Josef Newgarden IndyCar struggles 2024 continued at the recent Road America event, where the Team Penske driver’s season woes deepened following a crash that ended his day early and worsened his place in the standings. With only five points earned for his efforts and his championship aspirations faltering, Newgarden’s misfortunes have become a central theme in the current IndyCar season.
Road America Mishap Adds to a Season of Disappointments
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, was forced to retire from another race after crashing at Road America, once again failing to secure a strong finish. His struggles allowed Kyffin Simpson of Chip Ganassi Racing to leap ahead in the drivers’ championship. Simpson, who started the race in 23rd place, executed a strong strategic run, finishing sixth and collecting 29 points, pushing him up to 16th overall and dropping Newgarden to 17th.
After Road America, Newgarden’s tally stands at a mere 137 points—significantly behind the championship leader, Alex Palou, by a margin of 249 points. Since the season began, Newgarden has managed just one top-five result and three top-ten finishes in the opening nine races, underscoring the difficult path he and his team have faced in 2024.
Recurring Setbacks and Missed Opportunities
Throughout the season, Josef Newgarden and Team Penske displayed competitive speed at various IndyCar venues, yet their efforts frequently failed to convert into meaningful results. A combination of driver missteps, poor fortune with caution periods, and lingering reliability concerns have collectively contributed to Team Penske’s difficulties.
Newgarden’s season began with promise, as he stood on the podium in St. Petersburg, but subsequent rounds saw his fortunes wane. At Long Beach, an incident with his seat belt forced him to finish multiple laps behind after a promising start. The struggles continued at the Indy 500, where complications began during the Top 12 qualifying session due to the modified attenuator controversy, leading to his withdrawal from the session. In the wake of the controversy, Team Penske owner Roger Penske dismissed several senior personnel, including Tim Cindric.
During the race itself, after starting from the back, Newgarden managed to fight into the top ten before a fuel system malfunction forced another retirement. Further disappointment came at World Wide Technology Raceway when Louis Foster crashed into Newgarden while he was leading the event. The most recent setback at Road America saw Newgarden lose control and hit the barrier, resulting in a race-ending crash and more critical points lost.
Changing Expectations Heading Into the Second Half
At the outset of 2024, Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden were both seen as prime candidates to contend for the IndyCar championship, but neither has reached those initial forecasts. The mounting series of challenges facing Newgarden have made it increasingly unlikely for him to be a title contender this season.
After his retirement at Road America, Newgarden was candid in his reflections about the weekend, noting the setbacks but sharing a sense of determination for the races ahead. In his own words:
“Welp, another one to forget. Completely on me today, just pushed a little too hard and couldn’t save it. Still love racing around Road America, even if it’s legitimately hotter than hell. Nice little reset and onto Ohio. Things will turn for the 2 crew, don’t sleep on us!”
—Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Driver
Looking Forward to the Mid-Ohio Challenge
The restart that Newgarden seeks could come during the Mid-Ohio IndyCar event, scheduled for July 6, with practice sessions beginning July 4. All eyes will be on Newgarden and Team Penske to see whether they can reverse their fortunes in the back half of the 2024 IndyCar season, as the team works to regroup and recapture the form that has eluded them so far. The next races will be crucial, not just for Josef Newgarden’s title aspirations but for Team Penske’s overall standing in a fiercely competitive championship season.