Josef Newgarden looks to reclaim his domain at World Wide Technology Raceway

Josef Newgarden is arguably the king of World Wide Technology Raceway, and this weekend’s trip to the 1.25-mile oval couldn't come at a better time. The two-time series champion is still recovering from a left foot injury sustained during the Indianapolis 500. After struggling to 10th in Detroit, where he admitted his physical condition hindered his performance, the reduced demands of this short oval are exactly what he needs.

His history here is nothing short of dominant. Since joining Team Penske in 2017, Newgarden has led 27.2 percent of the laps run at the track—that is 650 out of 2,394 total laps. Despite crashing out of two of the last three races, he has mastered this circuit with wins in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024. He has been a force in qualifying as well, helping Team Penske secure seven of the last eight poles.

While Newgarden remains the clear favorite, the competition is hungry. Pato O’Ward has finished second here four times, and David Malukas is looking to secure his first career win at a track where he previously earned a podium finish. Keep a close eye on Christian Rasmussen, who has been a revelation on short ovals this year, alongside proven winners like Scott Dixon and Will Power, who all aim to spoil the royal homecoming.