Josef Newgarden Wins The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

No. 2 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet – Josef Newgarden

Start: 2nd

Finish: 1^st (11^th-career IndyCar Series victory)

Status: Running

Laps Completed: 110/110

Laps Led: 60

Points Position: 1st (+13 pts)

Notes:

• Josef Newgarden started off his 2019 season in the best way possible, leading a race-high 60 of 110 laps and capturing his first career victory on the Streets of St. Petersburg in Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the opener for the 2019 IndyCar Series.
• Newgarden started the event in the second position, but fell to third early on after a slow start on scuffed alternate Firestone tires.
• By lap 17, race strategist Tim Cindric called the Tennessean to pit lane for a switch to fresh primary tires and fuel as Newgarden tried to maintain his position at the front of the field.
• Newgarden was able to stay up front but the No. 2 Hitachi Chevy was equipped with new alternate compound tires and fuel on the next stop and he took over the race lead on lap 56.
• As Newgarden continued to lead, the team made one final pit stop as the Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet took new primary tires and fuel.
• Newgarden beat defending series champ Scott Dixon and teammate Will Power to the checkered flag as he claimed his first win of the 2019 season.
• The team’s next race will be the Circuit of the Americas which will be the first time the series has ever competed there.

Quote:  “We were literally talking about (tires) right before the race. We were trying to figure out should we go used or new reds and we made the call at the last minute was to stay used. We’ll have that advantage if we need it, and we used it. It just worked out perfectly. I just can’t thank Chevy enough for all their support and what they put in this weekend. We had an incredible engine, we had everything we needed in fuel mileage and reliability and all the power. I’m telling you, we really figured things out on Saturday and (the car) was a rocket ship. I’m so thankful to our group. We have the best of the best working at Team Penske.”

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!