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Josef Newgarden declares 2026 a bold comeback: the ultimate hard reset after a dismal season

David Castro by David Castro
February 11, 2026
in IndyCar, Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Josef Newgarden declares 2026 a bold comeback: the ultimate hard reset after a dismal season

Josef Newgarden Declares 2026 a Crucial ‘Hard Reset’ After Devastating IndyCar Season

In a shocking turn of events, IndyCar star Josef Newgarden is ready to revolutionize his racing career after a dismal 2025 season that left him languishing in 12th place in the championship standings. This was not just any ordinary setback; it marked the lowest position for the two-time champion since 2014, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the future trajectory of one of the sport's most talented drivers.

The disarray at Team Penske was a significant factor in Newgarden's struggles, as the team grappled with a management shakeup brought on by their controversial disqualification during the Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Despite securing three podium finishes and a victorious finale in Nashville, the fleeting success was overshadowed by a series of disappointing results. The 35-year-old driver himself admitted, “I don’t think [the win at] Nashville really does anything, to be honest. I was just happy the year was over.”

As he gears up for the 2026 season, Newgarden is calling for a complete overhaul, emphasizing the need for a “hard reset” as they head into the first race on the streets of St. Petersburg. “We have a lot of changes coming. The core of the team is very similar to what people will have known with Team Penske. By ‘core’ I mean the heart, sort of the people. A lot of that is not changing,” he explained, implying a commitment to maintaining the team’s legacy while also embracing necessary structural adjustments.

Change, as Newgarden points out, can be a double-edged sword. “It can be a good thing. We can just improve some of the things that we’ve been doing. We’re going to look to be better versions of ourselves coming into this year,” he stated, showcasing a fierce determination to elevate the team’s performance to new heights. With the weight of expectation firmly on his shoulders, he added, “We obviously hold ourselves very accountable for a high standard. We’re trying to just be the best versions of ourselves as we possibly can.”

Consistency—once the hallmark of Newgarden’s driving prowess—is now an elusive quality he desperately seeks to reclaim. In recent years, he has enjoyed remarkable success, finishing in the top two of the standings for five of six years from 2017 to 2022. However, when that consistency faltered in 2025, the ripple effects impacted his performance and demeanor. “To be more consistent,” he emphasized, outlining his primary goal for the upcoming season. “We just can’t have as many bad results as we had. There’s a lot of them that could have been different. They’re not. So we’ve just got to focus on being more consistent.”

With the countdown to the 2026 season in full swing, Newgarden's commitment to turning the tide could not be more crucial. As fans eagerly anticipate the race in St. Petersburg, the question looms large: can Josef Newgarden restore his status as an IndyCar powerhouse, or will the struggles of 2025 haunt him for another season? One thing is certain—this is a driver on a mission, and the racing world is watching closely.

Tags: 1997-indycar-series2025-indycar-seasondjr-team-penskeJosef Newgarden
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