Josef Newgarden, the current reigning Indianapolis 500 champion, secured a victory at the prestigious Daytona race alongside his teammates from Porsche Penske Motorsport. However, this newfound success has only sparked a greater ambition within Newgarden – he now dreams of conquering the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Newgarden, who is part of Roger Penske’s powerhouse IndyCar team, acknowledges that his victory at Daytona doesn’t automatically guarantee him a spot at Le Mans. Despite this, his desire to compete at the legendary endurance race is evident. “I’m a race car driver. I would like to compete everywhere just like the guys next to me. They’re eager to sign up and be a part of a program,” Newgarden expressed. “This is probably one of the coolest programs in the world that you can be a part of. But yeah, one day Le Mans would be amazing to take a trek over and try and win.”
While Newgarden is proud of his role in the team’s triumph at Daytona, he remains humble and recognizes the collective effort that led to the victory. He emphasizes the exceptional teamwork exhibited by full-season drivers Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr, as well as his teammate Matt Campbell, who will be competing in the World Endurance Championship this year.
“I’ve got to be honest, it’s a little awkward for me because I feel like I’m just hanging out with this really great group of people that ended up winning a race,” Newgarden admitted. “And I just happened to be there in a lot of ways.”
Newgarden believes that the triumph at Daytona belongs to the larger collective of individuals within Porsche and Team Penske who worked diligently to secure the victory. He acknowledges the iconic status of Porsche as a brand and the legacy of success associated with Team Penske. “It’s an iconic brand with Porsche and an iconic team with Team Penske, a deep legacy between the two, and they’re very deserving of this victory,” Newgarden declared.
As an experienced open-wheel racer, Newgarden admits that his transition to sportscar racing and the team dynamic has been a profound and emotional experience. The camaraderie and support he feels from his teammates have left him feeling a sense of pride and a true connection with the team. “I’ve driven open wheel cars for the last 12 years, and you’re very singular focused in a lot of ways in that sport, and over here I feel like I’ve got family that I’m just really proud of,” Newgarden confessed. “I felt like that at the end of the race. I could cry thinking about it.”
While Newgarden’s journey to Le Mans may still be uncertain, his determination and aspiration continue to fuel his pursuit of success. With his impressive pedigree and drive to compete at the highest level, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Josef Newgarden fulfill his dream of conquering the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future.
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