The No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet team of Josef Newgarden collected the $50,000 prize and bragging rights after once again winning the Pit Stop Challenge. They had to beat their own teammates to do it as the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet of Will Power joined them in the final. It was the first time two Penske cars went to the final in the Pit Stop Challenge since 2007.
In the semi-finals, Newgarden had to face off with the Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward, which is the same driver he had to beat in the battle for the win in last year’s Indianapolis 500. While he prevailed over O’Ward once again, Power’s team had to beat Scott Dixon and the Chip Ganassi Racing team.
Will Power, Team Penske
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
In the final, Newgarden won the first round with a 10.45-second run. However, Power’s team fought back in the second attempt, winning with a 10.5-second run. In the third round, Newgarden’s team won it all with a blistering run of 10.263 seconds. The two teammates shook hands after the competition.
“They are the unsung heroes of this race,” Newgarden told IndyCar on FOX. “They are risking it every time we’re coming in. Cars speeding up and down here at 60mph. It’s not easy to do this job. They work on these cars all day, all night, and then they have to come out and perform in these moments and on Sunday. It’s a huge part of what we do. I always feel so lucky to have them behind my back. I know we’re going to crush them whenever we get into the pits. It helps you win the Indy 500. Everything has got to be perfect and this is a big part of it. I love my team. Nothing is going to take this smile from my face here at Indy. I love this place.”
Newgarden will start 32nd in the Indy 500 and Power 33rd after the Penske attenuator controversy, which put both drivers to the rear of the field and resulted in the ousting of three key Penske executives including Tim Cindric. They are certainly going to need these fast pit crews on Sunday as they attempt to cut a path through the field.
Photos from Indianapolis 500 – Final Practice
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