IndyCar star Newgarden chasing elusive Indianapolis 500 win

“After all I wish to win right here, everyone desires to win right here, however Indianapolis is a troublesome place to tame. It’s a troublesome place to get it proper on the day,” he mentioned earlier than qualifying 14th for Sunday’s race.

A 500 win definitely would cement Newgarden’s declare as one in all his era’s biggest drivers. Till that day comes, although, the sequence’ one-time heartthrob continues to relive all of the heartaches he’s endured on the Brickyard.

Despite consistently ranking among the month’s fastest drivers, working for probably the most profitable group in sequence historical past and calling a handful of 500 champions teammates with Workforce Penske, Newgarden has continued to fall brief.

He’s by no means received the pole, by no means pushed into victory lane and has just one front-row begin. Heck, his finest Might didn’t even include Workforce Penske. In 2016, he began a career-best second and completed a career-best third driving for Ed Carpenter.

Roger Penske employed Newgarden the next season and he’s received at 11 of this season’s 15 venues with two notable spots among the many lacking — his hometown of Nashville and Indy. He has by no means began or completed increased than fourth for Penske.

“You have a look at this place and it chooses you and also you’ve simply bought to be prepared when it does,” Workforce Penske President Tim Cindric mentioned. “It’s the identical questions on a regular basis till you do win. You see it in NASCAR, too, with Kyle Busch or Tony Stewart on the Daytona 500.”

Newgarden, like Busch, is lucky. He’s nonetheless within the prime of his profession and nonetheless a feared competitor.

However everybody understands IndyCar success is measured by wins at Indy.

Mario Andretti received the five hundred in 1969 however began 24 extra with out profitable a second title. Hs son, Michael, and grandson, Marco, every began 16 extra 500s with out a win. Michael Andretti’s 42 profession wins are No. 4 on the sequence’ profession checklist.

In Newgarden’s 10 Indy 500 begins, the primary with Sarah Fisher’s group, he’s had three top-10 finishes and 5 finishes of twelfth or worse.

Different drivers perceive the strain, in fact. Will Energy of Australia additionally had a sterling resume however was 0 for 10 at Indy earlier than lastly profitable in 2018.

“It was painful for me as a result of I had received so many races, poles, I had received a championship,” Energy mentioned. “I used to be really disenchanted coming into ’18 with my profession as a result of I do know you’re not thought to be a profitable driver until you’ve received this race.”

With wins, although, come expectations. Simply ask Scott Dixon.

Solely A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti personal extra IndyCar wins than Dixon (51). Foyt’s seven profession sequence titles are yet another than Dixon and when the New Zealander put Chip Ganassi Racing on the pole for Sunday’s race, Dixon became the second driver to win five Indy poles. Rick Mears received six.

But Dixon would virtually definitely hand over a few of these numbers to place a second Child Borg in his trophy room.

“You at all times have unfinished enterprise right here,” mentioned Dixon, the 2008 winner. “I really like this place. It may be merciless typically, however I really feel very privileged to be right here and be with a group like this.”

A breakthrough win subsequent weekend would change Newgarden’s life.

He’d seize headlines, hit the interview circuit, possibly even reinforce his picture as America’s prime IndyCar driver. However most of all, Newgarden would now not must reply all of the questions on these three most elusive phrases.

“I don’t know what a win would imply, I’ve by no means skilled it,” Newgarden mentioned. “However I see it. If you discuss to 500 winners, you already know what it means.”

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