Josef Newgarden taken to hospital; Pato O’Ward wins at Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa — (AP) — Josef Newgarden collapsed in the motorhome lot following his late crash Sunday at Iowa Speedway and was taken to a Des Moines hospital by helicopter for analysis.

IndyCar medical director Dr. Geoffrey Billows stated Newgarden was transported by helicopter to Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center because the infield care center lacked the equipment to properly evaluate the Staff Penske driver, who reduce open the again of his head when he collapsed.

Billows stated Newgarden was awake and alert, however the hospital was a 45-minute drive from the monitor and heavy site visitors for the post-race Blake Shelton live performance would have delayed the journey.

Newgarden dominated and led 148 of the 300 laps whereas attempting to comb the weekend. However one thing on his Staff Penske automobile broke with 64 laps remaining and the 31-year-old Tennessee driver spun laborious into the surface wall — creating a gap for Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP to win the race.

Newgarden, a two-time IndyCar champion, was visibly rattled after his obligatory verify within the infield care heart after the crash.

“Undoubtedly was a little bit of a shot. I wish to cry, so unhappy for my crew. I don’t know what occurred,” Newgarden stated. “Every thing felt fantastic to me. Completely surprising and it caught me by my shock. Staff Penske is one of the best. I by no means have these items, so possibly we have been due.

“We will’t afford it for this 12 months. However we’ll combat again. We’ve an amazing crew right here.”

Chevrolet’s preliminary analysis was that the suspension broke on Newgarden’s automobile. There was no fast phrase on the drive wherein Newgarden hit the surface wall.

Billows stated Newgarden cleared all assessments within the care heart after the crash, and the medical employees spoke to him a second time earlier than he returned to the motorhome lot. IndyCar additionally had deliberate to re-evaluate him Thursday in Indianapolis earlier than he collapsed upon returning to the motorhome lot.

“Pondering of my bus brother proper now,” tweeted Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin.

O’Ward made the go for the win on pit street with a speedy cease by his Arrow McLaren SP crew and held off Penske teammates Will Energy and Scott McLaughlin for the win. It is the second win of the season for the Mexican driver, who completed second on Saturday and stays firmly within the IndyCar title race with 5 races remaining.

O’Ward is fifth within the standings, 36 factors behind chief Marcus Ericsson. His win halted Staff Penske’s dominance on the 0.894-mile oval, the place Roger Penske’s drivers had gained six of the final seven races previous to Sunday.

Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing completed fourth and was adopted by teammate Jimmie Johnson, who raced laborious with Indianapolis 500 winner Ericsson to earn his finest end by two seasons of IndyCar racing. Ericsson can also be a Ganassi driver and Newgarden’s crash helped the Swede retain the lead within the IndyCar standings — making Johnson’s aggressive racing a bit nerve-racking for the Ganassi camp.

“I race my teammates with probably the most respect I presumably can, each race I have been in, I’ve given manner,” Johnson stated. “That was actually the primary time I fought for place and felt like I ought to have been up there passing (Dixon). At this time I had it in me and I raced clear, laborious, and simply had an superior day.”

Ericsson stated Johnson’s expertise on ovals was the distinction. The seven-time NASCAR champion made 686 begins in a inventory automobile and gained 83 races.

“Yeah, you recognize, he has a few extra oval races than me beneath his belt. I believe that’s what I used to be pondering when he was battling me,” Ericsson stated. “On a regular basis I used to be attempting to form of make him go in my soiled air. Each time I regarded in my mirror, he was inside, out, inside, out. Oh, my God. Step behind me, please.”

It was one other podium sweep for Chevrolet, who did it on Saturday with Newgarden, O’Ward and Energy.

Newgarden was scored because the factors chief on the time of his crash and dropped to a tie with Dixon for third within the standings following his crash. There are 5 drivers separated by 36 factors within the standings, and Ericcson leads Energy by eight factors.

RAHAL RETURNS

Staff proprietor Bobby Rahal had been noticeably absent from the monitor for almost two months and confirmed Sunday that the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner underwent a triple bypass.

Rahal advised The Related Press he went for a routine annual bodily on Might 5 and docs found he’d unknowingly suffered a coronary heart assault — possibly two — and located 100% blockage in his left anterior descending artery.

Rahal assumed surgical procedure can be fast nevertheless it truly did not occur till June 6. He appeared slimmed down forward of Sunday’s race, solely the second IndyCar race the proprietor of Rahal Letterman Lanigan has attended since that Might bodily.

“Shocked he leaked the information, however nonetheless it has been an intense couple months for our household,” son Graham Rahal wrote on Twitter. “We’re extremely fortunate to nonetheless have dad with us, very fortunate, however now he is good for an additional 100k miles we expect! Many had requested the place he is been, now you might have your reply.”

UP NEXT

IndyCar and NASCAR share subsequent weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IndyCar races Saturday on the street course; NASCAR races Sunday.

___

Extra AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.