Josef Newgarden stares at the prospect of becoming the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three times in a row in 2025.
The 33-year-old is a two-time IndyCar series champion, winning both with Team Penske in 2017 – his first season with the team – and in 2019. Despite claiming 26 victories in his career at the time he won at Texas in 2023, Newgarden had never won the Indy 500.
Debuting in IndyCar in 2012, Newgarden had had 11 unsuccessful attempts at winning the historic event, achieving a best finish of third in 2016 with Ed Carpenter Racing.
But it would prove to be 12th time lucky for the 33-year-old as he finally took victory at Indianapolis after a dramatic fight with Marcus Ericsson. The Swedish driver had the lead going into the restart on the final lap when Newgarden passed him on the back straight and held on to win the race.
Josef Newgarden feels the same elation as Will Power after finally winning the Indy 500
The Penske driver would become the first back-to-back winner of the Indy 500 in 2024 since Helio Castroneves in 2001 and 2002 with another final lap pas. This time, it was on Pato O’Ward, who had overtaken Newgarden down the main straight, but the McLaren was then passed at turn three and denied victory in the dying moment.
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Speaking with The Red Flags Podcast, Newgarden spoke about how winning the Indy 500 is ‘more gratifying’ the second time and likened himself to Will Power and how long it took him to win the event.
Power won the Indy 500 at his 11th attempt in 2018 after finishing second in 2015. His Penske teammate Newgarden spoke of the relief he felt similar to Power of just taking the win.
“It was more gratifying the second time around,” he said.
“[The first one] it was a relief, you’re like ‘wow, that actually happened.’ I remember crossing the line and I was like ‘finally!’
“I think anyone that’s been there a long time, Will Power had the same sort of elation, you know ‘finally> I’ve been working on this thing forever.’
“But then the second time around, it just cements it. ‘Yep, we got it, and now, we’ve got one on top’, so try and say anything after that. I just think that second one really solidifies things.”
Which other IndyCar drivers have won the Indy 500 in back-to-back years?
Newgarden is only the sixth driver in history to win the Indy 500 in back-to-back years, joining Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Bill Vukovich, Al Unser and Castroneves.
The Brazilian driver was the last to accomplish this feat, winning on his first attempt in 2001 and then again in 2002. Castroneves won the Indy 500 four times in his career, the first three with Penske (2001, 2002 and 2009) and with Meyer Shank Racing in 2021.
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No driver has ever won the Indy 500 three years in a row, and Newgarden believes the numbers are not on his side in 2025 as he heads for his 14th run of the event.
Newgarden will remain with Penske for the 2025 campaign, alongside teammates Power and Scott McLaughlin.