Josef Newgarden Secures Consecutive Victory at Indy 500 with Last-Lap Drama | Formula 1 News

Josef Newgarden made history at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, securing victory in the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ for the second year in a row. The American driver engaged in a thrilling last-lap battle with Pato O’Ward, ultimately emerging victorious and becoming the first driver in 22 years to win back-to-back at Indianapolis.

The race day was eventful, with severe storms causing a four-hour delay in the start and multiple cautions interrupting the action. However, the drivers managed to complete all 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval, finishing just before the 8:15 pm curfew.

Newgarden’s win delighted the crowd of over 300,000 spectators on the US Memorial Day weekend. Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing finished third in the race.

Reflecting on his victory, Newgarden expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their exceptional effort throughout the race. The driver took home a $440,000 bonus for winning back-to-back Indy 500s.

Starting on the front row, Newgarden maintained a strong position throughout the race, leading to a thrilling final-lap showdown with O’Ward. In a dramatic finish, Newgarden overtook O’Ward to secure his place in history as just the sixth driver to win back-to-back Indianapolis 500s.

The victory marked team owner Roger Penske’s 20th win at the prestigious event, although it was not without controversy following Newgarden’s disqualification at a previous race. Despite criticism, Newgarden remained focused on his team’s hard work and dedication to achieve success on the track.