Josef Newgarden was quietly leading the Iowa 2 GP when he lost the rear end of his car and the American driver became just a passenger
Josef Newgarden had everything to win again in Iowa. After triumphing in the Iowa 1 GP on Saturday, the American overtook teammate Will Power, who started from the pole position, and was leading the race until lap 235 at the oval. It was then that a mechanical problem ended his race.
Something broke and the rear end of his Penske quickly lost contact with the asphalt. Newgarden was thrown into the wall at the exit of turn 4 on a very strong impact. The American got out of the car unhurt, but with a big loss in the championship race.
Josef was in a great position to take the lead of Indy and win his fifth victory. With the crash, he lost his 53 points and leaves the second race with only 8 points.
McLaren's Mexican Pato O'Ward took the lead of the race, with Power in second place and Scott Dixon third. The race resumed on lap 249, and Scott McLaughlin, also of Penske, took advantage of the moment to overtake Scott Dixon for third.