Josef Newgarden’s hopes to contend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course were over just seconds after the Honda Indy 200 began.
The two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion was rolling into the first corner at speed during Sunday’s race when his rear tires locked up, sending the Tennessean spinning to the outside of the track. His No. 2 Chevrolet clipped Graham Rahal’s Honda before sliding into the wall and coming to a stop in the gravel trap.
“I’m not sure. I either had just a massive rear lockup and spun, or I got touched. I don’t know. To me, initially it felt like I just locked rears all of the sudden out of nowhere, kind of unexpectedly. Or I got touched. If I didn’t get touched, then (it was) just a weird, freak, massive rear lock, which is bizarre.
“Tough to not be out there. Hopefully we can fix the car. I don’t think there’s a lot of damage. I’d like to get back out. But you know, obviously we’re sort of out of this thing. It’s a shame, having a fast PPG car, support from Team Chevy. (I) just want to be in the mix.”
We are GREEN from Mid-Ohio on FOX ... and there's already trouble. pic.twitter.com/xje29f3RqD
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) July 6, 2025
Rahal rolled into the gravel with Newgarden and lost a lap waiting for assistance to get back on track and rolling. Will Power collided with both teammate Scott McLaughlin and Devlin DeFrancesco behind the wrecking pair, forcing DeFrancesco to pit with a broken wing and sending both Penske cars backward in the running order. Callum Ilott was sent off-course attempting to avoid contact.
Sunday’s result continues a disastrous year for Newgarden and Team Penske. Typically associated with championship contention and wins, the organization has yet to earn a victory in 2025 and entered Mid-Ohio with no driver higher than seventh in the standings. None among the bunch have been worse off than Newgarden, who sat 17th in points with three DNFs in the four races prior to Sunday’s race.
The race was already shaping up to be a rough one for Newgarden and Team Penske. The group’s drivers had all qualified 18th or worse, led by Newgarden. Any hopes they had for a simple march forward were undone as soon as the green flag flew.
It left Newgarden with only one option to move forward.
“Just go to the next one,” he said.
