Texas three-step for Josef Newgarden. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
FORT WORTH, Texas- Texas Motor Speedway and INDYCAR really go like bread and butter, and perhaps Sunday’s race saved the venue.
David Malukas summed up the race as “beautiful chaos” during Sunday’s PPG 375 while Josef Newgarden scored his second straight victory in Fort Worth.
Although the wild 250-lap race ended under caution, he bested Pato O’Ward, who at one point, had everyone beat.
Newgarden and O’Ward fought brim-to-brim all race long and unlike most racing disciplines – with respect and class.
“It’s a group effort this weekend. Pato gave me all the respect in the world when he was racing next to me. It was really hard to fight those guys,” said Newgarden. “I though (Alex) Palou was super strong too. There was on gimmies, it was packed up today. Very difficult to get away.
“There were parts where we were really good, but there were parts that we’re weaker. When we needed to be good, the car was there at the end.”
For the second time in as many races, lady luck dealt a bad hand to O’Ward in the closing laps. Another chance at victory went by the wayside as he had to see another one of his rivals celebrate a win.
Unlike at St. Petersburg where O’Ward was disgusted and loss of words, there was some optimism after the race. More so, he takes the championship lead going into Long Beach in two weeks.
“I was timing the tow, but it’s been a hell of a start to the year. The guys gave me an absolute rocket ship,” said O’Ward. “Mid-race everyone saw that and it’s an absolute joy to drive this Arrow McLaren No. 5 Chevy. I guess we’ve had two second places that we’re still waiting for that win. Great start to the championship and that’s what we need.”
Pato O’Ward has the early championship advantage after Texas. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Rounding out the podium was Alex Palou, who may have surpassed his efforts in the 2021 Indianapolis 500 as his best oval performance.
The former INDYCAR champion said he felt Sunday’s race he had control on how his No. 10 American Legion Honda can go compared to two years ago at Indianapolis.
“I’m super happy to be on the podium for the first time (at Texas),” said Palou. “I got some confidence on ovals, and it was a fun race. INDYCAR did a great job with the downforce levels. We didn’t have the speed from Pato and Josef, but we’ll get ready for the next one.
“I think it was the first one that I could drive how I wanted. Then I could attack and knew what I was doing. I’m really happy.”
Before the leaders completed 50 laps, it was the end of days for Takuma Sato in his Chip Ganassi Racing debut. Sato was put in a three-wide situation and lost control of his No. 11 Honda, lifting his car up in the air upon wall impact.
Sato exited his car unharmed, but was disappointed to have his race end very early because of a strong run by Will Power forcing a sudden accordion effect.
“He was a little bit too strong and went to right, but I think somebody went to the inside too,” said Sato. “Effectively, we were three-wide and then Will came up and drove too high. I went on the grey area and that was it. I really feel sorry for the team.”
Under caution, the drivers who did not make their first pit stop had their services done. However, more chaos unraveled in which more than one driver was at fault.
Kyle Kirkwood was on the highline of pit lane when he blended to pit, but collided with Alexander Rossi, who sustained right front suspension and front wing damage.
Rossi faulted Kirkwood, who now drives the car he raced for several years but was able to continue his afternoon.
On the other hand, Kirkwood would later go to the garage due to right rear upright failure, causing his car to smoke. Upon refleciton of the incident, Kirkwood faulted Rossi for exiting too early.
“I asked the team if that was my fault and (Andretti Autosport, Kirkwood’s team) said no,” said Kirkwood. “We were coming into the pits and had two guys in front of me. I had to let them go and (Rossi) wasn’t even in site for me. (Arrow McLaren, Rossi’s team) launched them too early. Nothing I can do about it, I don’t think.”
Before reaching the halfway point, O’Ward was a mad man after his pit stop as he was determined to hunt down Newgarden for the race lead once the race reached its halfway point.
By Lap 129, O’Ward was up high and conquered Newgarden for the race lead. Newgarden would not be denied as he tried the same line as both pulled away from third-place Romain Grosjean.
Newgarden was denied of regaining the lead as O’Ward built his lead five laps later so much that when the race was under 100 laps remaining, five-time Texas winner Scott Dixon was a lap down, running in fifth.
Before the next series of stops, O’Ward was in a different zip code that only Newgarden was the only other car on the lead lap.
The pendulum swung after O’Ward’s teammate and pole sitter Felix Rosenqvist backed into the turn four wall. It erased O’Ward’s 10-plus second advantage over Newgarden, resetting the field back in line for a restart.
“I had a wiggle, saved it, and then I was too high up in the marbles,” said Rosenqvist. “I was struggling with the car all day and really a shame. We had a good finish going.”
Felix Rosenqvist leading the 28-car field to green. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Six cars took the wave around which expanded the lead lap field from two up to eight. From this point, the game of fuel and tire saving really kicked into high gear.
Newgarden pitted twice under yellow in order to have a fuel advantage over O’Ward as did most of the field, which put the pressure on the race leader. With 56 to go, Newgarden and Palou caught O’Ward with Palou charging to the point on the backstretch.
“Hello Palou” cleared O’Ward, in large part of the latter trying to conserve for the finish. Moments later, Newgarden snatched the lead from Palou with Malukas not far behind.
More drivers began showing their cockiness, including Grosjean who tried making daring moves and gained spots along with Colton Herta, wowing the fans in Fort Worth. Herta took the lead with 47 laps remaining before the lead went back to Palou.
Suddenly, the race turned a complete 180 as the game became of survival and bold decision making.
Six laps later, it went out the wind after Sting Ray Robb brushed the wall, darted left and violently slammed the inside wall just as the race began to calm down.
Robb said over the radio that he was alright, but had his bell rung. He would be checked and released from the infield care center.
What it did is bring the field to pit road yet again, helping O’Ward as he no longer had to worry about fuel. However, Palou’s strategist Barry Wanser told his driver to save fuel.
It was balls to the wall action from that point forward when the race resumed with 31 laps to go. Grosjean and Herta tangled, but it did not bother anyone as Grosjean took the lead from Palou. O’Ward was on a prowl and wanted a piece of the action, going low to go back in first two laps later.
Déjà vu struck further back as Devlin DeFrancesco and Graham Rahal crashed in turn three on Lap 220. The very same spot both racers exited last year in similar fashion. This time, it was only those two who crashed out.
DeFrancesco brushed the turn two wall and blended down to the apron. Just as he did so, he lost control due to a right front suspension failure. The damage caused him to blend across an innocent Rahal, lifting him up in the air but kept it off the fence.
Both men were OK, but their days were done.
“Devlin didn’t do anything wrong. The guy on the outside (Callum Ilott) clearly wasn’t looking ahead,” said Rahal. “Can’t go out, can’t go in. Unfortunately, it was a racing deal but I’m in one piece. I cheated Texas again and I’ll move onto the next one.”
Once the cleanup was done, it was a frantic 12-lap dash to the finish as Palou and O’Ward initially duked it out for the win. Neither allowed each other to give up, but Newgarden, Malukas and Newgarden would have their say in the duel and they were a part of pure, respectful racing.
Coming to two to go, Newgarden and O’Ward yet again showcased how Texas Motor Speedway has a place in Indy car racing. Unfortunately, a lovely duel was dashed after Grosjean crashed while battling Malukas for fourth in turn two, ending the race under caution.
Roman Grosjean was credited with a 14th place finish. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
When the dust settled, Newgarden brought the title-sponsored car into victory lane once again. Newgarden’s third win reignited some confidence lost after a dismal day in St. Petersburg last month.
“I was kind of rethinking everything like, ‘Can we do this again?’ I’m so happy to get this done,” said Newgarden. “I was a little bit worried if we didn’t get help to catch up, (Pato) would’ve ran away with it and we lost our chance. But they gave us another chance again.”
Momentum is certainly in the sport’s favor as folks saw classic Indy car oval racing chaos in Texas. The series will now head to Long Beach for the sport’s most prestigious street course Sunday, Apr. 16.
Coverage of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC. Newgarden is the defending race winner.
2023 PPG 375 Race Results
- 2 – Josef Newgarden
- 5 – Pato O’Ward
- 10 – Alex Palou
- 18 – David Malukas
- 9 – Scott Dixon
- 3 – Scott McLaughlin
- 26 – Colton Herta
- 8 – Marcus Ericsson (-1 lap)
- 77 – Callum Ilott (-1 lap)
- 06 – Helio Castroneves (-1 lap)
- 21 – Rinus VeeKay (-1 lap)
- 78 – Agustin Canapino (R) (-1 lap)
- 33 – Ed Carpenter (-1 lap)
- 28 – Romain Grosjean (Contact)
- 55 – Benjamin Pedersen (R) (-2 laps)
- 12 – Will Power (-2 laps)
- 60 – Simon Pagenaud (-3 laps)
- 30 – Jack Harvey (-3 laps)
- 45 – Christian Lundgaard (-3 laps)
- 20 – Conor Daly (-4 laps)
- 14 – Santino Ferrucci (-4 laps)
- 7 – Alexander Rossi (-7 laps)
- 29 – Devlin DeFrancesco (Contact)
- 15 – Graham Rahal (Contact)
- 51 – Sting Ray Robb (R) (Contact)
- 6 – Felix Rosenqvist (Contact)
- 27 – Kyle Kirkwood (Contact)
- 11 – Takuma Sato (Contact)
