Newgarden on Music City Race, Season Outlook: "It's Going to Be a Fight"
Josef Newgarden, the reigning IndyCar champion, had a mixed bag of emotions after the Music City Grand Prix. While he finished the race in a solid P6 position, it was far from a victory for the Team Penske driver.
"It was a tough race," said Newgarden. "We just didn’t have the pace we needed. We struggled a bit with the car setup and we couldn't get the tires to work as well as we needed. We need to figure out what we can do better."
Despite the mixed results, Newgarden remains optimistic about his season outlook. He acknowledged the tight competition in IndyCar, but he's confident in Team Penske's ability to rise to the challenge.
Here's a closer look at Newgarden's thoughts on the Music City Grand Prix and the season ahead:
Music City Grand Prix: A Race of Mixed Emotions
The Nashville street circuit proved to be a difficult one for Newgarden. He found himself battling throughout the race, never truly able to contend for the lead.
"I think we had some good moments in the race," he said. "We were able to gain some positions, but we just couldn't make the most of it. We need to be faster in order to win."
He also highlighted the importance of tire management on the challenging track. "You really have to be careful with the tires here," he said. "They degrade quickly, and if you push too hard, you'll lose grip. We need to find a better balance in the future."
Season Outlook: A Battle for Championship Contention
Despite the difficulties in Nashville, Newgarden remains confident in his and Team Penske's ability to compete for the championship.
"It’s going to be a fight this year,” Newgarden said. “There are a lot of great drivers and teams in this series. We need to be on top of our game every weekend if we want to win the championship."
He’s focused on improving in areas where they fell short in the Music City race. "We need to keep working on our car setup," he said. "We need to find a way to get the most out of our tires. And we need to be more consistent.”
Newgarden's determination and focus on improvement bode well for the remainder of the season. He has the talent and the team to contend for the championship. He's ready to fight for every position and every win, setting his sights on a strong second half of the IndyCar season.
