Josef Newgarden Seeks Reset After Penske's Tough Year

Two-time IndyCar champion looks to rebound in 2026 after finishing 12th in 2025 standings.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 5:39pm

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Josef Newgarden, a two-time IndyCar series champion and two-time Indy 500 winner, is coming off his worst season since 2014, finishing 12th in the 2025 standings. Newgarden and his Team Penske squad are aiming for a 'hard reset' in 2026 to regain their consistency and return to the top of the series.

Why it matters

Newgarden is one of the most accomplished drivers in IndyCar, so his struggles in 2025 were surprising. As a key part of the powerhouse Team Penske organization, Newgarden's performance is crucial to the team's overall success. The team as a whole underperformed in 2025, opening the door for rivals like Arrow McLaren to emerge as the top Chevrolet team.

The details

Newgarden finished outside the top 10 in the standings for the first time since 2014, failing to win multiple races in a season for the first time since 2016. He did not finish five races, including the Indianapolis 500, where he was seeking a third straight victory. Newgarden's only win came in the season-ending race in Nashville.

  • Newgarden will test at Phoenix Raceway on February 17-18, 2026.
  • The 2026 IndyCar season begins on March 1 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The players

Josef Newgarden

A two-time IndyCar series champion and two-time Indy 500 winner, Newgarden is one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport. He is entering his 10th season with powerhouse Team Penske.

Team Penske

The legendary IndyCar team that fields cars for Newgarden and other top drivers. The team struggled as a whole in 2025, with Newgarden's 12th-place finish being the worst of the Penske drivers.

Will Power

The former Penske driver who has since left for Andretti Global, finished ninth as the team's best driver in 2025.

Scott McLaughlin

The Penske driver who failed to win a race for the first time since 2021.

Pato O'Ward

The Arrow McLaren driver who finished second in the 2025 standings, helping his team outperform Penske as the top Chevrolet team.

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What they’re saying

“We just can't have as many bad results as we had. There's a lot of (races) that could have been different. So, we've just got to focus on being more consistent. It's kind of simple to say that, but that's just what it will come down to. If we don't want to finish 12th in the standings, we've got to finish more races.”

— Josef Newgarden

“I mean, I don't think Nashville really does anything, to be honest. I was just happy the year was over. I think it will be a hard reset, for sure, when you come to St. Pete.”

— Josef Newgarden

“We can just improve some of the things that we've been doing. We're going to look to be better versions of ourselves coming into this year. We obviously hold ourselves very accountable for a high standard. We're trying to just be the best versions of ourselves as we possibly can. So we'll see as we get into the year what our work has proved out in this offseason.”

— Josef Newgarden

What’s next

Newgarden will test at Phoenix Raceway on February 17-18, 2026 before the season begins on March 1 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The takeaway

After a disappointing 2025 season, Josef Newgarden and Team Penske are determined to bounce back in 2026 and regain their status as one of the top teams and drivers in the IndyCar series. Improved consistency and avoiding bad luck will be key to Newgarden returning to championship form.