship standpoint, you have to do that. For us, we have to be up in the front every single weekend if we want to fight for the championship. 

“That’s where our mindset is at. We have good momentum as far as how the team is operating. I haven’t seen the team operate any better than this in my time here.”