Birmingham, AL (SportsNetwork.com) – Josef Newgarden became a first-time race
winner in the IndyCar Series after holding off a hard-charging Graham Rahal in
the closing laps of Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber
Motorsports Park.
Newgarden, the driver of the No. 67 Chevrolet for CFH Racing, hails from
Hendersonville, Tennessee, which is located roughly 230 miles north of this
2.3-mile, 17-turn road course. He grabbed the lead for the first time on lap
22 and ran in front for a race-high 46 laps, including the final 21.
Rahal, in the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, overtook Scott
Dixon, last weekend’s race winner in Long Beach, California, for second place
on the final lap, but Rahal ended up crossing the finish line 2.2 seconds
behind Newgarden.
The 24-year-old Newgarden scored his maiden IndyCar victory in his 55th career
start. He became the fourth different winner in as many races this season,
joining Juan Pablo Montoya (St. Petersburg), James Hinchcliffe (NOLA
Motorsports Park) and Dixon.
CFH Racing is a new team in IndyCar this season. Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
and Ed Carpenter Racing merged to form the team during the offseason.
Dixon wound up placing third. The three-time IndyCar champion has finished on
the podium in all six races at Barber. He has yet to win here.
Will Power, the defending series champion, finished fourth, while Ryan Hunter-
Reay, who won at Barber the previous two years, was fifth.
