The NTT INDYCAR Series contested its third short oval race this season at the World Wide Technology Raceway, located just across the Mississippi River, east of St. Louis, MO. The 260-lap race, a 325-mile distance, came down to a thrilling shoot-out between two Penske drivers, Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin.
Newgarden credited his fifth win at the track to his lightning-fast final pit stop (5.1 seconds for four new tires and a splash of fuel) that gave the two-time Indy 500 winner the lead on Lap 244.
“We had fast cars,” explained Newgarden, who only led the final 17 laps after beating McLaughlin out of the pits. “The race had a lot of different variations. We were biding our time and trying to hit our fuel number, which wasn’t working for us. We didn’t seem to be good at that strategy. When the race picked up pace, it favoured us. I used the second lane and may have taught my teammates too soon that they could use it. So, it was a fight among us. Our final pit stop was the key ingredient to winning the race.”
Newgarden definitely had Lady Luck on his side, surviving a half spin exiting Turn 2 on Lap 196. That brought out the fourth caution, when he got a little too aggressive in the higher lane and onto the gray. But since there was no contact, he only lost two positions, falling from second to fourth.
McLaughlin earned the ninth pole of his INDYCAR career with a two-lap average speed of 179.972 mph (25.0055 seconds) on the 1.25-mile, egg-shaped oval. His second-place finish gave him his sixth podium of the season.
“I felt like we just missed one,” said McLaughlin, who led 67 laps. “We had a better package, with more downforce, that gives you confidence. The higher lane was working great. The car just came on as the temperature dropped, making the race come to us. I had a blast. It’s great to bring home the points and keep our momentum going.”
Rookie Linus Lundqvist earned his second podium and his first on an oval. The Swede passed his teammate, Alex Palou, and Colton Herta in the final laps, moving up from fifth to third.
“Our season has had its ups and downs,” explained Lundqvist, driving the American Legion “Be the One” sponsored car. “We knew we had good pace in the car. I was really able to push in clean air. Most of the race was hitting your fuel mileage. I knew I had a tire advantage, on stickers, compared to the two cars in front (Palou and Herta) that had about 50 laps on their tires. My confidence increased as the track cooled.”
There was controversy when, on the Lap 251 restart, Newgarden brought the field to the Green Flag, followed closely behind by teammate McLaughlin, Colton Herta, and Will Power. As Alexander Rossi charged forward, he hit the back of Power on the front straight, turning the Aussie into the inside wall and collecting Romain Grosjean and Jack Harvey. That brought out the Red Flag for 15 minutes (to sweep the track), setting up a phenomenal shoot-out in the last seven laps.
“Rules have changed a lot this year,” revealed McLaughlin. “The officials wanted to stop drivers from jumping on restarts. I try to be close to the car in front to limit that effect. Josef went late. We could have had a one, two, three finish. That restart caused Power to crash and several others.”
Some drivers, especially Power, felt that Newgarden sped up and slowed before getting to the green. Unfortunately, Power fell from second to fourth in the title fight.
“The leader went and then stopped, went and then stopped,” said an enraged Power, who led the most laps, at 117. “I knew I was going to get hit from behind.”
Evidence showed that Newgarden maintained his speed of 80 mph.
“The Green Flag came out before I went and it created an accordion effect,” defended Newgarden. “I was trying to go as late as I could at the end of the restart zone. It’s not that different from the restarts I’ve done before. I saw the replay during the Red Flag and it looked like the track went green seconds before I went. Jumping restarts has been a constant discussion in every driver meeting for the past two years. Race Control watches the leader’s throttle, and when they see the leader going, that’s when they put out the green.”
Newgarden didn’t take it slow for the final restart on Lap 252, however, getting a several car length jump on McLaughlin.
The championship fight continues to intensify, with four races left (one road course and three ovals) and 216 points available. Palou leads with 443 points, followed by Herta (384), Scott Dixon (378), Power (377), and McLaughlin (370).
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