Team Penske struggles in 2025 IndyCar have become a pressing concern as Josef Newgarden, a two-time Indy 500 winner, openly described his current race streak as the team’s toughest yet ahead of the Iowa double-header. A series of crashes and misfortunes have cast a shadow on the usually dominant team, prompting calls for a turnaround as they prepare for their next big chance.
Recent Setbacks Take Their Toll on Team Penske
Josef Newgarden’s 2025 campaign has been marred by a succession of problems, culminating in three consecutive DNFs heading into Iowa. The troubles began at the WWT Raceway, when a crash involving Louis Foster left Newgarden with no escape, eliminating him early in the event. What followed were more personal errors, as Newgarden lost control of his No. 2 Chevy at both Road America and Mid-Ohio, spinning out and leaving the team searching for answers.
The setbacks have not been limited to Newgarden alone—his teammates, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, have also faced disappointing results in both qualifying and race conditions, pointing to broader issues within Team Penske. Internal turmoil has exacerbated the situation, particularly after team owner Roger Penske implemented a reshuffle in senior management in response to the fallout from the Indy 500 scandal. These changes have apparently hindered recovery efforts, and Newgarden now finds himself ranked just 19th in the championship standings.
Newgarden Describes Challenges and Reflects on Unusual Incidents
Amid these struggles, Josef Newgarden discussed the extraordinary difficulties of the season and his mindset for moving forward, emphasizing the unpredictable combination of misfortune and mistakes affecting the team.
“Sometimes there’s been stuff out of our control – more times than not, it’s been stuff outside of our control. Sometimes, it’s been mistakes here or there. But it’s just one of those bizarre years in the cycle. We just refocus on each race individually. You get in a wave like this, it doesn’t last forever.”
— Josef Newgarden, Driver
The recent race at Mid-Ohio proved especially difficult, with both Newgarden and his teammates failing to advance beyond the first round in qualifying. On the opening lap of the main event, Newgarden’s car suffered a rare mechanical issue, locking up the rear axle and sending him off at Turn 4. Although the incident initially defied explanation, Newgarden soon pointed to a possible cause linked to an earlier race on the same circuit.
“The only explanation that we can come up with is the oil dried that was on the straightaway from the Indy NXT race,” Josef Newgarden said, via Hendersonville Standard. “It must have hit it just perfectly.”
— Josef Newgarden, Driver
Iowa Double-Header Offers Hope for Recovery
Team Penske will look to the Iowa double-header as an opportunity to end their troubled run. The team found major success on the 0.875-mile oval in 2024, with Scott McLaughlin taking the victory in the first race and Will Power winning the second. A strong performance in Iowa could provide the momentum Team Penske needs to rebound and regain their standing in the 2025 IndyCar season.
As they prepare for this critical pair of races, all eyes remain on drivers like Josef Newgarden and his teammates, who must overcome both technical and organizational challenges if they are to reverse their current fortunes.
