Josef Newgarden has remained tight-lipped regarding the cheating scandal surrounding Team Penske, which has garnered significant attention ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. This controversy first arose when Newgarden’s car was flagged by IndyCar’s technical inspectors during qualifying, leading to both him and his teammate Will Power being sidelined from the session.
The issue stemmed from an illegal modification to the rear accentuator, a crucial component of the car’s crash structure, which was altered by Penske to enhance performance. As a result, Newgarden and Power initially qualified 11th and 12th, respectively, but were ultimately relegated to the back of the grid due to penalties imposed by IndyCar.
This is not the first time Team Penske has faced scrutiny; a similar cheating incident occurred last year involving Newgarden that resulted in the loss of a victory at St. Petersburg. On Thursday, all three Penske drivers addressed the press, marking their first media appearance since the scandal became public. While Scotty McLaughlin expressed disappointment at Roger Penske’s name being associated with the controversy, and Power suggested the team’s recent staff changes were influenced by external pressures, Newgarden chose to focus on the race instead.
“I don’t want to disappoint or offend anybody. I’m here to talk about the race,” he stated, emphasizing his commitment to the event and his readiness to compete. As a two-time reigning champion of the Indy 500, Newgarden aims to etch his name in history by becoming the first driver to secure three consecutive victories in this prestigious race.
Starting from the 32nd position, Newgarden is aware of the challenges ahead, as no driver has won the Indy 500 from a lower position than 28th. Despite this, he remains optimistic, asserting that winning from any position is possible. “You can win this race from any seat in the house. There’s no bad seat in this house,” he remarked confidently, while expressing satisfaction with the performance of his car.
As race day approaches, Newgarden maintains a positive outlook, prepared to tackle the unique challenges that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway presents. With continued resilience and determination, he aims to deliver a strong performance for Team Penske and pursue the record-extending 21st victory in IndyCar’s most celebrated event.