Tenth within the championship. Eight races to go. Six are ovals. An imposing deficit of 143 factors to Alex Palou atop the drivers’ standings.
Josef Newgarden’s title hopes are distant at greatest, however the NTT IndyCar Collection’ grasp of ovals is in his factor this weekend with the Hy-Vee doubleheader, the place he’s anticipated to make use of the pair of races to attract nearer to Palou. So the place does the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner place his strategy to Iowa and the remainder of the occasions on the calendar in his quest to win this third title? Is it an all-out assault?
“We’re surrendered to destiny in a number of methods,” the Workforce Penske driver instructed RACER. “It’s been a very arduous 12 months. Indy was wonderful; every little thing about it was unbelievable for the group. After which once you take a look at the championship, it’s been the alternative. It’s been worse than feast or famine. This one’s been a brilliant curler coaster. Tremendous highs and lows. So, we’re the place we’re. The final two occasions particularly have been actually robust. Laguna ended up being a bust, after which Mid-Ohio was a bust. In order that’s a number of why we’re 143 again. That’s actually dangerous. So I’m not going to say we are able to’t win the championship. Something’s doable, and I at all times imagine that.”
Having received virtually each oval IndyCar race lately, Newgarden ought to be capable of make inroads on Palou, or whoever’s main the championship after Iowa. However the 2017 and 2019 sequence champion additionally is aware of he’ll want greater than the ovals to catch as much as his rivals on the entrance of the battle for the drivers’ crown. With the road race at Toronto up subsequent on the schedule and a late August journey to Oregon for the highway course at Portland, Newgarden should ship in any respect eight races to thrust the No. 2 Chevy into championship competition.
“What I don’t wish to depend on is Iowa,” he mentioned. “I feel most individuals, they take a look at us they usually go, ‘Effectively, that is going that will help you.’ However I’m extra nervous about Portland and Toronto. We may be nice right here. We may be nice on the opposite ovals. That’s good, nevertheless it’s not going to be sufficient. We’ve bought to have an awesome Toronto. We’ve bought to have an awesome Portland. We have been good at St Pete, nice at Lengthy Seaside. I feel Toronto may be good. And I do know we are able to construct the Portland automotive nice.”
Newgarden’s comeback try begins Saturday evening at 8pm ET throughout 250 laps, and continues Sunday with one other 250 laps at 12:30pm ET, with each airing on NBC.
