AUSTIN, TX – Josef Newgarden has never really started an NTT IndyCar Series season off with hot. Heading into 2019, he has never started off a year with two consecutive top five finishes.

Well, he’s hoping to right that ship. Newgarden, if after his best start ever to a season on Sunday in COTA as the Tennessee native is coming off of a win in the season opener on the streets of St. Pete two weeks ago.

With the IndyCar Classic (1 p.m. ET/NBCSN/IndyCar Radio Network) being a brand new race in the series, he has a great shot of earning his second top five finish in as many starts this season.

Newgarden, will start his No. 2 Chevrolet seventh for Sunday’s 60 Lap race. He’s showing to have a ton of speed with his car being in the top 10 in all three practice sessions as well. But, even if Newgarden somehow falters in Sunday’s race, he says it’s not the end all be all.

He says while he didn’t have the best speed to earn the pole, the six in front may have won the battle, but he’s out to win the war on Sunday.

See, he cites Scott Dixon’s championship seasons or even his own in 2017 as prime examples as to why you don’t necessarily have to come out of the gates swinging.

“It was nice, I can tell you that,” said Newgarden of his St. Pete win. “I’ve never personally had a great start to the year at St. Pete. I think our best finish before that was seventh, that was the year prior. It’s really nice to get a strong start to the season.

“I don’t think it’s everything. How many times have we seen (Scott) Dixon have a strong run at the end and win a championship? I think for us, when we won in 2017, we had sort of a soft start, too. It’s not make-or-break to start the season strong, but it certainly helps.

“If you had a preference, you’d like to have more of a cushion, build a gap, try to maintain through the end of the year. Only one round. There’s a lot more to go.”

Just three times in the last 38 years has a driver won the first two races of an IndyCar season. Will Power did it last in 2010 while Sam Hornish Jr. (2001) and Rick Mears (1982) were the others.