Josef Newgarden held back tears as he expressed his apologies to the IndyCar community and fans after being disqualified from the St. Petersburg race. He described it as «devastating» and «embarrassing» and admitted that he had let his team down.
The announcement of Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin’s disqualification had a major impact on the IndyCar paddock. The disqualification occurred because both drivers used push-to-pass on restarts, which went against the rules. The team attributed the mistake to incorrect software left in the car from a preseason hybrid test.
While McLaughlin and another Penske driver, Will Power, released statements clarifying their positions, Newgarden faced criticism for not making a statement earlier. However, he felt it was important to address the media directly, which he did in an emotional 35-minute press conference.
During the press conference, Newgarden took full responsibility for his actions and apologized to fans, teammates, and competitors. He acknowledged that he had fallen short of the high standards he had set for himself throughout his career.
Newgarden revealed that he had been thinking incessantly about facing the media and that it kept him up at night. He admitted to hitting the push-to-pass button even though he knew it was not legal at that moment. He explained that he believed there had been a rule change regarding the use of push-to-pass on restarts, which led to his decision.
Newgarden’s explanation was challenged by other drivers, including Colton Herta, who rejected his justification. The controversy surrounding the disqualification also raised questions about Penske’s ownership of both the team and the championship.
Newgarden reconoció que tomó notas después de la carrera, pero no prestó atención a los datos del push-to-pass en otros coches, asumiendo que todos los estaban utilizando. Cuando se le preguntó por qué su ingeniero de datos no notó la violación, él dijo que nadie en el equipo creía haber hecho algo mal.
El momento en que se descubrió la violación de la regla, un mes después de la carrera, hizo difícil para los fanáticos y las personas en el paddock creer en las explicaciones proporcionadas. Algunos acusaron al equipo Penske de mentir sobre el error de software.
A pesar del escepticismo en torno a su explicación, Newgarden sigue enfocado en recuperar su posición en el campeonato. Ha caído al puesto 11, pero está determinado a recuperarse en Barber. Además, actualmente se encuentra en una situación de agencia libre, con rumores que sugieren que renovará con Penske, a pesar del interés de otros equipos.
Enfrentar a la prensa de frente fue un paso significativo para Newgarden, incluso sabiendo que no todos creerán en su explicación. Ahora, está listo para seguir adelante y concentrarse en su carrera en las carreras.
