Bruce Martin
Particular to FOXSports.com
INDIANAPOLIS — There’s a purpose why no driver in historical past has gained three straight Indy 500s.
As a result of it’s laborious.
Even with maybe the quickest automobile on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500, Staff Penske’s Josef Newgarden was beginning within the again row. It got here after INDYCAR Sequence officers closely penalized Staff Penske for modifying the rear attenuator.
Newgarden knew he must placed on the race of his life to win his third-straight Indy 500. Newgarden had so much working in opposition to him, even with the quickest automobile.
The successful driver has by no means gained the Indianapolis 500 from twenty eighth or decrease. Newgarden was beginning thirty second.
Newgarden laid again firstly of the race on the primary green-flag lap as a result of he noticed the potential of a crash in the back of the pack.
Positive sufficient, Marco Andretti and Jack Harvey had been concerned in a crash in Flip 1 that knocked Andretti out of the race. Harvey was in a position to proceed however Newgarden was nowhere close to the calamity when it occurred.
As soon as the race lastly settled down, Newgarden proved he had one of many quickest automobiles on the monitor. The No. 2 Shell Chevrolet raced its means by way of the sector to as excessive as sixth place on Lap 128.
He had the appropriate technique to combat for the win over the ultimate 32 laps.
Newgarden made his scheduled pit cease on Lap 133 and had a difficulty. He returned to the monitor however got here again down pit highway on Lap 134 and by no means returned to motion.
“It seems like some gasoline stress points, so I am unsure,” Newgarden mentioned after he climbed out of the automobile. “It’s some type of anomaly or one thing we have by no means seen earlier than.
“It’s simply unlucky for the entire group. It is a group sport, which that very a lot exhibits it. You guys had been undoubtedly proper on tempo for what you needed to do at present to have a shot to make historical past.”
Newgarden mirrored on what may have been on Sunday.
“It’s powerful to not have a shot right here on the finish,” he mentioned. “It’s a group sport. It takes all the pieces to win right here.
“I’m nonetheless immensely grateful to run at Indianapolis. As powerful as it’s to take, I nonetheless really feel grateful to be out right here at present. I simply want we had an opportunity to combat for it.”
Newgarden started his day loudly booed by many followers throughout driver introductions over the newest controversy surrounding the group. Though he appeared to make use of that for motivation earlier within the week, he remained decided to offer it a shot at turning into the primary driver to win three-straight Indy 500s.
It is a report that can stay unachieved, for now.
Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports author and contributor to FOXSports.com. Observe him on X at @BruceMartin_500.
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