Newgarden: “If you try to predict the race, it does the opposite”
Mid-Ohio pole-winner Josef Newgarden’s is not prepared to make strategy predictions for tomorrow’s Honda Indy 200 – unless there are zero yellow flags.
Team Penske-Chevrolet’s two-time champion, who has now won three straight poles but is still seeking his first win, believes the 80 lap race will be a straightforward two-stop affair… unless caution periods turn the field inside out.
Asked about strategy, he said: “Depends on the yellows. Outside of yellows, if it's a green race, it looks pretty straightforward… But if you try and predict the race, it does the opposite sometimes.
“So it could be all green or we could have five yellows. You just don't know. I think yellows are always what flip the script on these things. If it's green all day, it looks pretty straightforward.”
Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta, who fell just 0.0031sec short of deposing Newgarden, said tire strategy, regarding how long to run on the Firestone primaries and alternate tires, would depend on how much rubber was on the track, on a weekend where all three Road To Indy series have multiple sessions.
“Every stint, the more rubber that goes down, the easier it gets on the tires,” he said. “But I think tire wear, we’re pretty confident with it. I don't think it's going to be anything like Detroit… The more rubber goes down, the easier it can be to manage the tires.”
Regarding caution periods throwing a grenade into strategic plans, Herta conceded “you can't really do much about it,” since a leading team and driver have to somewhat respond to those who make an early stop, so that if a caution period comes out and bunches the field and closes the pits, they haven’t handed over the lead to one of the early stoppers.
Herta explained further: “If you're running up front, you kind of usually wait for some guys to pit before you and pit when you can. So kind of hope, pray. But I don't think you put yourself in a good position if you pit five laps before you normally would; you shoot yourself in the foot for later.
“It's a tough one up front. I think luckily now in Race Control they've been open to the idea of kind of keeping it green if the [spun] car is not in a dangerous area. Obviously if it's in a dangerous area, then they'll put out the caution.
“It’s very tough [if] you're in a race winning position and get taken off with a yellow. It's difficult.”
Newgarden added: “Obviously Race Control doesn't want to dictate races. Puts them in a tough spot. I think they hate having to throw a yellow and it flips the world upside down for the top 5 who have worked hard to get there and deserve to stay there. So they don't want to influence the race.
“But to Colton's point, you can only do so much in the rule sets that we have because it's a closed pit situation. If there's a car in harm's way, they've got to throw the yellow immediately. If they can't, I think they try and do everything possible to give the teams an opportunity to pit, which is about the best you can do with this set of rules.
“If we want to make it even better, you know, where we mitigate the risk of your race being ruined by a yellow, then we've got to change the rules. We've got to figure out how to do that safely. That's another conversation.
“But as far as how we approach the day, to Colton's point, you can only do so much. There's some areas where you can lower your risk of getting caught by the yellow, but then there's some areas where you just can't do anything about it. You've got to focus on your strategy that you have kind of gone with. If you get bit by it, it sucks to get bit by it. That's the nature of this style of racing at the moment.”
Newgarden later emphasized: “When [caution periods] purely take you out of the top 10, when you're up there on merit, it's a hard pill to swallow. But like I said, it's the rule sets we live in right now. It's the style of racing we're used to. We know the drill.
“If we want to make that better, we have to change the rules one day.”

Mid-Ohio IndyCar: Newgarden beats Herta to pole by 0.0031sec
Mid-Ohio IndyCar: Dixon leads Herta, Grosjean in final practice

Latest news
IndyCar at World Wide Technology Raceway – weekend schedule
The 2022 NTT IndyCar Series’ 15th round at Gateway’s WWT Raceway is supported by Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and USAC Silver Crown. Here's the full weekend schedule.
Power “even more calm than he’s shown” says strategist
IndyCar championship leader Will Power has kept his cool even better than has been portrayed in public, according to his strategist and Team Penske manager Ron Ruzewski.
IndyCar at Gateway: Start time, how to watch, entry list & more
All you need to know ahead of the 15th of 17 rounds in the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Castroneves on 2022: Difficult to teach an old dog a new trick
Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves says returning to full-time IndyCar racing two years into the aeroscreen era has left him playing catch-up but positive about the future.
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
In an enthralling 2021 IndyCar campaign, the series bounced back from its COVID-19 truncated year prior and series sophomore Alex Palou defeated both the established order and his fellow young guns to clinch a maiden title. It capped a remarkable season with plenty of standout performers
How Marcus Ericsson finally unlocked his potential in IndyCar
Marcus Ericsson enjoyed a breakout year in the IndyCar Series in 2021, winning twice and finishing sixth in points with Chip Ganassi Racing. How did he finally unlock the potential that was masked by five years of toil in Formula 1 with Caterham and Sauber/Alfa Romeo?
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing win
Saturday, Oct. 16th, marks the 10th anniversary Dan Wheldon’s death. David Malsher-Lopez pays tribute, then asks Wheldon’s race engineer from 2011, Todd Malloy, to recall that magical second victory at the Indianapolis 500.
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Jack Harvey’s move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing sparked plenty of debate, but their combined strength could prove golden, says David Malsher-Lopez.
Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting
Kyle Kirkwood, the record-setting junior formula driver, sealed the Indy Lights championship last weekend. But despite an absurdly strong résumé and scholarship money, his next move is far from clear. By David Malsher-Lopez.
2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star
Alex Palou has captured Chip Ganassi Racing's 14th IndyCar drivers' championship, and in truly stellar manner. David Malsher-Lopez explains what made the Palou-Ganassi combo so potent so soon.
Why Grosjean's oval commitment shows he's serious about IndyCar
One of motorsport’s worst-kept secrets now out in the open, and Romain Grosjean has been confirmed as an Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver in 2022. It marks a remarkable turnaround after the abrupt end to his Formula 1 career, and is a firm indication of his commitment to challenge for the IndyCar Series title
IndyCar’s longest silly-season is still at fever pitch
The 2021 IndyCar silly season is one of the silliest of all, but it’s satisfying to see so many talented drivers in play – including Callum Ilott. David Malsher-Lopez reports.