NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Report - Mid-Ohio

July 7, 2025

INDY 200 at Mid-Ohio
Lexington, OH - July 6, 2025

JOSEF NEWGARDEN No. 2 PPG CHEVROLET

START: 18TH 
FINISH: 27TH
POINTS: 19TH (-288)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet team finished 27th in Sunday's Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, continuing an anomaly of a season in which the two-time series champion currently sits 19th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings. Following a tight qualifying session that saw several cars separated by hundredths of a second, the two-time Mid-Ohio winner rolled off the 27-car grid in the 18th position. Newgarden would make it just one half of a lap before his car made a hard left turn under braking, making contact with the outside tire barrier. After an extended stay in the paddock for repairs by the PPG crew, Newgarden attempted to return to the track on Lap 31 but the internal damage was too severe to continue.

NEWGARDEN'S THOUGHTS: "I either had a massive rear lock up and spun, or I got touched. Initially, it felt like I just locked the rears all of a sudden out of nowhere unexpectedly - or, I got touched. If I didn't get touched, just a weird freak massive rear lock, which is bizarre. Tough to not be out there. Hopefully, we can fix the car. I don't think there is a lot of damage. I'd like to get back out there even though we're out of this thing. It's a shame having a fast PPG car and support from Team Chevy. I want to be in the mix."

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 ODYSSEY BATTERY CHEVROLET

START: 21ST  
FINISH: 23RD 
POINTS: 11TH (-233)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Odyssey Battery Chevrolet team finished 23rd in Sunday's Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio after tire complications altered their strategy. The seven-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES winner started the 90-lap event on the primary Firestone tire from the 23rd position before switching to the softer compound tire on his first pit stop on Lap 12. The team's strategy was to run the softer tire for the remainder of the race, but under the hot Ohio sun they could not make them last a full stint. After changing back to the primary tire halfway through the race, McLaughlin attempted to run the softer compound on the team's last stint but was forced to pit lane with 12 laps remaining to cross the finish line in the 23rd position.

MCLAUGHLIN'S THOUGHTS: "It was a long, hot day inside the Odyssey Battery Chevy, for sure. Felt like we could have finished somewhere between eighth and 12th but had a tire de-laminate on the final run. I don't know, this has obviously been a very tough year for everyone, but this team doesn't quit. Team Penske doesn't have these years often, but we will be stronger because of it, that's for sure. We are going to Iowa with absolute confidence that we will win there."

WILL POWER No. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET

START: 22ND 
FINISH: 26TH 
POINTS: 9TH (-202)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Will Power and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet team finished 26th in Sunday's Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio following an engine issue that forced them out of the event after just 11 completed laps. Like his Team Penske teammates, the fastest qualifier in NTT INDYCAR SERIES history fell victim to a tight qualifying session and began the race from the 22nd position. After two trips down pit lane during a chaotic opening stint, Power radioed to his team that he felt something amiss in his Verizon Chevy. The issue began to worsen over the next few laps and Power was told by the team to bring it to their attention. A small fire could be seen off the left side as Power entered pit road, forboding a premature end to his race.

POWER'S THOUGHTS: "An engine failure there. I got hit at the start as well, which should damage the floor, but I think it was going to be okay. It didn't feel like it's handling badly. After the first pit stop I felt a misfire in the engine and it kept getting worse. Oh, man. Tough, tough year."

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues its summer stretch of five races over four weekends with the Iowa Speedway doubleheader next Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th.