Josef Newgarden Wins Indy 500 that Features 3 Red Flags, Controversial One-Lap Dash

• It was Josef Newgarden’s 12th try for the 500 win and he finally got it.

• In a one-lap shootout preceded by three red flags and several crashes, the Henderson, Tennessee native bolted past defending winner Marcus Ericsson to capture the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

• Ericsson was tryting to become the first driver to win the 500 in back-to-back years since Helio Castroneves captured his first two Indy 500 victories in 2001 and 2002.

Josef Newgarden on Sunday gave Roger Penske his first-ever Indianapolis 500 win – as owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that is.

But to be more precise, it was also the 19th win for Penske as a team owner at the Brickyard, extending one of the most remarkable records in motorsports globally.

It was Newgarden’s 12th try for the 500 win and he finally got it, drenching himself with a bottle of whole milk, for what it’s worth. His previous best finish was third in 2016 with Ed Carpenter Racing, one season before he moved to drive for Team Penske.

“Everyone kept asking why I can’t win it,” Newgarden said. “You feel like you’re a failure. It was pure emotion. I was emotional the last 10 laps because I knew we were in a position to win.”

But the boss, the man known as “The Captain,” he was ecstatic at what his young driver said.

“It was a terrific effort by Josef,” Penske said. “(Team strategist and Penske Racing president) Tim Cindric called a perfect race. It was a great race, a safe race, I’ll never forget it. I know Josef wanted it so bad, and at the end when it was time to go, I was betting on him. We’re coming back next year, for sure.”

In a one-lap shootout preceded by three red flags and several crashes, the Henderson, Tennessee native stalked near the front of the pack most of the race, and then when the final green flag fell, he bolted past defending winner Marcus Ericsson to capture the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

When he climbed out of his car, Newgarden’s celebration rivaled—if not exceeded—the electric show his former teammate, Helio Castroneves, gave when he climbed the catchfence at the finish line after winning the 500 for the fourth time in 2021.

After crossing the finish line Sunday, Newgarden climbed through a small hole under the flagman’s stand and ran into the crowd, celebrating with Indy’s common man.

“I always wanted to go into the crowd here at Indianapolis,” Newgarden said. “I’ve seen people go onto the fence; I wanted to go through the fence. This was a dream I wanted to happen.”

But Newgarden’s dream was Ericsson’s nightmare. The Swedish driver was hoping to become the first driver to win the 500 in back-to-back years since Helio Castroneves captured his first two Indy 500 victories in 2001 and 2002.