During the 260-lap race at WWT Raceway, a dramatic crash unfolded on lap 143 involving Josef Newgarden and Louis Foster. Foster lost control when he struck the safety barrier, causing his car to spin and come to a halt on the track. Newgarden attempted to maneuver around Foster’s stationary vehicle but collided with it instead. This impact sent Newgarden’s #2 car airborne, flipping it upside down before sliding across the finish line and finally stopping. Fortunately, both drivers escaped the harrowing incident without injury.

Newgarden’s Strong Performance Before the Crash

Prior to the collision, Josef Newgarden had been leading the race after overtaking his teammate Scott McLaughlin. The Team Penske driver had qualified fifth on June 14, achieving an average speed of 178.91 mph during qualifying. Despite being out-qualified by two teammates who secured the front row, Newgarden had been having a solid day on the track, maintaining control at the front before the collision abruptly ended his run.

Newgarden’s Story about Sneaking into the Indy 500 Party

Aside from the crash, Newgarden recently revealed a lighthearted story about attending an Indy 500 party under a false name. Speaking with IndyCar on Fox on X, the 34-year-old driver shared how he used an alias to join the festivities the night before the race. He recalled,

“We were out on the Speedway the night before (the race). I just wanted to see what happens the night before on the Speedway. I think I was given an alter-ego name, Jason Newberry. You should look out for Jason Newberry. He’s an animal at night.”

“I didn’t expect you (the host) to bring this up, but yeah, I love the community of Indianapolis. It’s what makes this race so special. I keep talking about it because there is nothing that replicates it anywhere in the world. It was a dream for me to go in the crowd. I love what Indy is. Whether you love or hate somebody, it’s the passion of Indianapolis, it’s the chance to watch people coming together and going for it,” he added.

Newgarden is not alone in using a pseudonym to stay under the radar; recently, Formula One champion Max Verstappen employed the alias Franz Hermann during a Ferrari test session at the Nurburgring Endurance Series.

Impact on the Championship Standings and What’s Next for Newgarden

Following the crash at WWT Raceway, Josef Newgarden remains 12th in the driver’s championship standings with 126 points, trailing leader Alex Palou by 185 points. This incident complicates Newgarden’s pursuit of the championship, making upcoming races critical as he aims to close the gap. The crash highlights the dangers drivers face and underscores how quickly a promising race can be upended on unpredictable tracks like WWT Raceway.