Josef Newgarden secured a fourth-place start in qualifying for today’s race at Laguna Seca, marking a notable improvement for Team Penske. After struggling with his car during Friday’s practice sessions, including a spin that left him stuck in the gravel at the top of the Corkscrew, Newgarden was able to deliver a solid performance in the Fast Six.
Team Penske’s Adjustments Lead to Better Performance
Earlier in the weekend, Newgarden expressed doubts about the car’s setup, which hampered his initial pace. The team responded by working through the night to make adjustments, ultimately providing Newgarden with a more competitive vehicle for Saturday’s qualifying runs.
“That was a big step forward from the team,”
Newgarden said.
“They were here working all night trying to give us something different. We learned a lot just over the day so [I’m] really proud of our team.”
Strategic Tyre Choice Influences Qualifying Outcome
Newgarden and Team Penske opted to use his only set of new red soft compound tires during his first run in the Fast Six, aiming for maximum speed early on. However, he acknowledged that he could not match the pace of the top three qualifiers. His best lap time was 1:09.6695, which was over a second slower than Álex Palou’s leading 1:08.3413, and behind Colton Herta, who qualified third.
Progress Reflected in Qualifying Milestones
Despite not reaching the very front, Newgarden valued the progress made simply by advancing to the Fast Six.
“We sacrificed our Reds in that first run there so we just weren’t quick enough,”
he stated.
“We gave that up for the fast six here but to get to the fast six was a big gain for all of us.”
Throughout this season, Newgarden has reached the Fast Six six times out of fourteen attempts, demonstrating gradual improvement. His best qualifying result this year remains a pole position at Iowa Speedway for the Synk 275, his favored venue.
Looking Ahead: Building on Qualifying Momentum
Newgarden’s average qualifying position this year has been 12th, highlighting the importance of this recent achievement at Laguna Seca. As the race approaches, both he and Team Penske are optimistic about their chances after overcoming earlier difficulties. The improvements in setup and tyre strategy could pave the way for a strong race performance on this challenging track.