Josef Newgarden
Josef Newgarden has won at least one NTT INDYCAR SERIES race each year he has been a member of Team Penske, a streak that was extended to nine seasons after his win at Nashville Superspeedway to close out the 2025 season. It was a much-needed victory to end a volatile year for Team Penske, one that provided the team with plenty of momentum as they look to hit the ground running in 2026 when the series reconvenes on the streets of St. Petersburg.
As one of the most accomplished and recognizable stars of American motorsports, the driver of the No. 2 Astemo/PPG/Shell Powering Progress/Snap-on/XPEL Chevrolet continues to produce both on and off the track in his 14 seasons competing in North America's top open-wheel series. The crucial Nashville win capped off a season that can also be considered a commercial success for the American star as he was prominently featured in marketing campaigns by the series' new broadcast partner, FOX, including an appearance in their Super Bowl coverage.
The 2025 season began with a strong, third-place finish at St. Petersburg set the team up on a solid start to the season, one they carried into the month of May as Newgarden looked to become the first driver in history to win three-consecutive Indianapolis 500 wins. However, following a penalty during qualifying, Newgarden lost his race strategist Tim Cindric (dismissed) and his engineer Luke Mason (suspended) making his quest for a three peat more difficult as Newgarden and teammate Will Power were also relegated to the last row to start the event.
A determined Newgarden nearly pulled off the incredible feat as he drove up to the sixth position late in the 200-laps event before a fuel pressure issue forced him to retire early. Despite the turnover at the top of the leadership structure, the No. 2 Chevrolet team continued to display race-winning speed on numerous occasions before putting it all together at Newgarden's home track of Nashville Superspeedway for the morale-boosting victory.
Since joining Team Penske in 2017, Newgarden has been one of the most consistent and productive drivers in INDYCAR. Entering the 2025 season, he has earned 29 wins, 18 poles and two series championships over the last nine seasons racing for the team. Along the way, Newgarden has emerged as the best oval racer in the series winning 18 times on those circuits with at least one victory at each oval, except the Milwaukee Mile that returned to the series schedule in 2024. He nearly became the first driver to sweep every oval race in a single season in 2023 before an incident at World Wide Technology Raceway ended his opportunity. Each of his Indianapolis 500 wins came on thrilling, last-lap passes that have forever etched his name into the fabric of the legendary event.
Newgarden began his racing career when he was 13 years old as he won numerous karting titles between 2006-2008 at New Castle (Ind.) Motorsports Park. After racing in Europe for a few years, he returned to the United States in 2011 and captured the Indy Lights series championship as he posted five wins and 10 podium finishes in 14 starts. The performance opened the door for Newgarden as he began competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012.
A winter sports and fitness enthusiast who loves to travel abroad, Newgarden and his wife Ashley reside in Nashville, Tenn. with their young sons, Kota and Stanley. He is a proud supporter of the Serious Fun Children's Network started by actor and racer, Paul Newman, and Wags and Walks animal adoption where the family adopted their dog, Axel.
Newgarden Key Accomplishments