Josef Newgarden had a new livery and overalls for Mid-Ohio and the Honda Indy 200, but the result was the same as in Toronto; another win. For Newgarden it was just another casual Sunday drive. Starting from P2 in the #2 Team Penske-Chevy, behind team-mate and pole sitter Will Power, Newgarden wasted little time in making the case that Sunday in Lexington was his.
Newgarden made a daring switch back move on Power on lucky Lap 13 and led four laps before his first pit stop. In fact Sunday, Newgarden would only concede the lead during the pit stops, otherwise he was in total control.
Twitter: REPLAY: @JosefNewgarden takes the lead from @12WillPower! #INDYCAR #Honda200 https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 https://t.co/DnvXIkgTQb (@IndyCar)
Newgarden’s Penske team-mate Power, while on pole for the fifth time this season couldn’t quite get the grip of his #12 Penske-Chevy. Power wrestled with his car through most of the race especially through “The Keyhole” section of Turn 3. Power would eventually calm his car enough to take back P2 from Graham Rahal before the only full course caution of the day.
Twitter: REPLAY: @12WillPower gets around @GrahamRahal. #INDYCAR #Honda200 https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 https://t.co/yXiGmG34NV (@IndyCar)
At his home race, Ohio native Rahal started P4, and cruised to a podium finish after settling in on Lap 15 past Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato. The 28-year-old, showed great awareness in his brief battle for P2 with Power before the caution.
Dale Coyne Racing’s Ed Jones brought out a brief four-lap caution after spinning at Turn 9. Compounded with bringing out the caution; Jones was also received a penalty for doing work in a closed pit as a result of his spin. He was relegated to start at the back.
Twitter: REPLAY: Ed Jones spins and stalls on track. #INDYCAR #Honda200 https://t.co/1I2Xejdij6 https://t.co/O8FDQZNGkD (@IndyCar)
With the win, his third of the year, and the first back-to-back wins of his career (with Toronto); Newgarden also took the lead in the IndyCar championship after starting the day fourth in the standings. The 26-year-old’s 453 points after Mid-Ohio put him seven up on Penske team-mate Helio Castroneves (446), who finished P7. By virtue of leading the most laps, 73 of 90, Newgarden also received bonus points to pad his championship tally. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, the points leader since the Detroit doubleheader was demoted to third with 445 points in the championship after finishing P9.
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Race Notes:
– Alexander Rossi posted the overall fastest lap, a 1:05.9696s at 123.220 mph on Lap 42.
– Dale Coyne Racing’s other rookie Esteban Gutierrez started P12, his best of his brief IndyCar career but finished P20; just ahead of team-mate Jones.
– The margin of victory for Newgarden was 5.1556 seconds.
– Mid-Ohio is the second Penske 1-2 finish since Phoenix.
