This is the first time in twelve participations that the 32-year-old driver, IndyCar champion in 2017 and 2019, wins the legendary event. He now has two wins this season, after the Texas Grand Prix, and 26 since the beginning of his career in this discipline.

"Everyone was asking me why I hadn't won this race yet. You're considered a dud if you don't win it. I wanted so badly to win it," said the emotional winner, who was just ahead of Sweden's Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi), second, and American Santino Ferrucci (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) third.

At the end of the suspense, it ended with an explosion of joy in the Penske camp, while its driver ran to treat himself to a crowd bath in the stands with the fans, before dousing himself with milk and not champagne, as is the tradition at Indy.

Enough to contrast with the frustration legitimately felt by Ericsson, former F1 driver who came close to a double after his triumph last year. Because the Swede was back in the lead, after a third red flag brandished in the last 16 laps, with only two to go, before finally being sucked by Newgarden.

The Kirkwood Miracle

"Congratulations to Josef, he's a worthy champion, but I'm very disappointed with the way the race ended," he said.

An epilogue indeed improbable, to the advantage of the American who took advantage of many racing incidents.

Among these, with 16 laps to go, the car of Kyle Kirkwood (A.J. Foyt Enterprises) turned over after hitting the wall, failing to avoid the McLaren of Felix Rosenqvist who had gone to the fault.

The American driver was finally able to get out of his car unscathed. And one of its wheels, torn off in the impact, crossed the protective fence, without reaching the spectators. A miracle.

With fourteen laps to go, Newgarden, in ambush, then passed Pato O'Ward who had inherited the first place after this crash. On whereup, the Mexican lost control of his McLaren, whose left rear road was slightly hit by Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi), and hit the wall quite violently.

In the peloton, Frenchman Simon Pagenaud (Meyer Shank) then 11th, started in the lead, after being jostled at the back by New Zealander Scott McLaughlin (Penske). He had to retire, like his compatriot Romain Grosjean (Andretti) after a slight accident three-quarters of the way through the race.

Palou, hopes soared

In the lead, with six laps to go after yet another new start, Newgarden was then overtaken by Ericsson, but a collision involving several cars from the background still stopped their momentum, forcing the race stewards to wave the red flag a third time, with the rest that we know...

The American, who had started from 17th place, also benefited from clashes, all the more rare coming from the pit line as they occurred three times.

On lap 95, starting again after refueling, after a minor accident that had first neutralized the race, Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi), then in the lead after starting from pole position, was hit by his pursuer Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing) who had just lost control of his car.

Enough to make the hopes of victory of both of them soar, the Spaniard still finishing 4th and the Dutchman 10th.

And on lap 134, Colton Herta (Andretti) did the same at the expense of his teammate Romain Grosjean, with no other damage than losing a lot of time.

Earlier, it was England's Katherine Legge (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) who almost crushed members of a team by moving on the wall after a spin near the pit stop.

© 2023 AFP