Josef Newgarden in the No.2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet hopes the team can find their rhythm this weekend as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to St Louis for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
This year’s event takes place under the lights and Newgarden goes into the race as the defending winner.
The Tennessee native has endured a tough season in 2025 and is currently 11th in the championship standings, 185 points behind championship leader Alex Palou.
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet:
“Coming on the heels of a solid run in Detroit, it’ll be nice to get to St. Louis where we have been pretty successful over the years. It just feels like we haven’t been able to find our rhythm this year but we know it can turn quickly. We all want to get a win on the board for Chevrolet as well. The PPG Chevy team obviously knows what takes to win there and that is the goal this weekend.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet:
What about World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway suits him so well:
“It’s probably the closest that you have on an oval or a short track oval that we have that we go to, kind of replicates a road course in some ways. Just fast, sweeping corners, turns three and four. One and two is tight and twisty. Down a couple gears using the brakes a little bit. That’s another thing, it’s very unusual to use a brake pedal on an oval in an INDYCAR. We do that every lap.I just really enjoy that. I enjoy that style of racing. Definitely started to come into my own a little bit. I got asked sort of last week do I enjoy ovals more. I have to say I do now. I think it’s like such a refreshing change for me in my career. Every time I go on an oval, I feel really confident, definitely feel like it’s my kettle of fish. I really enjoy that.
“But at the same time I’ve had a lot of people that I’ve learnt off through this time at the team that helped me along the way, got me comfortable, like Benny, my engineer. It’s all good.”
On this year being under the lights:
“I think it raced incredibly well last year – better than I thought in some ways. Especially how hot it was, whatnot. We’re always crying for a nighttime race. I think it’s really cool we’re doing it this year. It’s going to be great for what the cars look like, how the track races, as you said. I don’t know. I think we can get that second groove working really well. High line practice, the track takes the grip really well, too. Yeah, seemed to sort of make it work.
“It’s a credit to Firestone, INDYCAR and the choices they make in terms of the aerodynamics and whatnot. Four or five years ago, it wasn’t quite like that. Definitely been improvements from the sporting side, but also us as drivers getting up there in the high line practice, doing it properly, clearing that second lane up. I think the key to any oval is getting that second lane working for us. That’s been an ideal thing the last few years.”
Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet:
“I’m excited for the fans that get to see us race under the lights on Sunday night. The night racing we have done in St. Louis has been some of the most exciting oval racing we’ve had over the years, and Team Penske has really been on top of our game on the ovals. The Verizon Chevy team has positioned itself inside the top five in points so if we can score a couple of wins here over the summer, hopefully we can make it an interesting race for the championship again.”
Penske Porsche are competing at LeMan this weekend and as a result Team Penske has made changes to the INDYCAR engineering lineups for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
Luke Mason will double up this weekend suffering as both race engineer and strategist to Josef Newgarden.
On the No.12 car of Will Power, David Faustino will double as race engineer and strategist.