Josef Newgarden craned his neck as he checked out what was playing on the big screen behind him July 17 at the Assembly Food Hall Skydeck.
His right knee rested on a black chair he occupied on the stage. His left knee dangled, with a walking boot on the foot acting as its anchor.
What he saw behind him, he hopes will be in front of him again come July 19 at Nashville Superspeedway: Another victory at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.
Just like last year.
“I just remember it being a great race,” Newgarden told The Tennessean. “That’s what I hope to have again this year. That is what people are going to expect from us.
“That’s what it brought back was being able to ride the cadence of the race in the correct way. We went forward during that day . . . That’s always the key . . . is figuring out how you can get better throughout.”
For Newgarden, the more laps, the merrier
Newgarden and the rest of the field will have longer to get better and figure things out during this year’s race, which will be 300 laps — 75 more than last year’s.
For Newgarden, who used crutches to get around the Skydeck because of a lingering injury he suffered during a wreck May 24 during the Indy 500, the extra laps will add to the fun.
“It’s hard to say it’s going to change the ‘sell’ of the race,” he said. “You’re going to see the same product. The strategy slightly changes. You have an extra pit stop. It’s just a little bit longer.
“But you’re going to approach the race the way you did last year. It’s not going to change the show that much, in my opinion.”
Newgarden’s victory at his hometown track in the season finale last year ended a 20-race winless streak and capped an otherwise forgettable campaign.
He enters this year’s race sixth in the points standings, 134 behind leader Alex Palou.
Josef Newgarden on foot injury: ‘Keeping it to myself’
Newgarden also enters this year’s Music City Grand Prix well rested.
“Tons of family time,” the two-time IndyCar Series and Indy 500 champion said.
He also enters this year’s race with a closed mouth. At least when it comes to talking about his left foot.
When asked how the injury affects his driving, Newgarden was mum.
“I’m keeping it to myself,” he said. “But everything’s been good. We’ve had an amazing team. I feel like we’re building faster cars every weekend we show up.”
Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at pskrbina@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Josef Newgarden aims for Music City Grand Prix feat despite injured foot
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