Josef Newgarden of Team Penske has embraced a new fitness challenge ahead of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season, participating in multiple Hyrox competitions to test and improve his physical readiness. The two-time IndyCar champion recently raced in Phoenix, Arizona, seeking to push his endurance through this demanding event.
Performance Highlights from Phoenix Event
On Saturday, January 31, Newgarden completed the fitness race in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 30 seconds, securing 52nd place overall in the Pro Men’s division and ranking 13th within his 35-39 age group. His time was about 10 seconds slower than Hunter McIntyre, a three-time Hyrox world champion known as “The Sheriff.” McIntyre is renowned for consistently finishing on the podium, having achieved this feat in 30 out of 34 Hyrox races and being recognized as one of the top ten male athletes in Spartan Race history.
Live from Phoenix at Hyrox…..Guess who lookin’ like a champion….. pic.twitter.com/lb1ax26wMp
— Derek Daly (@DerekDaly500) February 1, 2026
Understanding the Demands of a Hyrox Competition
A Hyrox race combines running and various functional fitness exercises that participants must complete in sequence. The Pro Men’s category includes challenging tasks such as multiple 1,000-meter runs alternated with technical exercises like SkiErg, sled pushes and pulls with heavy loads, burpee broad jumps, rowing, kettlebell carries, sandbag lunges, and a high volume of wall ball throws.
The full event involves:
- 1,000-meter run
- 1,000-meter SkiErg
- 1,000-meter run
- Two 25-meter sled pushes (445 pounds plus sled)
- 1,000-meter run
- Two 25-meter sled pulls (337 pounds plus sled)
- 1,000-meter run
- 80-meter burpee broad jump
- 1,000-meter run
- 1,000-meter row
- 1,000-meter run
- 200-meter kettlebell farmer’s carry (two 70-pound kettlebells)
- 1,000-meter run
- 100-meter sandbag lunge (66 pounds)
- 1,000-meter run
- 100 wall ball throws to a vertical target (20 pounds)
Newgarden’s Best Event Segments and Training Progress
During the Phoenix competition, Newgarden’s strongest segment was the kettlebell farmer’s carry, completed in 1 minute and 21 seconds. The sled push took him 2 minutes and 32 seconds to finish. This event marked his fourth Hyrox participation since March 2025, following races in Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. His top result was 10th place in the 30-34 age division at the Chicago event.
Insights into Newgarden’s Hyrox Preparation and Recovery
Newgarden has shared parts of his Hyrox journey on his YouTube channel, giving fans a glimpse into the athlete’s routine from pre-race hydration and registration to warmups and post-race recovery. He revealed he competed under the alias “Jason Newberry” and highlighted his recovery meal, which included a stop at In-N-Out Burger after the competition.
He acknowledged the need to improve his run times by about 8 seconds from his best Chicago performance, focusing on the race’s running portions, which cover roughly five miles overall. Enhancing this endurance aspect could lead to a faster overall finish and better placement in upcoming races.
Newgarden’s Hyrox Journey Reflects His Commitment to Fitness Before IndyCar Season
Josef Newgarden’s participation in Hyrox events underlines his dedication to maintaining peak fitness outside the racetrack, applying intense cross-training to enhance his stamina and strength ahead of the IndyCar season. By competing against elite fitness athletes like Hunter McIntyre and refining his performance in multiple locations, from Phoenix to Dallas, Newgarden is positioning himself for a strong return in 2026.
This involvement signals an evolving approach for drivers balancing rigorous physical training with motorsport demands, where endurance and resilience play critical roles. Observers can expect Newgarden to continue leveraging Hyrox challenges as a method to sharpen his conditioning and improve race readiness as the IndyCar season approaches.
Live from Phoenix at Hyrox…..
Guess who lookin’ like a champion….. pic.twitter.com/lb1ax26wMp— Derek Daly (@DerekDaly500) February 1, 2026
