Josef Newgarden claimed the pole position for IndyCar’s season opener on Saturday, providing a glimmer of joy for Team Penske amidst criticisms aimed at its leadership within the racing community.
The atmosphere was unusual on what should have been a joyous weekend marking the return of IndyCar after a six-month offseason. However, the prevailing mood was subdued.
Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi were both eliminated in the first round of qualifying, with Rossi voicing frustration over what he perceived as obstruction from another driver, yet no action was taken by race officials. Callum Ilott, substituting for the injured David Malukas, also failed to advance, joining Rossi as two Arrow McLaren Racing drivers who didn’t cut.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing saw Graham Rahal and Pietro Fittipaldi eliminated in the initial round, along with Kyle Kirkwood, a two-time race winner last season for Andretti Global.
The qualifying drama set the stage for a showdown between Josef Newgarden and Felix Rosenqvist for the pole position in Sunday’s opener. Rosenqvist secured second place in his debut with Meyer Shank Racing, while Pato O’Ward of McLaren took third, followed by Colton Herta of Andretti.
Romain Grosjean of Juncos Hollinger Racing clinched fifth place in his team debut, and Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top six in his debut with Andretti.
Newgarden, who won four races last year, including the Indy 500, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. Despite his pole position, he remained focused on the race ahead, recognizing that the ultimate reward comes from a strong performance on race day.
Off the track, tensions simmered as multiple team owners voiced discontent with Penske Entertainment’s management of the series. Michael Andretti went as far as suggesting that Roger Penske should sell the series if he’s unwilling to invest the necessary resources to elevate IndyCar’s stature.
Andretti’s remarks sparked a response from Penske executives, who engaged in discussions with Andretti officials to address his concerns. Meanwhile, Brad Hollinger, co-owner of Juncos Hollinger Racing, highlighted the disparity in promotion between Formula 1 and IndyCar events, advocating for increased investment in marketing and social media to enhance the series’ visibility.
While some expressed dissatisfaction with Penske’s management, others, like Chip Ganassi, stood by him, acknowledging the challenges he faced in navigating the series through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark Miles, CEO of Penske Entertainment, emphasized that IndyCar operates with considerably smaller budgets compared to F1 and NASCAR, making direct comparisons unfair.
In an effort to shift focus, IndyCar highlighted positive developments, including increased merchandise sales and anticipated record attendance for the St. Pete race, underscoring the ongoing efforts to enhance the series’ appeal.
