Defending Verizon IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden starts today’s Kohler Grand Prix from the pole, but is fighting an uphill battle in the points.
Newgarden currently sits fifth in the championship, 68 points behind leader Scott Dixon. In his 2017 title run, he came into Road America in seventh 49 points out of the lead. His P2 finish in the Kohler Grand Prix and a series of wins saw him climb to the top of the points and stay there.
With that in mind, Newgarden remains cool and collected going forward with the second half of the season.
“I think there’s a long way to go,” he told the NBCSN broadcast crew. “You can have a tale of two seasons… Those last four races can completely change everything.”
Even still, Newgarden acknowledges that now is the time to gain a sense of consistency after a pair of tough races in Detroit and Texas.
“I don’t think we need to panic on points, I do think we need to get back into the game. We need to have ourselves a solid day today. Do we need to win and keep winning races for the next five races out? I don’t think it’s that panicked.”
Having the fastest car on the grid throughout a tricky qualifying session can only help in this bid to make up points position.
“I think we’ve got a winning car underneath us,” Newgarden said. “We’re going to find out in just a little bit.”
Josef Newgarden will lead the field to the green alongside Team Penske teammate Will Power in Sunday afternoon’s Kohler Grand Prix at Road America.
