Josef Newgarden concluded one of his most difficult IndyCar campaigns in 2025, finishing 12th in the final championship standings. His struggles were largely tied to disruptions within Team Penske, which endured setbacks from a management reshuffle following their Indianapolis 500 qualifying disqualification.
Despite securing three podium finishes and winning the season finale in Nashville, these successes were not enough to overcome a streak of disappointing outcomes, resulting in Newgarden’s lowest championship ranking since 2014.
Yeah, I don’t think [the win at] Nashville really does anything, to be honest,
said Newgarden, downplaying the impact of the season-ending victory on his outlook for 2026.
Anticipating Organizational Shifts for the Upcoming Year
Looking ahead, Newgarden described the 2026 season as a “hard reset,” especially with the opening race scheduled soon on the St. Petersburg street circuit. He acknowledged that while the team’s core personnel—the “heart” of Team Penske—remain familiar, significant structural changes are underway.
“I was just happy the year was over. Yeah, I think it will be a hard reset, for sure, when you come to St. Pete,”
Newgarden explained.
“A lot of that is not changing. It will very much be Team Penske like we’ve always known it. Some of the structure is going to be different. Some of the way we different will be a little bit different.”
He also expressed optimism about the benefits of these changes, emphasizing the team’s commitment to improve and evolve.
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.
The Challenge of Restoring Consistency
Consistency has long been a defining strength of Newgarden’s career, contributing to his two championships and multiple top finishes between 2017 and 2022. However, the inconsistency that marked the recent season also affected his performance and mindset, compounding difficulties across races.
At 35 years old, Newgarden is focused on reclaiming the steadiness that has brought him success in the past, making it his primary goal for 2026.
To be more consistent, he said, noting the importance of avoiding repeated setbacks.
“For us we just can’t have as many bad results as we had. There’s a lot of them that could have been different. They’re not. 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.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The upcoming race on the streets of St. Petersburg will mark the start of a pivotal year for both Newgarden and Team Penske, with many eyes on whether the team can harness their changes to regain competitiveness. Newgarden’s candid admission of the need for a “hard reset” underlines the urgency to reverse this downturn and sets the tone for a season defined by rebuilding and renewed focus.
