02x03 - The Double Edged Sword

[bunniefuu]

[rumbling]

St. Pete winner for the third
time, Josef Newgarden!

You have to be in the right
mental space.

You have to be perfectly
prepared before you get in the car.

This is a big step for
Josef Newgarden for 2024.

Maybe things are worse, actually, after
the first two races for the other drivers,

because if there's two drivers,

you don't want to start
the season in dominant form.

It's probably Josef Newgarden
and Alex Palou.

Thermal was that reminder

that he's still capable
of doing this.

He's still capable of dominating
a race weekend

even with all this stuff
going on off track.

[cheering]

Let's hear it for
Felix Rosenqvist!

Felix, looking nicely
in control up front right now.

It was really exciting
to see in St. Pete,

in Thermal what Felix Rosenqvist
and Meyer Shank Racing

have been able to do in such
a short amount of time.

One of the big questions
that's been asked

of Felix Rosenqvist is, could he
be a consistent IndyCar driver

at the front of the field again?

He had a great first season
IndyCar,

but after that he struggled
a bit.

It's going to be really
interesting to see

how his season plays out.

True champions hate losing.

Racing drivers have
to be selfish.

You can only worry
about yourself.

Whether that's a driver
or a team,

you got to put number one first.

Every single season,
as a full-time driver,

Scott McLaughlin has improved.

He's still just rocketing
to the moon.

Scott McLaughlin wins
in Barber Motorsports Park.

Scott will have seen
his teammate Josef

drinking the milk and his face
now on the BorgWarner.

That is just going to motivate
him to bring an entire new level

of intensity and focus
to his game.

- Come on.
- [whistling]

Chase.

Good girl.
Come on.

[whistling]

Who are these guys
with the cameras?

- [dog barks]
- Oh, that's my ball.

Luna is our new baby girl,
our golden retriever.

Good boy.

You'll learn how to do this
eventually.

Goes along now with Chase, our
six-year-old little cavapoo.

Come here.

IndyCar is so hard right now.

It's legit. It's competitive.

It's dog eat dog,
but we love it.

Chase.

My 2023 season
wasn't a success in my mind.

The success for me is winning
the championship

and, or winning the 500,
if not both.

You know, that's just
competitiveness in myself

and in my team and we know
we can be better

than we were last year.

- Oh!
- [laughing]

- Get the ball.
- Where's the ball?

Here comes Scottie Mac.

Scott McLaughlin wins
at Barber Motorsports Park.

[cheering]

I won one race,
which is great.

We got a lot of podiums

and then we finished third
in the championship.

And for me, that was
the top Penske car.

Congratulations
Scott McLaughlin!

Every single season as a
full-time driver, he has improved.

He's going into only his
fourth season in IndyCar.

You're up against two
of the greatest drivers

of our current generation.

Two legends of the sport,
multiple time champions,

Indy 500 winners.

It's tough to stand out
in that kind of crowd.

Finishing third
in the championship

and beating my two teammates
in my third season.

You know,
I was pretty proud of that,

but ultimately my teammate
won the Indy 500.

Josef Newgarden finally wins
the Indianapolis 500!

You know, you just want to be
that person.

You want to be that guy
that gets the spoils

and wear the ring and kiss
the bricks for your family

at 7 a.m. the next day
with a massive hangover,

because that's certainly what
I'm going to have if we win.

That's for sure.

[indistinct conversation]

- Appreciate it.
- Yes, sir.

The man.

- Let's do it again.
- Yes.

Josef's won a lot of races
in IndyCar

and probably will go
down as one of the greats.

There you go, Brother.

- Just under here?
- Yeah, wherever you want to.

To beat him last year in
championship was a proud moment,

but I know where I need
to be improving

and that's the Indy 500
against him.

- Oh yeah.
- Look at this guy.

I think that Josef wants
to win everything.

He probably wants to win all 17
races and the Indianapolis 500.

I really believe that that's
his mindset

and that's how he focuses.

I do not think that Josef
likes Scott McLaughlin

being the highest finishing
Penske driver.

And now there seems
to be a serious fracture

in their friendship.

- I knew it.
- Go on, ask me about it.

Ah... ask Josef.

- Yeah. Of course.
- Why wouldn't we be?

I mean, if we're not,
this can be a news to me.

- New segment.
- Yeah.

Okay.

- Ah!
- [Scott laughing]

Why are we doing this?

Because it's fun, and
the people love it, Josef.

For a year and a half,
the Bus Bros were sort of like

a huge entertaining part
of the series.

- Don't touch your eyes.
- [laughs]

This is dangerous.

And now there's a lot
of IndyCar drivers

talking about the demise
of the Bus Bros.

What are you talking about,
draw a whip cream can?

Josef has taken
a fresh approach

to the season this year,
cutting out all distractions.

He has separated
from his media company.

He ended his YouTube show.

He went full Taylor Swift
on social media.

Just unfollowing everybody,
including his wife.

His follower count right
now reads zero.

His whole move for this year
is pure focus on driving.

And look, based on this early
part of the season,

you can't say it was
the wrong move.

What did you run?

- About 60.5
- What did Scottie run?



Josef's one of the most
competitive people

I've ever come across.
He will do anything to win.

Is there a way to just reset
this theoretical?

It's [bleep] useless
at the moment.

Yeah, tenfold.

It gets testy at times,

it gets hairy,
but that's all part of it.

You got to stand up
for yourself.

You're racing for your team,
but at the end of the day,

you have to beat them.

And that's ultimately
what the deal is.

[chattering]

- Cheers big guy.
- Cheers boys.

Wooo!

Boys got tatts
last year at Indy.

Two brothers. Look.

It's a little crooked.

- To the moon, baby.
- To the moon.

I saw it on race day morning
last year,

and I was like, "You idiots".
[laughing]

We kept saying to him
all week, we're like,

"Dude, we're going to the moon
and we're winning the race.

- Number three to the moon."
- It just took a little longer,

but we're going to get there.

Scott is just really
dedicated.

He's learned so much and feels
the best that he's felt.

The Indy 500 is a big race.

I mean, every year
he just thinks

he has a better and better shot.

I have all the faith
in the world in him,

whenever it may be.

The excitement we all feel
is just so cool.

How many races are you
going to win this season?

- Oh, Ma.
- How many?

Did you get asked
to play that question?

Do you think she came up
with that herself?

I love the Indy 500
because it's history.

When you start talking about it,

it's just like this...
goosebumps, you know.

It's a race that
can make you immortal.

- This is your year. That's it.
- Thanks, Mom.

- You're a good mom.
- Oh, thank you.

I think every year
you don't win,

you just get hungrier
and hungrier, hungrier.

You can say I haven't won
the Indy 500.

My teammates have, and we're
going to try and change that.

Thank you all for being
here today.

Cheers to the best day ever.

Cheers to Scottie winning
the 500!

[cheering]

- To the moon!
- To the moon, let's go.

Moment of truth.

You got the milk
and everything?

I think the hardest thing here

is the consistency
with everything.

Like it changes.

[air hissing]

That's going
to be a fluffy one.

- Ah!
- [laughs]

During the off season, he said,

"I think I'm going to buy
a new coffee machine."

It's German manufactured
and Italian engineered.

Definitely the best
of both worlds.

German quality
and Italian passion.

Oh, man, I got neither
of those.

[laughing]

Let's see if we can
do a heart.

Yeah. No pressure.

I haven't been very good
at this lately.

So the base...

Then...

- Wooo!
- Wooo! Close enough!

It looks more like
a [bleep] sack.

I mean there's nothing wrong
with a [bleep] sack

now and then.
[laughing]

I think, like every girlfriend
or wife probably feels like

they know how much
their partner works

to be at the level
that they are.

When you get those results
that I think you deserve,

like all the time,
it's amazing to see.

The hard part
is not doing well.

It's hard when you're like...

The struggling is hard,

and then the payoff is actually
really easy.

So I had that last about two DNF

the first two races
and it's just like...

- [sighs]
- Yeah.

[rumbling]
[impact]

We got a car in the wall.

Oh, we got a crash
down here at turn 11.

Three cars stacked on top
of each other.

Felix Rosenqvist has gone
off course.

Felix comes in with this kind
of weird duality.

He had a great first season
in IndyCar,

but after that he struggled
a bit.

He spent three years
at Arrow McLaren.

Last year he had more DNF races
that he didn't finish

than any other driver
in the IndyCar series.

A day that started
with so much promise has ended.

There's a lot of times through
my career where I, you know,

I had a pole or I'm up there
fighting and something happens.

Oh, Felix hit the wall!

I don't want to be remembered
as that guy

who didn't execute.

I want to be the guy
who's up there

and taking advantage of my great
starting positions.

That's something I'm really,
really working on.

- Up front, though.
- Look at Felix Rosenqvist.

This year I'm with
Meyer Shank Racing.

There, in a way, the most
underrated team on the grid.

I think there's huge potential.

And just see what we can
do together.

Felix Rosenqvist makes the
switch to Meyer Shank Racing

and he is loving his new life.

What we've seen at St. Pete
and Thermal

is really encouraging.

Felix Rosenqvist for
Meyer Shank Racing in third.

This might be a sign of what's
to come for Felix Rosenqvist.

Okay. Images.

- I love this location.
- Right?

And it's a lot cheaper
to get married here, frankly.

[laughing]

I think if we got married here,
all the prize money

would have definitely gone
straight into the wedding.

It's kind of nerve wracking.

- It's gonna be so much fun.
- I'm so excited.

I think he's coming, yeah.

Yeah.

Let's see.

[line ringing]

[Emille laughs]

Hola!

- Hey, g*ng!
- What's up?

- What's up, bro?
- How's Mexico?

- [Bleep] great.
- [laughing]

Are you coming to the wedding?

If I don't have to be in
Singapore then...

Singapore can wait.

Yeah.

Singapore will be there
next year.

[laughing]

I go to New York tomorrow
to try wedding dresses.

- Oh!
- Yes.

[laughing]
Yes.

That thermal money
is disappearing.

Yeah!

- Okay. See you soon.
- Okay. Bye.

- Bye.
- Ciao.

Ciao.

- Oh, man, that would be...
- California king.

- Yes. California king.
- That would be amazing.

[pensive music plays]

- How are you doing?
- Had some visitors.

I want to buy some merch.

These shirts over here.
These are my shirts.

- Do you want a t-shirt or no?
- Oh.

Yeah, I better get one
of these, I suppose.

- What are you, 4XL?
- Oh, I'm not that big.

- No, that'd be good.
- Get one of those for us.

My mom and dad are going to
get across to a race this year

they didn't get a chance
to come across in 23,

so they're going to try and get
to Long Beach this year,

which would be awesome.
Just to have them there,

it's going to be really
special.

That's my logo hat.

I miss my mom and dad.

We wish you could pick them up
and move them over here.

- You want a little Palou shirt?
- No.

My dad and my mom, we used
to go to go-kart tracks

around the country
in New Zealand.

Like that was a hobby for us,
but now I've turned it

into a profession and not many
people can say that.

And I feel privileged
to say that.

Dad, do you want anything else
or you want me to close out?

- He was a good kid, really.
- He was a great kid.

He was the youngest ever
to move into supercars.

Level 2 at the age of 16.

And here's your little


who can't even drive a car
on the road legally,

is going down the street,

not a little bit shy
of 300 km/h.

Just absolutely loved it.

And, you know, basically
the rest is history.

- How's it going?
- Good to see you again.

- What's going on?
- Are you guys good?

- We're getting there.
- It's ripping?

- Oh, yeah.
- Oh, yeah?

And this will
go to Long Beach?

Yeah, this is Long Beach.

The same engine,
hopefully, to Indy.

[laughing]

Change this a bit.

- Like that?
- Yeah, I suppose.

It's been a journey, for sure.

It's been an amazing journey.

This is the one
for Long Beach.

- Yeah.
- Looks good.

Has it got kiwis on it?

He won't settle until he's won
in Indianapolis.

I guarantee you he will not be
happy until he's done that.

You know, he's very, very
focused and very determined.

Indy 500 tick and then
championship tick.

It's our last Sunday home,
probably until... June.

It's doubtful
and you bought your first house.

It's got five bedrooms.

You might as well start filling
this [bleep] thing up.

[laughing]

Anyway.

- Well, I'm pregnant.
- Oh, there we go.

I was waiting
for her to say that.

- I couldn't, like.
- I just can't sit here and lie.

No.

Yeah.

- Well, I'll drink to that.
- Thanks, guys.

- Yeah, yeah.
- Thanks for being good sports.

Uh... the beginning
of February.

Our wedding anniversary.

Yeah, we were driving up
from Wellington.

Back home, and they rang us.

When will this episode air?

Okay, May
So that's perfect.

- Yeah.
- Yeah. So we're pregnant.

That's amazing. I'm very
excited for it to be in October.

You know, fingers crossed
it all works out.

But, like, you know,
at the end of the season,

I get a full... I get six months
of being a dad, you know?

So it's like, perfect.

And then she'll be just
there at St. Pete

and I'll be like,
"What's up?"

Knuckles before the race.
Can't wait.

Daddy's girl, she's definitely
going to be daddy's girl.

[soft rhythmic music plays]

Long Beach is the best.

Outside of the Indy 500,

this is the longest running
IndyCar race.

This is the largest attended
IndyCar race.

This is the race that all
drivers want to win.

[♪♪]

It's hugely attended.

It's been around
for almost 50 years.

It's a street festival,

it's a party and everybody's
having a good time.

Business time baby.

Everyone is excited
to get there

and go racing on the beach.

[♪♪]

[announcer]: Welcome to the
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach!

The fastest picked up
competition

and get ready to see some
of IndyCars' absolute best

working their way towards
$10,000!

[cheering]

- I see a little adrenalin.
- I'm like pumped.

Because I don't wanna
[bleep] it up.

[laughing]

All I gotta do
is drive straight.

[upbeat music plays]

[tires screeching]

We're called the 33s.

They play a huge role.
A lot of the guys and girls

on my car have been with me
since day one.

Tonight is for the guys
and the girls on my team.

They did a stellar job
for round 1

We can go again in round 2.

- Wanna put dinner on it?
- Next time you're in Charlotte?

Yeah. Alright, done.

I've got to put some skin
in the game.

Skin in the game.

[upbeat music keeps playing]

[indistinct announce]

[announcer]: Give it up
for Santino Ferrucci!

That's one way to start it.

Give it up for both
of your drivers

and both of your teams.

It was awesome, I mean, I
think the vibe around the whole city

is awesome right now.

Obviously we didn't win,

but as long as we're
the fast ones on Sunday,

I couldn't get two [bleep]
about that right now.

So it's a good little warm up.

We'll take that
and we'll be ready for Sunday.

Win a couple of races, so we
can get our own one of these.

I think that's the ticket.

You don't spend any money
on anything, though.

- Oh, man.
- I mean, ever.

But he lives in Monaco
and in Miami.

- I got the undercover costs.
- Very high.

You know, when you cut into
a mattress?

Tom's money is in a mattress,
stacked, real nice.

- So hold on.
- I gotta hear about this.

- So you just cold-called him?
- Yeah.

I didn't know who he was,
though.

But I saw you being interviewed,
and I was like,

"Aw, he's so cute." I was
checking him up on Instagram.

- You found him on Instagram?
- Yeah!

Then after a couple of days,
I wrote you,

"Hi, I think you're so cute.
Blah blah blah."

- She wrote, she cracked first.
- I cracked.

I cracked under pressure,
but it was a good thing I did.

- [laughing]
- Aw!

It worked!

This is my sixth season
in IndyCar.

I feel like it's perfect timing
for me to be in a role

where I'm sort of leading
the team a little bit more.

It's kind of like Indy GP.

Like, the more you push,
the slower you go.

You want to get back into
winning races,

but it's not going
to happen overnight.

It's fun to watch you guys.

McLaren's an outstanding team
and done a great job.

And I think Felix would tell you

he loved every minute he was
there, to be honest with you.

But I think if there
was anything lacking,

it was the team's confidence
in him that he's the man

and we've given it all to him.

It's a little of two people,
two groups

that needed each other
and it was the right time.

And this is kind of showing
right now.

Everybody, give me a second
here real quick.

We look forward to racing
this Week in big time

with Tom and Felix here.

We've had a tough year or so in
the IndyCar racing,

and we're ready to turn
this around

and improving on where I think
we should be and can be.

People call us a small team.
I like that.

I like the small team.

But we're not a small
team anymore,

and we want to build upon that

and be a better team
and move up the ladder

where we should be.

For the 40th time, IndyCars
are taking it to the beach

in Southern California.

It's time to set the grid
for the Acura Grand Prix

of Long Beach.

[tense music plays]

My dad said he doesn't come
all this way to finish second.

That's a...

Yeah, it's a matter of just put
it all together

and hopefully...
I've done it before,

won with them here, so hopefully
we can do it this weekend.

[chattering]

There are pros and cons
to driving

for one of the
best teams in the sport,

in Penske Racing.

That team puts a lot
of pressure on their drivers

to perform not just against
the rest of the field,

but against each other.

[chattering]

Another Team Penske driver
winning the 500 last year

has lit the fire under Scott,

even more so to be the guy
at the team in 2024.

It is anybody's ballgame.

As we get set to qualify

and history says you must start
up front to win this race.

[rumbling]

[upbeat music plays]

Scott Dixon is a smooth
operator.

He knows how to get these
things done.

- Where's Dixon?
- He needs a big hairpin.

He sends it,
slides the front end.

Is it enough?
It's going to be close.

- No.
- Cannot get it done.

Scottie Mac is getting
all kinds of action

at the back end
of his Odyssey Battery car.

[rumbling]

The correction there
for McLaughlin in turn 1.

Going to cost him a couple hundreds
and sometimes that's all it takes.

Scott McLaughlin, the big
loser there from Team Penske.

We were expecting all three
of them to be competitive.

We just didn't quite hit it
on that run.

A bit of a bummer, but, yeah,
we'll fight from there.

So tight. Anyone can win
this race,

so we'll just keep our heads
down and keep working.

[Bleep].
Sorry, boys.

It's alright.

That was on the first lap.

- Yeah, yeah, that was...
- [sighs]

...the second time.

These two were really good
the second time or third time.

These two were slow
the second time.

- [Bleep], man.
- Second place,

Flip-flopping those two.

They fire off for
the Firestone Fast six.

This guy here looking for
back-to-back street course poles.

Josef Newgarden,
the runaway winner in St. Pete.

Felix Rosenqvist continues
his strong start

in his new situation.

- Ah, my God.
- I know.

Copy that.

How big would it be for
Rosenqvist to be on pole?

[rumbling]

This is now running to the
line for every driver on track.

Rosenqvist is done and he's to
the top! Felix Rosenqvist!

- [cheering]
- Oh my God.

Oh my God, oh my God!

Now Will Power
is fine in 3.

I'm so nervous
for the count.

Three corners to go, the wrong
turn ten. Now this is it.

Does Power do it? No!

Four thousands of a second
is the difference.

Rosenqvist appears to have
pulled it off.

[cheering]

Head to head with the best
in the business over one lap,

and Rosenqvist puts the Meyer
Shank team on pole position.

The new location continues
to provide dividends.

[cheering]

[upbeat music plays]

You have shown you can do it
on Saturdays.

How do you get it done
on Sunday, though?

That's the big question.

That's a big question.

I think here is huge to start
on pole, though.

I have a good feeling about it.
I think we have a good race car

and our package has been really
good here in the past.

So yeah, excited.

First pole for
Meyer Shank Racing,

Felix Rosenqvist puts it on
the pole here at Long Beach.

- First one right there, baby.
- First one in IndyCar,

I [bleep] believe it.

[chattering]

[honking]

Felix went the final two years
with Arrow McLaren,

knowing that they were courting
someone else for his seat.

And like, that's a terrible
way to live.

Just that uncertainty.

When you're happy outside
the car,

the stuff inside
the car goes better.

I've always found that.

The happier you are outside
the car,

the better you do
inside the car.

- We're still like...
- it's not like we're done.

We're just getting there.
More to come, I think.

Yeah.

- Now off to more meetings.
- More meetings.

- That's what we do.
- IndyCar meeting.

- How are you, man?
- Alright.

Just a random dude with a
couple of cameras rolling.

So, a little bit bummed
from yesterday,

but, like, there's a bit
of a fire in the belly

to make it happen.
We've got a really quick car.

Gave the driver a bit
of a tune-up overnight,

i.e. a punch in the nose.

- You're here before me?
- What? - You're here before me.

[Bleep] hell.

We needed to get a ride.

- Hey, how are you?
- What's for breakfast?

Yeah.

Make sure you have
your picture.

Man, it's been a while since
I was on the victory lane.

I'll tell you that.

And I've been close
a lot of times.

I've been...

And I've been close

and then ending up in disaster
a lot of times.

Having a pole position pretty
much means nothing.

I mean, it's a cool statement.

We all also know that you can
win starting from P15

if you have a good race.

In IndyCar, even if you're
the quickest,

if you leave the door open
into a corner,

there will be three guys
just diving in there

to get that spot.

You know, it's really,
really tough out there.

Morning.

Morning.

Trying to break a pretty
impressive turn this morning.

Mm-hmm.

Give me like


[chattering]

- The trick is this one.
- Yeah.

And this one are probably
going to go away.

I think what we want to know,

the reason is we've got
this like this

is we want to know...

- It's very good?
- Yeah.

- Why?
- Oh, just...

- Just checking?
- Yeah. Good, man.

Nah, it's gonna be really good.

Beautiful day to you, too.

- Dude, we're no dramas.
- Only the past [bleep].

I can't wait.

Bom, bom, bom, bom bom.
Actually I have to get changed

and just get ready.

I'll come back and then
hopefully this TV [bleep]

got out of the way.
[laughing]

Southern California's
Long Beach is looking fabulous

and ready to host IndyCar
for the 40th year.

It's round two of the 2024
NTT IndyCar series

from this famed locale.

You've done everything, you've
won the 500,

you've won championships. How
much is the fire still there?

I'm digging deep and still
working as hard as I ever have.

You know, I feel like
I'm in my 20s.

We keep it clean and,
you know, keep it simple.

I think we should have
a good shot here.

The next win for Scott Dixon
will be number 57,

just ten away from
A.J. Foyt.

It's a fun track to drive.

Very high speed
for a street circuit.

So I think we're in
for a good show.

You know, Josef and Scott
in team debriefings,

they're professional,

but outside of that, from where
we were a year ago to now,

where they're in
a social setting

and they won't even say hello
to each other

or acknowledge each other.
It's just the craziest thing.

It's literally like a couple
that broke up.

- Are you a pretty big deal?
- This is pretty big.

- I'm a pretty big guy.
- Yeah. Me too.

Felix. What the [bleep].

- Dude, we are all close again.
- I know.

- Like, you could have been...
- Always.

I liked it.

Why so fast? Let's us pass.

[indistinct announce]

[cheering]

Two races into
his Meyer Shank Racing career.

Two front row starts for Felix
Rosenqvist on the pole today.

I think anytime a driver
switches teams,

the number one goal is to show
the old team

what they don't have anymore.

Felix wants to prove
that McLaren

made a mistake in letting
him go.

- One, two, three.
- Fun.

Scott McLaughlin was quietly
seething yesterday

after he said he messed up
in qualifying.

He told me the car is good.
He's going to be aggressive

to try to make something happen
from 11.

Let's go, Boss.

Drivers, start your engines!

[cheering]

[rumbling]

It's been a long time since
we raced for real, for points.

Some five weeks.
Time to get serious.

Felix Rosenqvist,
what an impressive debut.

The driver, the 60, has made
for his brand new race team,

Meyer Shank Racing.

He's made 80 starts in his
career, Felix Rosenqvist.

He's won one race.

The Meyer Shank on the leap
all down the front stripe.

[rumbling]

The FROshow with the jump
and Will Power to the outside.

Power sweeps around and gets
Rosenqvist in turn 1.

Alexander Rossi might
have a problem.

Hit by his own teammate,
Pato O'Ward.

This team rolled off
the truck so quick.

Now, in one moment, both of
their cars

that were fighting for a good
position have problems.

- Will Power leads.
- His teammate Josef Newgarden

and then Marcus Ericsson,
Felix Rosenqvist.

The pole man has dropped
back to fourth.

Rosenqvist, from front to
back, already lost three spots.

- Oh! Christian Rasmussen.
- Heavy into the wall.

Only a handful of cars came
to pit,

and there were several that
stayed out.

The reason the other car
stayed out,

that would be a massive
fuel save

to make it to the end
of the race on one more stop.

If you could make it to the end
of the race on one more stop.

For team Penske, they got
split strategies, right?

You're covered with Newgarden,
you're covered with Will Power.

I promise you, though,
one of the two

is going to be really mad
at the end of this race,

and wish they would have done
the opposite

at this exact moment.

We've got a race
on our hands now.

We have a couple
of different strategies

that play out on track
in the Acura Grand Prix

of Long Beach.

Strategy A: Top three.

They were the ones who pitted
on lap 17: Scott Dixon,

Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood.
Strategy B: Josef Newgarden,

Colton Herta, Alex Palou.

It's Dixon, the PNC Bank Honda
on pit road.

Will Power also hits
the pit lane.

- And here's the thing.
- 34 laps to go.

They still have to save

to be able to make it to the end
for sure.

Newgarden is in prime position
to catch

and get by Dixon
for the victory.

Lap traffic about
to be a factor.

Scott Dixon starting
to come up on Scott McLaughlin

with Team Penske.
Off the pace.

What has happened to
the Odyssey Battery Chevy.

weekend started in promising
fashion for McLaughlin.

He was frustrated after not making it
through to the next phase in qualifying.

Knew that he had more and should
have been higher up on the grid

and maybe make it to the
Firestone Fast Six.

That didn't happen.

Yeah, we haven't been here
for 12 months

and obviously, you know, probably
wanted to put on a good show, but...

[indistinct]

Guys, the Dixon/Newgarden
story.

That Ganassi versus Penske
battle

is going to be great down
the stretch.

Scott Dixon,
the Master of going fast,

burning the least amount
of fuel.

How does Newgarden play this?
When does he decide,

"I have to go now"?

This looks like a losing
battle for the 9.

I just don't see how he's going
to keep Newgarden behind him.

It's going to take
some hustle.

Dixon's going to make it tough.

And there is traffic up ahead.

Santino Ferrucci... Newgarden
stalls at the hairpin.

Oh my goodness!

Hit up the back
by Colton Herta.

Josef down two spots. It's
a massive break for Scott Dixon.

Two laps to go.

This one was one of the
tallest orders I've ever seen.

To save that much fuel,
keep that pace,

still have the ability to burn
the push to pass when needed.

Absolutely remarkable.

He's going back to
the winner's circle!

Scott Dixon wins the Acura
Grand Prix of Long Beach!

A little bummed. You never
want to fall from pole to 9.

It sucks, but I feel like
we did what we could.

I just didn't have confidence
on the brakes.

Emille didn't even stay around.

You know it's a bad day then.
[laughing]

It is a really tough pill
to swallow

when the session that counts
the most

is the first time a problem
creeps up on a race weekend.

Can't do much about a simple
sort of electrical failure.

Pretty pissed. It wasn't going
to be the best day in the world,

but it was going to be
the 9th or 10th day that,

you know, we would have got
really good points.

As a driver in the moment,

you would look at Long Beach
as a disaster.

And the 30,000-foot view,
look, it was a bad race.

There's nothing to get concerned
about yet for Scott.

But you take these losses really
hard as a driver.

- Gonna take some beer, eh?
- [laughing]

I probably won't see them
for a while again,

but just to spend time with them
has been great.

It's a nice little boost
before we head to the 500.

Long Beach was a classic
IndyCar race for sure.

The split strategies.
Saving fuel at the end

versus a guy charging
on new tires,

and you really didn't know
who was going to win

until the last lap.

- That was tough.
- That was real tough.

The stress level was high.

You know, those guys were
coming fast and strong.

Last two laps, the team came on
and said, just go for it.

We got plenty of fuel,
and away we went, man.

We have three different
winners from three races

and that is good old-fashioned,
typical IndyCar racing.

It's what makes it so fun
to watch as a fan.

You never know what's around
the corner in IndyCar.

IndyCar has disqualified
Josef Newgarden

and fellow Penske driver
Scott McLaughlin.

Josef Newgarden is one
of three Team Penske racers

to be disqualified from
the first race of the season.

Did you hear what happened
in IndyCar?

- They're cheating over there?
- What?

Yeah! The Penske team
can't have it.

In racing there's a saying,

"If you ain't cheating,
you ain't trying."

And they got caught.

Wow, this is crazy.

Big penalty for Josef. Big
penalty for his championship.

You can call me every name
in the book.

You can call me incompetent.
Call me an idiot,

you know, stupid,
whatever you want to call me.

But I'm not a liar.
I didn't leave St. Pete thinking

we pulled something
over on somebody.

I didn't know
that we did something wrong.