Chevrolet takes aim at another win at Road America

DETROIT (June 19, 2019) – Josef Newgarden enters the second half of the NTT IndyCar Series season with momentum, confidence in himself and crew and the championship lead.

Newgarden has three victories and four additional top-five finishes to his points ledger through nine races. The driver of the No. 2 REV Group Team Penske Chevrolet will seek to solidify his top contender status in the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR on the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course, where he won in 2018.

“We’re in a good spot, there’s no secret about that. But it’s early,” said Newgarden, who is coming off a victory June 8 on the Texas Motor Speedway oval. “I think we’ve got good cars. I always feel we can win anywhere we go. We just got to keep doing what we’re doing. It’s a little early to predict where everything will finish up. If we keep doing as we did in the first half of the season, we’re going to be looking to challenge for a championship.”

Drivers powered by the 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, fuel-injection Chevrolet V6 engine have won two of the three races and all three poles since the NTT IndyCar Series returned to the facility in northern Wisconsin after an eight-year absence.

Newgarden dominated the 55-lap race last June, earning the pole position and leading 53 of the 55 laps. He was the runner-up in 2017 on the way to earning the driver championship and placed eighth in ’16.

“There are tracks where you’re historically good, you go there and have an off year,” he said. “Things change, tires change, the car changes. We’ve just got to stay alert and aware of where we’re good and where we’re not.

“What I mean by that is it’s never guaranteed where you’re going to be good for the second half of the season. I think you just got to be open-minded that there might be some tracks we weren’t good at in the past, maybe we’re good at this year, just capitalize when you can. You have to take advantage of the opportunities when you have a good car. I think you got to stay consistent throughout. You got to stay on top of your game.”

Teammate Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, won from the pole in 2016 at Road America. He led 46 of the 50 laps in the 10th race of the season.

Tony Kanaan, driving the No. 14 ABC Supply Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing, will seek to move into second on the all-time list of Indy car starts with 370, breaking a tie with the team owner. Kanaan will also aim to make his Indy car record-extending 310th consecutive start – a streak that started in 2001 at Portland.

NBC will telecast the race live at 12 p.m. ET June 23. A Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport will lead the field to the green flag.