Josef Newgarden’s victory at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday might have kept his championship hopes alive, but the odds are stacked heavily against him. With just four races remaining in the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season, Team Penske’s focus seems to be shifting towards Will Power and Scott McLaughlin as the team’s best shots at dethroning current points leader Alex Palou.
Newgarden sits eighth in the standings, trailing Palou by 126 points. Despite his recent win, his title chances are slim, given the deficit and the fact that only 54 points are available per race. In contrast, McLaughlin is 73 points behind in fifth place, while Power, who entered the last race in second place but fell to fourth after a collision, is 66 points adrift.
With Palou’s stronghold on the championship and the limited number of races left, Team Penske president Tim Cindric faces a strategic dilemma: Should Newgarden be asked to yield to his teammates if they have a better chance of closing the gap to Palou?
Cindric, however, downplays the possibility of team orders. “In IndyCar, I don’t think we ever really hold anyone back,” he said, indicating that while Newgarden’s title hopes are fading, the focus is on finishing the season strongly rather than orchestrating race outcomes. For Penske, allowing their drivers to race freely is part of the team’s philosophy, a sentiment echoed by Power.
Power acknowledges the team’s approach, preferring to earn his results rather than rely on team orders. “We spoke as a team and basically said, ‘You know where each other stands in the championship. If you’re in a position to help your teammate, you can,’ but we’re talking about if you’re fifth and he’s sixth,” Power explained, emphasizing that Penske drivers are encouraged to race each other fairly.
As the season winds down, Newgarden’s path to the championship requires not just flawless performances but also misfortune for Palou. Meanwhile, Power and McLaughlin remain Penske’s best hopes, and the next few races will determine whether their free-to-race approach can deliver another championship for the team.
Photo from Josef Newgarden Instagram
