Newgarden praises strategists, pit crew for positive showing at Detroit

From 21st to 10th: that was Josef Newgarden’s improbable rise on Sunday as he protected his car and injured foot during the opening stages of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and pounced as the opportunities presented themselves throughout a carnage-filled afternoon in Michigan.

It was a heady, strong-willed effort by the Team Penske IndyCar veteran, who began the race at the rear of the field and ended it as the team’s top finisher.

"They just used me up is what it kind of felt like whenever they could, so I felt like I was in defense mode most of the race, and certainly there at the end I was in defense mode,” Newgarden said. “I was just trying to protect the car more than anything. The team did an amazing job, just an amazing job to get the car where I could get in it and drive. They did a great race. The only reason we finished where we did is because of what the team did. Great strategy. Great pit stops.”

Penske had its Porsche IMSA GTP driver Felipe Nasr on standby to deputize for the injured Newgarden if necessary, but he gutted his way through the three-day event after suffering an immense crash in the Indianapolis 500 that left him with an undisclosed foot injury. He'll soon head to the World Wide Technology Raceway oval, where he’s an automatic favorite to win.

“We were in the race,” Newgarden said of Detroit, “and now we can go on to the next one."