Josef Newgarden may be very content material together with his life as a perennial IndyCar Collection contender however there are very particular NASCAR issues he needs to do sometime regardless of how traditionally unrealistic it could be.
The now 35-year-old two-time IndyCar Collection champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner is driving the tempo automobile on Saturday within the Bristol Night time Race in his native Tennessee. His NASCAR teammate, Austin Cindric, says driving the tempo automobile across the high-banked half mile is barely going to offer him the itch to drive quicker sometime.
As Newgarden tells it, he’s had the itch ever since coming to races as a youngster and even drove an experiential automobile across the monitor early in his profession.
“I imply, if I had a possibility to drive a Cup automobile, it will be right here at Bristol, 100%,” Newgarden mentioned earlier than The Night time Race. “In all probability something in that half a mile to a mile size; I lobe quick monitor racing.
“That’s what I would like. I feel Richmond can be superb to drive and I nonetheless assume we have to go to Richmond with IndyCar as properly. But when I drive a Cup Collection automobile, Bristol can be on the prime of my record.”
It might be such a tall activity as a result of Newgarden’s pals within the storage have advised him it’s the worst place to make a Cup debut. However that is what he wish to do greater than something in NASCAR.
“I feel this takes a singular set of expertise that you should develop,” Newgarden mentioned. “So it is a exhausting monitor, I feel, to overcome, since you see the races right here and it’s so frantic.”
Newgarden isn’t the primary driver below the Workforce Penske banner to say he wished to make a one-off inside a NASCAR self-discipline. When Will Energy received the Indianapolis 500, he thought that may give him leverage to make Roger Penske budge.
Helio Castroneves requested for years. That was a futile train. It didn’t occur till he left and joined Mike Shank’s staff. Sam Hornish made the transition however that was after success in IRL and successful the Indianapolis 500.
Newgarden doesn’t anticipate it to occur below Penske’s watch, realistically.
“I’ve a job and a job to take care of,” Newgarden mentioned. “I imply, IndyCar racing, it is nice to be within the place that I am in. I really like my aspect of the game. I wish to do extra however the panorama is totally different than it was 30-40 years in the past.”
Newgarden mentioned disciplines are simply a lot extra specialised and Newgarden diverting any focus, and Penske diverting any focus away from the IndyCar Collection, in the end isn’t a justification to make it occur.
“I receives a commission a very good sum of money to verify I execute on race day in an Indy automobile for my staff and to guide the staff in the suitable course and to maintain every part in line,” Newgarden mentioned. “And in order that’s exhausting sufficient and to remove from that program. I perceive the problem in attempting to say ‘sure’ when somebody says, ‘Hey, I wish to go have enjoyable and take a look at one thing totally different.’
“On the similar time, on the opposite aspect of that’s I feel it’s also good for the game.”
Enter: Kyle Larson.
Finally, Newgarden simply isn’t prepared to rock the boat as a result of he acknowledges the alternatives inherent in driving within the IndyCar Collection for Workforce Penske. It’s one of the vital coveted seats in motorsports.
He’s labored his whole life to be an IndyCar Collection driver and says he by no means as soon as thought of leaving it to do one thing — like NASCAR or Components 1.
“I’m so centered on our program,” Newgarden mentioned. “I imply, genuinely I’m very lucky to be within the seat that I’m. I am having a good time. I really like working with my crew. I simply find it irresistible. I really like exhibiting up and getting the chance to go to work each weekend with the No. 2 automobile that I am coping with, and actually our entire staff at Workforce Penske on the IndyCar aspect.
“I find it irresistible. I do not see (me) doing the rest, however I am a race automobile driver. Would I like to go run a Cup race? Completely. In order that’s by no means going to vary. Possibly sooner or later sooner or later, if issues change or I wind down, possibly that may current itself. I’d love to try this sooner or later however I don’t see when that may current itself for fairly awhile.”
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