Josef Newgarden conquers dominant victory in the opening race of the 2024 IndyCar season
Josef Newgarden’s dominant victory in the opening race of the 2024 IndyCar season may have seemed easy, but the internal battles he faced to achieve it were anything but. Despite winning two championships in his first three years with Team Penske, Newgarden went four years without clinching the overall title. He amassed an impressive 15 victories in that period, more than any other driver, but the lack of consistency has taken its toll.
Newgarden reached a realization that many drivers never achieve. He was too fixated on winning races, making the burden of defeat incredibly heavy. He recognized the need for a mindset change. “I had to let go of the idea of perfection,” says Newgarden. “I’m a perfectionist by nature, always seeking to maximize everything. But I realized that mindset is not sustainable. I’m not abandoning my passion and desire, but I’m trying to find joy in what I do.”
Despite winning the prestigious Indy 500 last year, ending a 12-year wait for the biggest victory of his career, it was clear that Newgarden was not fully enjoying his position. He had to deal with two engineer changes in two years, undoubtedly increasing the pressure he put on himself. The constant need to remember settings and specific instructions from previous years to make up for lack of experience took away his enjoyment for the sport.
Newgarden’s Bus Bros series on YouTube, launched with Scott McLaughlin, was perhaps an attempt to find pleasure in racing outside the competitive environment. However, it was not resumed in 2024, indicating a shift in focus. Newgarden’s recent revelation sheds light on the difficulties he has faced in recent years.
He recognizes that being a race car driver is a privilege, but also acknowledges the relentless nature of the profession, which makes it difficult to find joy at times. He has learned to reduce his commitments and eliminate the expectation of perfection. Newgarden now seeks to be happier on the track and enjoy the racing process. He has abandoned his obsession with winning every race and embraced the collaborative nature of being part of a team.
Being a father has also helped Newgarden prioritize his time and find a better balance in his life. This new perspective, combined with his change in mindset, can only lead to positive results. If this is Newgarden in a personal struggle, his recent success and dominant performance in racing indicate that he will be even more formidable in a better mental state. The competition should be on high alert.
