INDIANAPOLIS — As Roger Penske investigated the cheating incident that cost Josef Newgarden his IndyCar season-opening victory, Newgarden never worried about his job security at Team Penske.
He had too much else to worry about, Newgarden insisted, and helping his boss understand how Newgarden illegally used extra boosts of horsepower to win the March opening race was a bigger priority.
Penske, for his part, said he stood behind the 33-year-old from Tennessee and was working on a contract extension for Newgarden beyond this eighth season with the organization.
One way to ensure a new deal is by winning the Indianapolis 500, which Newgarden did Sunday after a four-hour rain delay. His pass of Pato O’Ward two corners from the finish line gave Penske a record-extending 20th Indy 500 victory and made Newgarden the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves did it for Penske in 2001-02.
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Reflecting on his accomplishment — with 30 career wins and two IndyCar season championships under his belt — Newgarden expressed gratitude for the experience regarding the Penske cheating scandal. Six weeks after his victory in St. Petersburg, Florida, IndyCar discovered the illegal push-to-pass software in the three Penske cars, giving them an unfair advantage.
