Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis 500 preview: Josef Newgarden returns a different driver

Published

3 weeks ago

May 25, 2024

Indianapolis 500 preview: Josef Newgarden returns a different driver

INDIANAPOLIS — A social media post designed to introduce drivers in the Indianapolis 500 to the general public put Josef Newgarden in an awkward light when the reigning race winner was asked a simple question.

“Which IndyCar driver would you take on a road trip?” asked the questionnaire.

“Solo” Newgarden responded.

An odd answer for a driver who a year ago was practically inseparable from Scott McLaughlin, his Team Penske teammate. The “Bus Bros.” had a media company, a YouTube show and merchandise. They appeared to be the best of friends and McLaughlin celebrated Newgarden when the Tennessean finally broke through to win his first Indianapolis 500.

Twelve months later, the Bus Bros. are no more, the friendship apparently unraveled after Newgarden went solo and unfollowed everyone on social media — including his wife — in a bid to rebuild his love of racing.

Winning the Indy 500 wasn’t as fulfilling as he had expected; for the two-time IndyCar Series champion, racing had become a grind of too many failures and not enough successes.

Insulated but re-energized when he returned for this season, Newgarden scored an emphatic victory in the opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida. Six weeks later, IndyCar discovered illegal push-to-pass software on the three Team Penske cars and threw out both Newgarden’s win and McLaughlin’s third-place finish.

Newgarden returns to the speedway for Sunday’s race as the defending Indy 500 winner but caught in a cheating scandal that has damaged his pristine reputation and that of Team Penske. A deeply embarrassed Roger Penske suspended four team members, including team President Tim Cindric, Newgarden’s strategist.

If the drama is distracting Newgarden, he’s not let on.

He qualified third to complete Team Penske’s first front row lockout in Indy 500 qualifying since 1988. McLaughlin won the pole and Will Power qualified second.

Asked how different this year has felt from last season, when Newgarden won in his 12th try, he felt nothing much has changed.

“Feels really similar to me in a lot of ways. I feel a lot of respect for this facility and this race, this track,” Newgarden said before turning the topic to how good his Chevrolet was a year ago. “We were fortunate enough as a team, as a group, where it just fell into place for us. We had a great car. … it was our day.

“I feel the same in that regard. I think I’ve got another great race car,” he continued. “I had sort of let go of the fact that I was ever going to win this race. It’s such a tough race to win, I think you had to be comfortable with that. I think that rings true for a second. I’m happy to be here, happy to have a shot.”

PADDOCK UNREST

There remains dissatisfaction about the scandal, particularly from teams who simply don’t believe the Team Penske explanations as to how Newgarden, his engineers and McLaughlin found nothing to be amiss when their horsepower boosts worked when they should not have. IndyCar said Penske drivers had manipulated the push-to-pass software system on their cars; Penske and Cindric called it a miscommunication and breakdown in process.

Zak Brown, head of Arrow McLaren Racing, said the Penske punishments were too light; he called Cindric’s presence at Penske’s sports car win at Laguna Seca two weeks ago while under suspension “a bad look.”

There is skepticism that Cindric won’t be involved in some form in the race. IndyCar set no parameters on what the suspended team members can or can’t do, leaving the discipline to Penske to dole out. Penske owns not only the race team, but IndyCar itself, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500.

“Do I think Tim Cindric is engaged during the Month of May? Yes. In what way, I don’t know the rules they set out, I don’t know that,” Brown said. “But do I believe that Tim Cindric is sitting on his couch, turning on the race and watching it as 5 of 6 million other people are? No.”

Newgarden can win a $440,000 bonus from trophy-maker BorgWarner if he becomes the first driver to win back-to-back Indy 500s since the award was established in 1995. It’s been claimed only once — by Helio Castroneves after 2001 and 2002 victories — and only five drivers in 107 runnings have won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in consecutive years.

Newgarden is the race favorite, followed by McLaughlin and Kyle Larson, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The odds made McLaughlin a little nervous and same for Larson, who couldn’t understand why anyone would “waste their money betting on me.”

Said McLaughlin: “My first Indy 500, I was headed out to driver intros and some guy screamed at me he’d bet $20,000 on me to win. And all I could think was ‘Why?’”

LARSON EFFECT

This year’s race has NASCAR star Kyle Larson in the field as he attempts to become the fifth driver in history to complete “The Double” and race in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

The 2021 Cup Series champion is the first driver to attempt the 1,100 miles of racing since Kurt Busch in 2014. Weather is not in his favor with the Indy forecast calling for rain on Sunday.

Larson qualified fifth for his debut Indy 500 and a year’s worth of prep has gone into his joint effort between Arrow McLaren Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. Rick Hendrick, his boss, now seems to be having second thoughts about pulling Larson from Indy to get him to Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for the evening’s NASCAR race.

“At this point, just hoping the weather cooperates to get all 1,100-miles in. It’s been something I’ve looked forward to for close to two years,” Larson said. “It doesn’t look too promising for Indy on Sunday, but I think for me, where I sit, if it’s going to rain, I hope it rains all day. That way it can just get pushed to Monday or something. We can get (NASCAR) in on Sunday night and then come here Monday.”

McLaren boss Zak Brown said the decision would be solely for Hendrick to make.

CHEVROLET vs. HONDA

Chevrolet clearly had the speed benefit in qualifying when the engine maker claimed the first eight spots in qualifying. But Honda showed it can hold its own in race trim, which means there is no obvious favorite for Sunday.

“I think Chevrolet has a little bit of a power advantage right now, but you never know once the race starts,” said Chip Ganassi, who failed to qualify any of his five Honda-powered cars inside the top 12. “I’ll take a handling car any day over horsepower.”

BROWN’S OWN DOUBLE

Brown has his own eye on the weather and a plane ticket on hold for Saturday to take him to the Monaco Grand Prix if it appears the Indianapolis 500 will be rained out.

He would then attempt his own version of “The Double” and watch his F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on Sunday in Monaco, then return to Indianapolis for the 500 on Monday. If he decides to stay in Indianapolis but the 500 is rained out, Brown said he’d travel to North Carolina to cheer on Larson in the Coca-Cola 600.

“I just hope it’s not a rain delay,” Brown said. “I hope it’s either a washout, chucking down rain and we’re not racing Sunday and leave, go to Charlotte, and come back. That’s the delay I want.”

Indianapolis 500

When: 9 a.m. PT Sunday (green flag scheduled for 9:45 a.m.)

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

TV: NBC Ch. 4

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Indianapolis, IN

Stabbing on Indy’s west side leaves man dead

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2024

Press Room

Stabbing on Indy’s west side leaves man dead

INDIANAPOLIS — A man has died after being stabbed on the west side of Indianapolis on Friday.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department South District officers responded to the 3500 block of Dogie Road on a report of a person stabbed on June 14.

Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from injuries consistent with trauma. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead on Saturday, June 15.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s identity once his family is notified.

IMPD says a person of interest was arrested for this incident. The suspect is facing aggravated battery charges.

WRTV does not name suspects until they are formally charged.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact IMPD Det. Anthony Johnson at 317-327-3475 or by email at Anthony.Johnson@indy.gov.

Alternatively, anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477 (TIPS).

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Indianapolis, IN

44-year-old man critically injured in Anderson shooting

Published

10 hours ago

June 16, 2024

Press Room

44-year-old man critically injured in Anderson shooting

INDIANAPOLIS — A 44-year-old man was critically injured in an Anderson shooting Saturday evening.

According to Indiana State Police, around 7:30 a.m., state police were requested to assist the Anderson Police Department at a residence located on Delmar Street.

Police said officers located a 44-year-old man at the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body.

The victim was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.

An investigation from state police detectives determined that an altercation at the residence led to the victim being shot.

Police said a 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene for invasion of privacy and unlawfully carrying a firearm, which resulted from him violating an existing protection order.

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Indianapolis, IN

How would you change I-65 and I-70 in Indy?

Published

17 hours ago

June 16, 2024

Press Room

How would you change I-65 and I-70 in Indy?

(MIRROR INDY) — The roar is loud and constant at Candace Miller’s home on West McCarty Street. Living about 100 feet from Interstate 70’s westbound lane means she’s been able to hear every vehicle every day for the past two and a half years.

She’s gotten used to the din. Now the only time she worries about the interstate is when other sounds pierce the roar, such as crashes or sirens — or the rattle of a stranger trying to open her neighbor’s door. Sometimes, she says, they happen all at once.

The view from West Indianapolis resident Candace Miller’s porch on June 13, 2024. Her front door is only about 130 feet from the westbound lane of Interstate 70. (Provided Photo/Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy)

“We’ve had cars come off the road after they get in wrecks,” she said. “Then people jump the fence and try to get into peoples homes to not get caught by the police.”

Families living in dozens of West Indianapolis homes on McCarty Street, Wyoming Street and others that run parallel to the interstate are only separated from it by an embankment, a few sparse trees and a waist-high chain link fence.

A highway sign on the westbound lane of Interstate 70 visible from the intersection of McCarty Drive and Warman Avenue on June 13, 2024. (Provided Photo/Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy)

Miller said she’d like some sound barriers to reduce the noise, but she said the state should prioritize things that could protect her home, such as more lighting on the interstate and more protective fencing on the embankments.

“If it’s raining and it’s dark, you can’t see anything,” she said. “I feel they should spend some money and make sure people that are driving can see better.”

Miller’s concerns are the types of comments the Indiana Department of Transportation wants to hear from Indianapolis residents as it considers the future of the inner loop, made up of I-70 and Interstate 65.

Both interstate routes were built in the 1970s and are nearing the end of their service lives. INDOT plans to modernize them, but it first wants to hear how residents think it should approach the upgrades.

The agency is taking public comments through its Pro Planning and Environment Linkages program, or ProPEL Indy, until June 30 and will have several public information sessions around the city.

Original project split neighborhoods

When the Indianapolis portions of I-65 and I-70 were originally built, the interstates split neighborhoods, such as West Indianapolis, in the path of the selected inner loop routes. About 8,000 buildings were demolished for the projects, displacing about 17,000 residents, according to the Oct. 15, 1976, edition of the Indianapolis Star.

Little consideration was given to how the projects would affect those neighborhoods. The projects were designed in the 1960s and predated the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental impact assessments for major federal actions. That includes how a proposed project would affect the people living near it.

Many residents at the time were unhappy with the project. Some would form groups like the West Indianapolis Neighborhood Congress that would scrutinize future transportation projects and would oppose the projects when they didn’t serve the interests of the community they represented. The group and other city residents successfully opposed the construction of a proposed Harding Street freeway that would have linked I-65 in the north to I-465 in the south through I-70.

Building projects around residents’ needs

ProPEL Indy project manager Tim Miller speaks at a public information session at Rhodius Family Center June 11, 2024. (Provided Photo/Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy)

ProPEL Indy project manager Tim Miller said future interstate projects will be planned with the needs of the public, businesses, and other organizations in mind instead of imposing the projects’ needs on them.

“What we’re trying to ask people to do is re-imagine how those interstates function within our community, whether that’s from a mobility standpoint, safety standpoint, or efficiency standpoint,” Miller said. “Instead of just giving ideas about this — saying this is how it will be — let’s have a conversation about how we want (interstates) to function in our community.”

The feedback that state officials receive from the public will be used to create plans for the interstate sometime next year. At that point, they’ll ask for more input.

“This is a generational study,” Miller said. “It’s very important that people get engaged.”

The view of the eastbound lane of Interstate 70 from a West Indianapolis resident’s backyard June 13, 2024. (Provided Photo/Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy)

Residents like Miller expressed concerns that the outreach was just a formality before the state builds newer and bigger versions of the existing interstate, like the North Split project connecting I-65 and I-70 in the northeast part of the inner loop.

“They’ll act like, ‘We’ll take your comments,’ just to say it and pretend like they’re trying to have your back, but in my experience nothing’s ever done with that feedback,” Miller said.

But others are optimistic about the prospects of changing the interstate system for the better.

“I’m very impressed with their outreach. I think that they’re taking it seriously,” said Jakob Morales, who works on the west side. “These are projects that are going to be around for a very long time and affect millions of people. This is the future, so it’s important to them.”

Morales said he wants INDOT to completely reimagine the interstate system.

“(They should consider) highway elimination and transforming them into slower boulevards that are dense, transit oriented and that aren’t going to leave us with these polluting interstates for the next 50 years,” he said.