News

Track:        Pocono Raceway
Race:         Pocono 500
Date:         August 18, 2019

 
No. 2 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet – Josef Newgarden
Start: 1st
Finish: 5th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 128/200 (rain-shortened race)
Laps Led: 1
Points Position: 1st (+35 pts)

Notes:

• After running a consistent race, Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet team finished fifth at Pocono Raceway allowing them to continue to lead the IndyCar Series championship points lead.
• The race began with an on-track incident involving several cars on lap 2 but luckily Newgarden avoided the incident. Once the race restarted, he was scored as second and began to battle back to the first position.
• The No. 2 Chevrolet’s first pit stop came on lap 40 electing to just take fuel and four tires.
• While remaining in the top-10 most of the event, Newgarden was called to the pits by team strategist Tim Cindric for fuel and tires to try and maintain track position on lap 66.
• The team’s third and final pit stop occurred on lap 103 where he once again took fuel and tires.
• As the sky darkened, IndyCar called a red flag for track conditions on lap 128 which eventually resulted in the conclusion of the event with the No. 2 team taking home fifth-place.
• With just three races remaining at Gateway, Portland and Laguna Seca, Newgarden heads to Gateway this weekend continuing to lead IndyCar championship point standings with a desire to earn as many points as possible to maintain his lead.

 
Quote: 
"It was kind of an interesting day, but it could have been worse. It was sort of like qualifying yesterday where qualifying got rained out but we started on the pole. We didn't finish this race but we finished fifth. We'll take it. I wish we could have been a little bit higher, but I think Will (Power) was going to be tough to beat today. He looked very strong. Certainly towards the middle of the race I thought he was looking very good. We fought with what we had today and I thought the Hitachi Chevy was pretty good. Coming out of here with a decent finish allows us to now focus on the last three events. We just need to set our sights on Gateway next weekend and execute. I think we will have a good Hitachi Chevy. I always feel confident with Team Penske, and Team Chevy has been pushing hard, so I'm looking forward to it."

  
No. 12 Verizon Dallara/Chevrolet – Will Power
Start: 5th
Finish: 1st
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 128/200 (rain-shortened race)
Laps Led: 31
Points Position: 5th (-128 pts)

Notes:

• It may have been a rain-shortened event, but Will Power also had one of the cars to beat in taking the checkered flag in Sunday’s Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway for his 36th IndyCar Series victory, breaking a tie with Bobby Unser for seventh place on the all-time wins list.
• After rain washed out both the first practice session and qualifying on Saturday, Power lined up in the fifth position for the start of the race, based on the INDYCAR rulebook. After maneuvering his way into the third position at the drop of the green flag, just behind his Team Penske teammates, Power and the rest of the field had to endure a 45-minute red-flag period after a multi-car incident in Turn 2 of the first lap.
• While sitting on pit road, awaiting the cleanup process, it was discovered that the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet had a puncture to the left-rear tire, likely a result of running through the debris field on the one yellow-flag lap after the incident. Race strategist Roger Penske called Power down pit road prior to the race resuming to change all four tires, placing Power on a slightly different strategy than the rest of the field.
• Despite a persistent understeer condition, Power quickly made his way back to the front of the field, a position he would hold throughout the 128 laps of competition.
• With inclement weather fast approaching the Pocono Raceway, Power made his way around the No. 9 of Scott Dixon just after his final pit stop of the day at lap 112. Lightning halted the racing action at 5:25 pm EDT and the race was called shortly with torrential rain following soon after.
• With the win, Power remains fifth in the IndyCar Series standings, 128 markers behind leader Josef Newgarden with three races remaining.

 
Quote: 
"I had a few issues during the race but we just kept coming back. Full credit to the team. We had a great car and we just kind of hung there and saved fuel and when it was time to go, I went. I was so determined and I really wanted to win. This is my 13th year in a row of winning races and I have been thinking about that. I just wanted to win a race for Verizon and these guys who have worked their butts off all year and just haven't had the results."

 
No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Dallara/Chevrolet – Simon Pagenaud
Start: 3rd
Finish: 3rd
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 128/200 (rain-shortened race)
Laps Led: 64
Points Position: 3rd (-40 pts)

Notes:

• Simon Pagenaud and the No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet ran a strong race finishing on the podium in the third position at Pocono Raceway narrowing the margin in points between himself and Alexander Rossi for second in IndyCar Series championship points to just five points as he remains third.
• While lap 1 Pagenaud made an incredible run from third position to first allowing him to take the lead.
• On lap 2, a multi-car incident caused the field to be red flagged with Pagenaud at the front of the field.
• When the race was restarted, he continued to lead the field as team strategist Kyle Moyer called the No. 22 Chevrolet to the pits for ties and fuel.
• After swapping back-and-forth for first and second position with Team Penske teammate Will Power, Pagenaud pitted for fuel and tires on lap 72. Unfortunately, he was caught up in traffic behind James Hinchcliffe and lost the lead when he returned to the track.
• He continued to fight his way from the third position to the front of the field and came to the pits on lap 108 for fuel, tires and a front wing adjustment.
• As the sky began to darken from impending weather, IndyCar announced that the track was under a red flag due to track conditions. Pagenaud would later be scored as third in the rain-shortened event.
• The Frenchman continues to hold steady in the third position in IndyCar Series championship points with just three races remaining. He is just now 40 points behind Team Penske teammate and points leader Josef Newgarden, and just five points behind current second-place in points, Alexander Rossi.

 
Quote: 
"Well, it's a great day. Very happy for Will and Team Penske to get another win here in Pocono. It's pretty awesome. I think we showed our cars were the strongest today. Overall it's a pretty good points day for us on the No. 22 Penske Truck Rental car this weekend. Obviously, yes, I did think we could have done a little better. At least we would have tried. I think we had the car to do so... Who knows what would have happened, but I think we could have challenged at least. At the end of the day it's not a bad day. We'll take it. Go to the next one, keep pushing."