Team Penske is definitely back.

After a strong showing in St Pete, they came off the truck strong.  In practice Malukas was the class of the field and carried that into qualifying with the NTT P1 Pole Award.  The surprise of qualifying was the rookie Mick Shumacher who on this first race on an oval grabbed 4th on the grid just behind his veteran teammate Graham Rahal. 

The first surprise of the days came when series Campion Alex Palou crashed out on lap 10.  For the first time in months Palou was not going to lead the Championship.

Malukas lead the early laps until 73 when the lead rotated thru with on track passes and pit stops.

The most amazing save in my years of watching IndyCar  occurred when Dennis Hauger lost the rear of the car and looked to be heading for the wall.  When the car got turned around Dennis got on the clutch to disengage the motor and steered out of the spin to steer the car down the straight in reverse.  He kept the car straight as the field drove toward him until as he entered the next turn Hauger was able to J turn and continue back to the pits for fresh tires.

At this point Rasmussen was looking like he was in control when he came up on Will Power who was having a great race after a poor qualifying.  Will looked to be on this normal line moving to the high line when Christian closed up on Power with his front wing slicing Powers rear tire.  The impact took Rasmussen up into the wall and damaged his suspension.  He pushed on but started moving down the field.   

Kirkwood with Newgarden behind him were surging thru the pack as Christian was falling.  With 2 laps to go Newgarden was able to pull of the pass and get back to winning ways.

Kirkwood finished 2nd and pole setter Malukas completed the podium.

“I’m very surprised,” Newgarden said. “In the middle of the race, I don’t know that I was fully

believing that we had the capability to win. We just kept working through it, and I’m like, ‘Look, if

we get another opportunity, we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be on the offense.’

“We took tires, and the thing was like a rocket ship when it needed to be, right at the end of the race. Hats off to the whole crew. I’m pumped.”

Story Chuck Null

Photos Betty and Ralph Garcia