The NTT IndyCar Series is about to hold its championship-deciding finale from Long Beach this weekend, and all three drivers still in the running have maintained a respectful relationship right to the end.
Some other racing series make headlines due to scuffles and animosity both on and off the track, but IndyCar seems to have built a fellowship among its drivers in recent years.
There are some heated moments, of course, but in general grudges are not held for more than a few laps and drivers are often seen enjoying each other’s company as soon as the checkered flag flies.
Josef Newgarden, Pato O’Ward, and Alex Palou in particular have gotten along well, all while being involved in the fight for the championship that is yet to be decided with only one race remaining.
Heading into the Long Beach weekend, all three title contenders pointed to the respect among each other as one of the best aspects of the fight.
“You know, I think it’s a very respectful championship when you look at it, which is I think the beauty in IndyCar racing,” said Newgarden in a media session before the season finale.
“You have such a fierce environment where you have the best of the best in my opinion from around the world that want to compete every weekend, want to be the best and be on top. But we do it in such a respectful way.
“You have great drivers that I think they push to the limit, but they don’t try and go over it, certainly not purposely.
“The hardest working group and the group that gets it right is the group that’s going to be victorious, and that’s what we all focus on. It’s a really pleasant environment to be in.
“It’s one thing I love about this championship and being a part of it. It’s a real pleasure.”
Newgarden is the least likely of the trio to be crowned champion, as he sits well behind Palou in the overall standings.
O’Ward is a bit closer, but will also need the current leader to have an uncharacteristically poor performance in order to have a chance at reclaiming the top spot.
Despite having everything to play for, the young driver feels the same respect and comradery among his rivals week in and week out.
“It’s nice to fight against people that you can respect and that you can really trust whenever you’re racing at 100 something miles an hour heading into a corner where things can go sideways very badly,” said O’Ward.
“You can just compete against them fairly. I feel like it’s a little bit of what Josef said. I just think the respect, at least from all of us that have been in the fight all year, is strong.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable when you can actually compete against someone and not always have to give in because you know that they’re just going to stick their nose in and ship you into the wall if you don’t give them their way.
“I hope they feel the same from me because I always try and be fair.”
Palou echoed his rivals’ sentiments, pointing to his friendships that he has developed in the past couple years as part of the reason he enjoys the series so much.
“I would say 90% of the grid you can trust, and it’s super fun, and just before getting into this room we were talking about supermarket experiences with Pato, and I think that’s what separates this series to another series.
“I’ve been lucky to race in Europe and experience in Europe, and the atmosphere with the drivers, it’s nowhere near to what we have here.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, we are super friends and we’re just having a good weekend.’ No, we are fighting on track and we are not friends anymore on track, but out of it we respect all each other. So yeah, it’s good stuff.”
