Newgarden wins race 2 at Gateway

It’s definitely a historic weekend. After Scott Dixon's 50th career victory on Saturday, Josef Newgarden on Sunday became the first driver to win twice at Gateway. The Team Penske driver had already won in 2017. The American, second in the championship behind Dixon, constructed his race perfectly.

In the leading group at the start of the event, he made a first push during the second stop by improving his personal best twice, which allowed him to move to third place behind Will Power (Penske) and Pat O'Ward (Arrow McLaren). But it all came down to the last stop. Power having missed the box entry, O'Ward and Newgarden entered the pits at the same time and came out... side by side. Newgarden took a slight advantage which he was able to maintain at the exit of the pits. He then managed his leadership without problem.

With this sixteenth career victory, Newgarden comes back to less than 100 points from Scott Dixon, still seemingly untouchable. Above all, he consolidates his lead against Pat O’Ward. The Mexican takes his second podium in a row and shows that the Arrow McLarens are now really in the game.

Will Power completes the podium in the race, ahead of the surprising Rinus Veekay (Ed Carpenter). The 20-year-old Dutchman, who made an excellent first stop to find himself in the leading group, pockets his second top 5 of the season and is heading straight for the title of best rookie.

Just behind, we find Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi). the undisputed leader of the championship was unable to claim victory. After his second stop, he found himself stuck behind a backmarker, who lost him seven seconds on the lead along with Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman). The Japanese, still in very good shape on Saturday, this time finished in the wall and caused the premature end of the race.

As for simon pagenaud (Penske), he experienced a new ordeal. From the start of the race, he was pushed back into the peloton, with a slight contact which caused him to lose many places. He was never able to recover and was even caught out at the very end of the race.

Josef Newgarden's success may have also reminded him that in 2017 he had made the final lap at Gateway. Since the Indy 500, nothing has gone right for the Frenchman.

A final word of history, Tony Kanaan surely bowed out during this weekend at Gateway. The driver with 17 victories and a title in Indycar started his career in 1998.