Josef Newgarden’s dominant victory in the opening race of the 2024 IndyCar season may have appeared effortless, 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 has gone four years without claiming the overall title. He has accumulated an impressive 15 wins in that time, more than any other driver, but the lack of consistency has taken its toll on him.
Newgarden has come to a realization that many drivers never do. He has been too fixated on winning races, making the burden of losing incredibly heavy. He has recognized the need for a change in mindset. “I have had to let go of the idea of perfection,” says Newgarden. “I am a perfectionist by nature, always striving to maximize everything. But I have come to realize that this mentality is not sustainable. I am not abandoning my passion and desire, but I am 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 evident that Newgarden was not fully enjoying his position. He had to navigate through two engineer changes in two years, which undoubtedly added to the pressure he placed on himself. The constant need to remember specific setups and directions from previous years to compensate for the lack of experience took away from his enjoyment of the sport.
Newgarden’s Bus Bros YouTube series, launched with Scott McLaughlin, was perhaps an attempt to find enjoyment in racing outside of the competitive arena. However, it has not resumed in 2024, indicating a shift in focus. Newgarden’s recent revelation sheds light on the struggles he has faced over the past few years.
He acknowledges that being a racing driver is a privilege but also recognizes the cut-throat nature of the profession, making it difficult to find joy at times. He has learned to pare back his commitments and remove the expectation of perfection. Newgarden now aims to be happier at the track and enjoy the process of racing. He has let go of his obsession with winning every race and has embraced the collaborative nature of being part of a team.
Becoming a father has also helped Newgarden prioritize his time and find a better balance in his life. This newfound perspective, combined with his shift in mentality, can only lead to positive outcomes. If this is Newgarden in a personal struggle, his recent success and dominant performance in the race indicate that he will be even more formidable in a better mental state. The competition should be on high alert.