INDIANAPOLIS — On a day that saw five of the top six qualifiers for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 each have issues, it was 17th placed starter, Josef Newgarden, dueling 10th place starter, Marcus Ericsson, to the finish in a one-lap shootout to join racing immortality.

Ericsson was hopeful to become the first back-to-back winner at Indy in 21 years. Newgarden, was hoping to score his first Indy win in 12 tries.

Newgarden prevailed. Here’s how.

Sunday’s 107th edition of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing started off in overcast conditions with temperatures in the mid 70’s (76) with 38% humidity and a north-northwest wind at 2 mph.

As Roger Penske told drivers to “start your engines” at 12:39 p.m. locally, all but one car actually started. It was Graham Rahal’s No. 24 Dallara-Chevrolet that wouldn’t fire. As the car sat hopelessly on the main straight, Rahal was pleading with the team that it was the battery. They weren’t fully listening. Against all pleas by Rahal to get him to pit road and change the battery, they kept trying to diagnose the issue.

The finally obliged. It was a battery. The problem now was that they couldn’t find the cart with the tools. It cost Rahal two laps at the start.

On that start, pole sitter Alex Palou led the first two laps. Rinus VeeKay led Lap 3 with Palou getting back by on Lap 4. A lap later, VeeKay got back by again and led until Lap 14 before Palou snagged the lead back.

Meanwhile, Scott Dixon came from sixth to fourth and back down again as by time VeeKay was passing Palou back for the lead, Dixon’s tires started developing a bad vibration. He lost several spots and was 21st by time the opening pit sequence ended.

VeeKay passed Palou coming out of Turn 4 on Lap 22 before Palou got him back on Lap 27. This was all occurring right as the opening pit sequence was starting.

Palou pit for the first time on Lap 30. VeeKay stretched it to Lap 32. Third place starter, Felix Rosenqvist stretched his fuel to Lap 33. His teammate, Alexander Rossi went all the way to Lap 34.

That handed the lead back to Palou on Lap 35 as the first cycle ended. VeeKay was second. Rosenqvist, Rossi and Ferrucci were 3-4-5.

It was this opening stint to where it was clear – Chevrolet was getting the better fuel mileage and the longer you go, the better you would come out.

While Palou was leading, he was also just one of two Honda’s in the top nine now. There were six lined up behind him (VeeKay, Ferrucci, Rosenqvist, Rossi, O’Ward and Power). Ericsson went from 10th to 8th in his first stint while Newgarden entered the top 10 for the first time at this point in ninth.

On Lap 39, VeeKay passed Palou in Turn 3. He’d hold onto the top spot until Lap 47 when Palou passed VeeKay entering Turn 1.

Palou would now lead all the way until his second pit stop on Lap 61. VeeKay took the lead back as a result. The Dutch driver would get three extra laps on this stint over Palou, coming in on Lap 64.

Rosenqvist and O’Ward would go 1-2 next before Rosenqvist and Rossi pit on Lap 66. O’Ward pit one lap later on Lap 67. Will Power stretched his stint until Lap 68.

Rosenqvist inherited the lead once this sequence cycled through on Lap 69. A lap later, his teammate O’Ward passed him to spark a game of cat and mouse to try and save fuel even longer between the Arrow McLaren Racing duo by swapping the lead every three laps to help each conserve a fuel run and control this race.

It was O’Ward, Rosenqvist, VeeKay, Palou, Ferrucci, Rossi, Power, Newgarden, Ericsson and Sato in the top 10 on Lap 70.

Literally, every three laps, O’Ward and Rosenqvist swapped the top spot and it was all by design. If this stint would stay green, they’d have the advantage even more by going longer.

Then came the Lap 92 caution when rookie Sting Ray Robb crashed at the exit of Turn 1. He felt wronged by Graham Rahal.

That’s where the entire complexion of this race changed.

Callum Ilott had just pit before the caution and was shown the leader. His teammate Agustin Canapino was hit with a pit penalty for speeding. Christian Lundgaard was penalized for entering the wrong pit box. The biggest penalty occurred when VeeKay lost control of his car exiting his stall and ran directly into Palou while he was trying to exit his.

Palou was now outside the top 20 while running up front prior for the second consecutive year. VeeKay was penalize for a drive thru penalty also dropping him to outside the top 20.

At the midway point of this race, the Lap 100 restart, the order now was Ilott, Rosenqvist, O’Ward, Ferrucci, Power, Newgarden then Ericsson 1-7.

The Penske’s were now in the top six. Ericsson in seventh. Rosenqvist and O’Ward’s advantage was gone but they had another stint to get it back.

The problem is, with how the pit stops were occurring, this was going to be a massive fuel saving race again to the finish. O’Ward and Rosenqvist made quick way of Ilott and once again played together by swapping the lead every three laps.

How long could they extend their fuel mileage.

A third green flag pit sequence would occur. O’Ward pit though on Lap 129. This was when the found they had an issue with their fueling of the car. They didn’t get enough fuel in it the last time out and instead of pitting last, he was pitting first in this sequence.

Rookie Benjamin Pedersen was speeding on this pit sequence. Colton Herta ran into his teammate Romain Grosjean and was penalized for an unsafe release.

Rosenqvist pit on Lap 132, Ferrucci and Newgarden a lap later. Ericsson stretched his fuel the best going into Lap 134.

After this fourth pit cycle, Ericsson went from seventh to second with Rosenqvist now in the lead. Newgarden was now in third with Ferrucci in fourth, Rossi in fifth and by pitting too early, O’Ward dropped to sixth. The problem with O’Ward was, they once again didn’t get his car full of fuel. They’d have to pit short again this stint.

The McLaren’s were also now broken up on track. It was the two Swede’s now 1-2.

Ericsson passed Rosenqvist for the lead on Lap 137 and stayed there until the second caution of the day on Lap 150 for Romain Grosjean in Turn 2.

That helped O’Ward massively. It also set up a two strategy race. Everyone knew that had at least one more stop left but if you were going to make it on one more stop, you had to do a big fuel save on this stint. Others cut this stint in half. Why not pit here and be able to go all out.

On Lap 151 when the pits opened, O’Ward, Ed Carpenter, Takuma Sato, Scott McLaughlin, VeeKay, Tony Kanaan, Pedersen, Power, Ilott, Ryan Hunter-Reay, David Malukas, Helio Castroneves, Canapino, Herta and Marco Andretti all pit.

Among the 12 that didn’t was Ericsson, Newgarden, Rosenqvist, Rossi, Ferrucci, Kyle Kirkwood, Palou, Conor Daly, Dixon, Simon Pagenaud, Devlin DeFrancesco and Lundgaard.

The ones that pit, could go all out. The 12 that didn’t..fuel save.

Ericsson led the field to green but Newgarden passed him for the 36th lead change. Ericsson got him back a lap later. Ferrucci went from third to second and second to first on Lap 160. He’d lead until he pit for the final time on Lap 169.

On Lap 171, Ericsson, Newgarden, Rosenqvist and Kirkwood all pit.

On Lap 173, it was Rossi and Palou’s turn for their final pit stop.

That sparked the 40th lead change with Sato. He had to pit still and did so on Lap 175. That gave the lead back to O’Ward.

On Lap 176, Carpenter, Kanaan and McLaughlin pit. Carpenter was speeding.

O’Ward stretched his fuel until Lap 180 and finally came down for his final time. He blended in third actually among the group that was going to become the leaders with Ericsson and Newgarden.

Hunter-Reay was shown as the leader ahead of the pair of JHR cars of Ilott and Canapino.

Rosenqvist was battling with Newgarden on Lap 185 and when Newgarden passed him low, Rosenqvist lost it and shot into the Turn 1 SAFER barrier. While skidding down the south chute, he had no control of his car and Kyle Kirkwood had no way to avoid him. Kirkwood’s left rear tire slammed into Rosenqvist’s car and sent him upside down.

The first red flag flew.

At 3:30 p.m. locally, the 13-minute red flag was lifted. On Lap 187, the pits were opened at the top three (Hunter-Reay, Ilott and Canapino) all pit. That handed the lead over to O’Ward. He was followed on track by Ericsson, Newgarden, Rossi, Ferrucci, Palou, Carpenter, Dixon, VeeKay and Herta.

It was the same two as last year, O’Ward vs. Ericsson for the win again.

On the Lap 192 restart, Ericsson got a run on O’Ward. Newgarden got a run on both. He made it three-wide and took the lead in Turn 1. Ericsson settled into second. O’Ward went from first to third and got overzealous on the backstretch in trying to get Ericsson back. He crashed in Turn 3 trying to get second back.

“I just think I was a little too nice there,” O’Ward said. “I just feel so bummed for the team, we had very fast race cars.

“There were seven laps to go and I was going for it I was way too nice.

“I’ll make sure that he comes with me next time. I got on to the apron to give him room and I got squeezed, and yeah, I won’t forget that one.”

While sitting there, Canapino had no brakes and hit O’Ward. Behind that, McLaughlin punted Pagenaud which all that mess sparked a second red flag.

Now it was Newgarden as the leader with Ericsson behind.

On the Lap 196 restart, Ericsson used the second-place advantage to get by Newgarden. Behind another caution. Pedersen, Rahal and Carpenter involved.

Caution. Ericsson the leader, Newgarden in second. Ferrucci was in third.

Was this going to be it?

INDYCAR instead red flagged it for a third time of the race. That’s the most red flags in one Indy 500 outside of the weather factor, ever.

Ericsson was pissed saying this is a sport, not a show.

“I think it was a tough way to end the race,” he said. “I don’t really agree with how we did that. I don’t think that was a fair way to end the race. But I’m proud of our effort.

“I think it wasn’t enough laps to go to do what we did. I don’t think it’s safe to go out of the pits on cold tires for a restart when half the field is sort of still trying to get out on track when we go green.”

Tony Kanaan and Santino Ferrucci felt like it was the right call though.

“You know, it’s funny because obviously like you have guys like Santino and Marcus that are mad, and you have Josef that’s happy. But we need to think about the show,” Tony Kanaan said.

“The biggest complaint we have every year was we shouldn’t finish a race under the yellow. That’s going to hurt someone. Actually 33 guys are pissed right now and one guy is happy. That’s the reality.

“Could have they called it earlier? Yes. Could have, should have, would have, but we ended under green, and that’s what the fans kept asking us every time.

“I won under yellow, and everybody hated it at some point. Easy for me to say because I’m not in his shoes —

“I mean, look at this place. Do we really want to finish under yellow with all those people out there? For me, it was the right call.”

Ferrucci agreed.

“I don’t mind what INDYCAR did,” said the third placed finisher. “I think they did a great job. I agree with you, to the fans, and I said that earlier when someone asked me what I thought of the reds. It’s just I think Marcus has a slightly different opinion which is totally cool because he finished second.”

Now, Ericsson was going to have to try and pull the dragon maneuver like he did last year.

“I think it’s harder to lead this year with the aero specs we have,” Ericsson said earlier this month. “I think if you’re in the lead in a scenario like last year, it’s going to be harder to keep that lead is my feeling.”

He was right. He was a lame duck on the restart.

That’s why he made up a plan during the 11-minute red flag while sitting on pit road to figure out how to hold off Josef Newgarden.

 “I had a plan to try and keep the lead into (Turn) 1, so I tried to catch him by surprise on the restart by going really early, and I think I did that really, really well,” Ericsson said of the late restart.

Unfortunately, it was never going to work.

Newgarden played it perfectly and Ericsson could do nothing to hold him off on the backstretch.
Ericsson had to settle for second in his No. 8 Dallara-Honda.

“He just had too much of a tow on the back there, so I just couldn’t keep him behind. It’s hard when you get overtaken into 3,” Ericsson continued. “It’s sort of really hard to recover and get a run out of 4.

“I tried, sliding too much in 4; I just couldn’t really get enough there on the checkered.”

As far as why it worked last year and not this one, Ericsson says it’s all due to aero and ambient conditions.

 “I think the cars with the aero spec we had this week or this month was a bit harder to lead,” he says. “We’ve seen it all month, it’s hard to lead.

“I think last year was just a little bit less drag and I think with the ambient and everything, it was a little bit easier to be in the lead than today.

“I knew for that last restart it was going to be almost impossible to keep the lead. Like I said, I think I did a great job there on the restart of catching him by surprise and get a jump and not get overtaken into 1, because every restart it felt like P1 was going to P5 on every restart.

“I think I aced that restart, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”

Newgarden agreed. He said that it’s impossible to not use that dragon move because of the ease it is to follow one car. It got even tougher this year he noted.

“I think sitting in first place was even more difficult than what we’ve seen in years past, even just last year, and when I was able to get by him on the back straight I was actually really surprised how much momentum he still had in 3 and 4,” said the race winner, Newgarden.

“He was like super close and had a good run coming off 4, and with that, I thought, I’ve got to be as aggressive as possible to not let him by.

“Today we had an opportunity to win the race, and I wasn’t looking to take anyone else out of the race, but I was going to put my car on the line to win. I was either going to win the race or I’d end up in the wall. I wasn’t here to finish second, third, or fourth today. I was here to win.

“So I just did everything I could at the end there.”

The silver lining is that he now has a top two finish in each of the last two Indy 500’s and a top 10 finish in all six races run this season.

This is the ninth time the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner finished second the following year, with 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson placing second today. The last winner to finish runner-up the year after a win was Helio Castroneves in 2003.

“I feel disappointed because I think we did everything right,” Ericsson said. “Like I said, I think when that red came so late, I thought I was a bit too late, so I thought when the yellow came out with three laps to go, whatever, in my world we don’t restart that race.

“But no, it is what it is. You have to play with the cards you’re given, and I think we nailed it today. We did everything right. I did everything right.

“You can’t do more than that. Again, I think Josef is a worthy champion, and I congratulate him on that.

“But I just think it’s a bit tough to sort of accept how it ended. That’s my feeling after. But I’m very proud of our efforts and our performance today.”

“I don’t think it’s a fair way to end the race. I don’t think it’s a right way to end the race. So I can’t agree with that. I think it should have finished under yellow.”

Roger Penske has now won 19 Indianapolis 500 wins. Chip Ganassi has 6. What’s wild is, this is the first time that they have ever finished 1-2 in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Since Chip Ganassi Racing joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES full-time in 1990 (they were a co-entrant with 1989 winner Emerson Fittipaldi), they’ve won five times at Indy. Buddy Lazier (Hemelgarn) was second to Juan Montoya in 2000. Penske actually wasn’t there as they were in CART at the time.

They came back in 2001 and went 1-2. Ganassi’s top finisher was fourth that year with them being 4-5-6 actually. Michael Andretti (3rd place) was between. That and 2015 with Montoya and Power beating Charlie Kimball and Scott Dixon are the only instances to where it was a Penske vs. Ganassi show.

Penske has won 12 of their 19 Indy 500’s in this span between 1990 and now.

But, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The two teams have won each of the last 10 series championships. They’ve also won 5 of the 6 races this year and 39 of the 52 (75%) of the races with the Aeroscreen.

They now leave Indy and head to Detroit next week with five of the top six in points.