The nice factor for Will Energy is he’s beginning the Huge Machine Music Metropolis Grand Prix on the second row and has teammate Josef Newgarden straight in entrance of him on the primary row.
The unhealthy information for Energy, who actually must win at Nashville with a view to overtake championship chief Alex Palou, is everybody from polesitter Kyle Kirkwood, Newgarden, to third-place Felix Rosenqvist, and the vast majority of these in proximity of Energy’s No. 12 Chevy aren’t in rivalry for the title and solely care about successful the ultimate race of the season.
Set amongst a hungry group the place seven of the drivers beginning within the high 12 have but to attain a victory in 2024, Energy’s life received’t be straightforward when the 206-lap contest will get below approach, however he does have Newgarden close by and keen to assist if it doesn’t throw his race out of rhythm.
There’s additionally the truth that Nashville serves as Newgarden’s residence race, which may make giving up the lead—if that’s wanted to present Energy the IndyCar crown—a tough ask by the Penske staff.
“You’ve received to run your program as regular as you possibly can,” Newgarden informed RACER. “You begin making an attempt to get too intelligent and orchestrate one thing, I believe that’s while you get in bother. Let’s try to do the very best job within the No. 2 automobile after all. The precedence for us is, if we’re ready to win this championship, then we have to work out the way to seal that off, and we’ll. We’ll all try this.”
The third member of the Penske trio, Scott McLaughlin, is the one different driver with a mathematical likelihood of successful the championship, however that can finish if Palou begins the race. Add in McLaughlin’s No. 3 Chevy, which begins ninth, to the checklist of Penske entries that can do what it takes to help Energy.
“We’re ready to do what’s essential to win the championship, as a result of we’re all in it collectively,” Newgarden added. “However I believe the best way you get there’s by working a standard race, in a whole lot of respects. We’ve simply received to go do our jobs, handle one another as regular, and hopefully the chips fall our approach and we will button issues up. We are able to try this. It’ll be a giant hit for everyone.”
