Newgarden won his first IndyCar championship by closing out the best year of his career as the top driver at Team Penske. He turned in a nearly flawless performance Sunday at Sonoma Raceway to prevent his three Penske teammates — as well as four-time champion Scott Dixon — from taking the title.
“I was using my natural instincts. I was trying to get Pagenaud there because that’s what I normally do, I try to win the race whenever possible,” Newgarden said. “I tried to get him, but I also tried not to do anything dumb for the team.