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Josef Newgarden, a dominant force in the IndyCar Series and a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, openly admits to a lingering ambition to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series race, with the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway topping his wishlist. However, the reigning IndyCar champion, currently focused on his commitments with Team Penske, understands the significant hurdles and slim chances of such a cross-discipline endeavor materializing in the near future.
Newgarden, 35, found himself at Bristol Motor Speedway this past Saturday, not as a competitor, but as the pace car driver for the highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Night Race. This role, while a significant honor and a chance to connect with his Tennessee roots, only served to amplify his long-held desire to experience the thrill of a Cup car on a short track. His NASCAR counterpart and teammate at Team Penske, Austin Cindric, voiced his belief that the pace car stint would inevitably "give him the itch to drive faster someday."
The sentiment is one Newgarden has harbored for years. He recounts attending races as a teenager and even piloting an experiential vehicle around Bristol early in his career, solidifying his fascination with the track’s unique character. "I mean, if I had an opportunity to drive a Cup car, it would be here at Bristol, 100 percent," Newgarden stated in pre-race interviews. "Probably anything in that half a mile to a mile length; I love short track racing." He elaborated, "That’s what I would prefer. I think Richmond would be amazing to drive and I still think we need to go to Richmond with IndyCar as well. But if I drive a Cup Series car, Bristol would be at the top of my list."
Despite his strong inclination, Newgarden is acutely aware of the daunting challenge a NASCAR debut would present, particularly at a venue as demanding as Bristol. Friends within the NASCAR garage have cautioned him that Bristol is widely considered one of the most unforgiving tracks for a maiden Cup appearance. "I think this takes a unique set of skills that you need to develop," Newgarden acknowledged. "So it’s a hard track, I think, to conquer, because you see the races here and it’s so frantic."
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This aspiration echoes a recurring theme among Team Penske drivers. Both Will Power and Helio Castroneves, after significant IndyCar achievements, expressed desires for one-off NASCAR appearances. Power, following his 2018 Indianapolis 500 victory, reportedly sought to leverage that success for a NASCAR opportunity. Castroneves, a four-time Indy 500 winner, pursued a NASCAR drive for years before eventually making a move after departing Team Penske. Similarly, Sam Hornish Jr. transitioned from IndyCar success, including an Indy 500 win, to a Cup Series career.
However, Newgarden’s perspective on his own situation is tempered by a realistic understanding of the current landscape and his contractual obligations. He doesn’t anticipate Team Penske owner Roger Penske sanctioning such a move under his current IndyCar tenure. "I have a job and a role to look after," Newgarden explained. "I mean, IndyCar racing, it’s great to be in the position that I’m in. I love my side of the sport. I would like to do more but the landscape is different than it was 30-40 years ago."
The modern era of motorsport, according to Newgarden, is characterized by a heightened degree of specialization. Diverting focus, either his own or that of Team Penske, away from the IndyCar Series, he believes, is difficult to justify given the team’s commitment and his own responsibilities. "I get paid a good amount of money to make sure I execute on race day in an Indy car for my team and to lead the team in the right direction and to keep everything in line," he stated. "And so that’s hard enough and to take away from that program. I understand the difficulty in trying to say ‘yes’ when someone says, ‘Hey, I want to go have fun and try something different.’ At the same time, on the other side of that is I think it is also good for the sport."
The success of drivers like Kyle Larson, who has demonstrated prowess in both NASCAR and sprint car racing, highlights the potential for cross-discipline talent, but Newgarden emphasizes his current priorities. Ultimately, Newgarden is unwilling to jeopardize his highly coveted position within Team Penske’s IndyCar program, which he considers one of the premier opportunities in motorsports. His career trajectory has been solely focused on open-wheel racing, with no prior consideration given to a full-time switch to NASCAR or Formula 1.
"I am so focused on our program," Newgarden reiterated. "I mean, genuinely I am very fortunate to be in the seat that I am. I’m having a great time. I love working with my crew. I just love it. I love showing up and getting the opportunity to go to work every weekend with the No. 2 car that I’m dealing with, and really our whole team at Team Penske on the IndyCar side."
Despite his unwavering commitment to IndyCar, the allure of a NASCAR race, particularly at Bristol, remains. "I love it. I don’t see (me) doing anything else, but I’m a race car driver. Would I love to go run a Cup race? Absolutely. So that’s never going to change," Newgarden concluded. "Maybe at some point in the future, if things change or I wind down, maybe that will present itself. I would love to do that in the future but I don’t see when that would present itself for quite awhile.” The statement underscores a long-term, albeit currently distant, ambition that continues to fuel his passion for motorsports beyond his current discipline.
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