Josef Newgarden showed strong pace during the final practice session for the 109th Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, positioning himself as a leading contender despite starting 32nd. Newgarden led the session with a lap speed of 225.687 mph in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Chevrolet, aiming to become the first driver to win three consecutive Indy 500 races while overcoming one of the deepest starting positions ever seen in the event’s history.
Background on Starting Position Challenges
Newgarden, a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, begins Sunday’s race from 32nd spot after he and teammate Will Power were penalized for illegal parts on their cars during qualifying. They were moved to the rear of the 33-car field, setting Newgarden back farther than any previous winner. The record for deepest starting position to win the Indianapolis 500 stands at 28th, held by Ray Harroun in 1911 and Louis Meyer in 1936.
“Good final run here,” Newgarden said. “Excited to check the car off again and work with the team. I’m really excited for Sunday. The main show. Everything we work for.” —Josef Newgarden, Driver
Key Competitors Showing Strong Pace in Final Practice
Takuma Sato, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, posted the second fastest lap at 225.415 mph in the No. 75 AMADA Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. However, Sato experienced mechanical issues late in practice when his car slowed and stopped between Turns 3 and 4, causing a caution period. He will start the race in the second position.
“I would say we weren’t entirely happy with (car setup) yet, but we were making good progress,” Sato noted. “We were pointing in the right direction, so I want to check all the data. We had a mechanical failure on the last run and lost performance on one side of the car. It’s too early for me to say what that was until the team investigates it, but I almost lost control in Turn 1, and we are just fortunate I didn’t hit anything.” —Takuma Sato, Driver
Scott Dixon, the six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and aiming for his second Indianapolis 500 win, completed the session third fastest at 225.200 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon will start fourth on race day.
Other Notable Performances During Final Practice
Devlin DeFrancesco made an impressive jump to the fourth position in the final practice, clocking a 224.778 mph lap in the No. 30 Dogecoin Honda from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Will Power, starting last in the 33-car field, rounded out the top five with a best lap of 224.419 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Pole sitter Robert Shwartzman, notable as the first rookie to claim the Indy 500 pole since 1983, recorded a lap of 220.987 mph, placing 29th in the final session.
Team Performances and Mechanical Setbacks
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske each had two cars finish in the top five during the session, indicating strong setups despite the clear challenges presented by heavy traffic on the 2.5-mile oval. Mechanical issues plagued several drivers; besides Sato, teammate Graham Rahal’s No. 15 United Rentals Honda required a return to Gasoline Alley after just 45 minutes of running. Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion, lost valuable track time due to a water leak in his No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet.
Ryan Hunter-Reay’s No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet caught fire near the backstretch during the session, prompting the first caution. The 2014 Indy 500 winner calmly brought the car to pit lane before exiting safely, as the INDYCAR Safety Team extinguished the flames.
Implications for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 Race
As the Indianapolis 500 approaches its 109th running, Josef Newgarden’s pace in the final practice hints at his potential to achieve an unprecedented three consecutive victories, despite starting from one of the toughest positions on the grid. The performances of top competitors like Takuma Sato, Scott Dixon, and strong team efforts from Rahal Letterman Lanigan and Team Penske add to the anticipation for a highly competitive race.
Sunday’s race start at 10 a.m. ET will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Deportes, and the FOX Sports app, with live coverage on the INDYCAR Radio Network. The combination of Newgarden’s speed, mechanical concerns among rivals, and the historic nature of his attempt sets the stage for a potentially memorable Indianapolis 500.
