Josef Newgarden was holding back tears as he expressed his apologies to the IndyCar community and fans after being disqualified from the St Petersburg race. He described it as “crushing” and “embarrassing” and admitted that he had let his team down.
The announcement of Newgarden’s disqualification and that of Scott McLaughlin sent shockwaves through the IndyCar paddock. The disqualification was a result of both drivers using push-to-pass on restarts, which was against the rules. The team attributed the mistake to incorrect software left in the car from a pre-season hybrid test.
While McLaughlin and another Penske driver, Will Power, released statements clarifying their positions, Newgarden faced criticism for not making a statement earlier. However, he felt it was important to address the media directly, which he did in an emotional 35-minute press conference.
During the press conference, Newgarden took full responsibility for his actions and apologized to fans, teammates, and competitors. He acknowledged that he had fallen short of the high standards he set for himself throughout his career.
Newgarden revealed that he had been thinking non-stop about facing the media and that it had kept him awake at night. He admitted that he pushed the button for push-to-pass despite knowing it was not legal at the time. He explained that he believed there had been a rule change regarding push-to-pass usage on restarts, which led to his decision.
Newgarden’s explanation was met with opposition from other drivers, including Colton Herta, who rejected his reasoning. The controversy surrounding the disqualification has also raised questions about Team Penske’s ownership of both the team and the championship.
Newgarden acknowledged that he made notes after the race but didn’t pay attention to push-to-pass data on other cars, assuming they were all using it. When asked why his data engineer didn’t notice the breach, he said that no one on the team believed they had done anything wrong.
The timing of the discovery of the rule breach, a month after the race, has made it difficult for fans and people in the paddock to believe the explanations provided. Some have accused Team Penske of lying about the software mistake.
Despite the skepticism surrounding his explanation, Newgarden remains focused on regaining his position in the championship. He has dropped to 11th place but is determined to bounce back at Barber. Additionally, he is currently in a free agency situation, with rumors suggesting he will re-sign with Penske despite interest from other teams.
Facing the media head-on was a significant step for Newgarden, even though he knows not everyone will believe his explanation. He is now ready to move forward and concentrate on his racing career.