Simon Pagenaud denied Josef Newgarden the perfect weekend, though it won't matter much to the 26-year-old who claimed his maiden IndyCar championship on Sunday evening at Sonoma as he did everything he needed to do.
The Sonoma victory went to Team Penske's Pagenaud – taking the season finale victory for the second straight year – with team-mate Newgarden in second place, just one second adrift as they crossed the finish line.
That was enough though for points leader heading into the event Newgarden to snatch the series title in his 100th career race, making him the first American to win the championship since Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2012, earning Team Penske their 15th title.
Will Power gave Team Penske a podium sweep by placing third whilst Scott Dixon finished fourth for Chip Ganassi Racing to clinch third in the standings, 21 points behind Newgarden.
The race ran caution-free for the first time in Sonoma Raceway history. Newgarden and Pagenaud each led 41 of the 85 laps on the 12-turn, 2.385-mile road course. Pagenaud opted for a four-stop strategy to Newgarden’s three pit stops, but the Frenchman made up the time by running faster laps on open track.
The decisive moment of the race came when Pagenaud made his final stop for fuel and tires from the lead on Lap 64. He returned to the track just ahead of the charging Newgarden and held on to first place as the teammates battled around the track. Once Pagenaud’s tires reached proper temperature, he was able to keep Newgarden in his mirrors to the finish.
Helio Castroneves wrapped up fourth in the championship by finishing fifth in the race. Completing his 20th year racing Indy cars, the 42-year-old Brazilian is still in search of a first series championship.
By finishing third in the race, Power – the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series champion – earned fifth place in the standings.
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