Josef Newgarden in the No.2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet will be aiming to make history later today at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The Tennessee native is aiming to become the first driver is NTT INDYCAR SERIES history to win all of the oval races in a season.
Newgarden’s job has been helped by the fact he will start the race from pole following a grid penalty for his Bus Bro and teammate Scott McLaughlin.
One minute you’re feeling like you’re in a good spot and the next, and then all of a sudden, the race is taking a different shape. We’re just going to be prepared to react. It’s obviously a great starting position. We’ll like to control the race from there. I think just being able to react with anything that’s unforeseen is really important on a day like today. Excited for it. I think Team Chevy has done a phenomenal job. Hopefully, we can get the PPG car in Victory Lane.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Chevrolet at Team Penske says the team will move forward from the penalty.
“I’m really pumped. Just really proud of the Odyssey Battery crew. Car was awesome. Just really, really proud. My first oval pole is really cool, but it’s too bad we have to take a penalty. I’ll take it, we’ll get the sticker and move forward.”
“It’s a nice feeling. You want to beat your teammate. I’m so competitive. We all are. We just want to beat our teammates all the time. I’m pumped. First oval pole. We got an engine spot penalty but we’re going to come through and have a lot of fun doing it.”
At a track that’s deemed hard to pass on, and you do start 10th, what will be the challenge with that?
“I think we’ll be okay. We’ve got a great strategy team that sees through on the Thirsty 3’s with (Ben Bretzman) and Kyle (Moyer). Really excited for this Odyssey Battery Chevy to come through. I think it’s going to be a lot of exciting passes. I’m going to have to really nail the start, and just probably put it on the (cushion) and have a lot of fun.”
Defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power, No. 12 Chevrolet for Team Penske is aiming for his first win of the season from eighth on the grid.
“It was pretty good. Good balance. I don’t know where the time was. I think we kind of changed gears a little bit last night. It was a good run. I don’t know what else I could’ve done.”