Josef Newgarden secured his first victory of the 2018 IndyCar season by winning the Phoenix Grand Prix at the Phoenix International Raceway. His success was largely attributed to the strategic decisions made by Team Penske, which played a critical role in his strong finish. The 1.0-mile oval track’s challenging layout made this victory particularly noteworthy.
Coming into the 2018 season as the reigning world champion, Newgarden had a modest start, finishing seventh at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix. He was eager to find momentum early in his title defense, and the Phoenix race provided that breakthrough after starting from the same seventh position. Throughout the race, Newgarden stayed within the leading group before his team’s timely strategy in the closing laps propelled him to the front.
How Team Penske’s Tactics Helped Newgarden Take the Lead
The Phoenix International Raceway’s short oval format makes overtaking difficult, highlighting the importance of strategy and timing. Newgarden credited his team’s decisions for his ability to gain several positions after the initial pitstop. Most crucially, the team chose to pit him for fresh tires under caution late in the race, allowing for a tactical advantage over drivers who stayed out on older tires.
“It was a team win tonight. I don’t know that I deserved to win the race tonight, but I think the team did. They did a really good job on strategy. Pit stops were unbelievable. I think I gained like five or six positions on just the first stop, which was awesome. They did a great job.” —Josef Newgarden, Driver
This pit decision placed Newgarden fourth for the restart with eight laps remaining, giving him fresher tires than the three cars ahead. On the restart lap, he quickly overtook Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe and pursued race leader Robert Wickens.
The Calculated Final Pass That Sealed the Victory
In a decisive moment on the restart, Newgarden executed a daring maneuver by taking the high line into Turn 1 to pass Wickens for the lead. Despite the risk, Newgarden confidently trusted the move, which was essential given the limited laps remaining to secure the win. This bold pass allowed him to build a comfortable gap in the closing laps.
“The last pass was risky. I didn’t know how that was going to go. … When I was sizing him up, I was like, ‘Man, this is the only way this is going to work out.’ I didn’t know if it was going to work, but it was good.” —Josef Newgarden, Driver
Following the move, Newgarden stretched his lead to several seconds and crossed the finish line as the winner of the Phoenix Grand Prix.
Season Progress and Impact on Newgarden’s Championship Defense
After his victory at Phoenix, Newgarden demonstrated competitive form by winning additional races throughout the 2018 season. Despite these successes, he ultimately finished fifth in the championship standings. Nonetheless, the Phoenix win showcased the effectiveness of Team Penske’s strategy and Newgarden’s ability to execute under pressure on a challenging circuit.
This victory at Phoenix remains a highlight in Newgarden’s career, illustrating how teamwork, tactical decisions, and driver skill combined to secure a memorable and thrilling race win early in his championship defense.
