Josef Newgarden dominated the first race of the Indycar 2024 season but the fight for victory was extremely tight for the whole race
Team Penske got one of the best possible results at the opening round of the Indycar 2024 season on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Victory for Josef Newgarden, P3 podium for Scott McLaughlin and P4 for Will Power. Only the Mexican Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward managed to get on top positions with a P2. Current Indycar Champion Alex Palou got a bad qualifying and had to climb from P13 to sixth place.
Josef Newgarden delivered a dominant performance under the Florida sunshine, leading 92 of 100 laps to claim victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This win not only marked the pinnacle of an exceptional weekend for Team Penske, but also propelled Newgarden into the record books. With a packed crowd roaring their approval, including rock legends Jon Bon Jovi and Bret Michaels, Newgarden secured his 30th career INDYCAR SERIES victory. This achievement broke a tie with Team Penske legend Rick Mears for 13th on the all-time win list. Additionally, Newgarden clocked the race’s fastest lap, further solidifying his dominance.
“It was a truly enjoyable race,” Newgarden remarked. “This win is a testament to the incredible work ethic of the entire Team Penske crew. We’ve been laser-focused on closing the gap, particularly on road and street courses. Last year, consistency was a challenge, but today we demonstrated exceptional speed and flawless execution.”
Team Penske got everything right but Alex Palou showed an amazing pace
Team Penske‘s resurgence was evident throughout the weekend. They have settled themselves as top competitors for the Indycar 2024 season While they secured five victories in 2023, only one came outside of an oval track (Scott McLaughlin‘s win at Barber Motorsports Park). This weekend, however, Team Penske swept the podium, with McLaughlin finishing third and Will Power claiming fourth in their respective Chevrolet entries. Colton Herta, piloting the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Global, rounded out the top five.
Reigning series champion Alex Palou showcased his fighting spirit, climbing from a lowly 13th starting position to finish a respectable sixth in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. His first race with the Iconic DHL livery Romain Grosjean used last year “We established a solid foundation for what promises to be a highly competitive season,” commented Pato O’Ward, driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet. “Team Penske was simply unbeatable today.”
“I’m feeling very relaxed at the moment,” Newgarden shared. “While I was initially ecstatic, the final ten laps brought a sense of calm. We can now celebrate this first win and move forward with momentum.” Kyffin Simpson, piloting the No. 4 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, set himself as the top performer among the five series rookies, securing a 14th-place finish.
Guillermo Lorenzo Manzano
