DETROIT — Josef Newgarden started and finished the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday despite injury concerns following a crash at the Indianapolis 500. He started 21st and finished 10th after driving all 100 laps of the 1.645-mile downtown Detroit street circuit.
Newgarden wore a walking boot on his left foot and used a crutch on his right side when not driving. Team Penske kept IMSA driver Felipe Nasr on standby in case Newgarden could not continue due to pain. Nasr remained in Detroit after IMSA’s street race on Saturday and spent time at multiple of the team's timing stands rather than staying at Newgarden’s location. Nasr wore a firesuit and had his helmet ready during opening practice on Friday in case a substitution was needed.
"I knew it wasn't gonna be good, and it wasn't. I don't want to speak on it too much — it is what it is," Newgarden said. He stated that his current injury affected him more than the broken clavicle and wrist he raced with in 2016.
Newgarden never publicly disclosed a diagnosis for his left foot injury, though the INDYCAR doctor described it as "minor" following the Indianapolis 500 crash. He credited Team Penske for allowing him to drive and for building a competitive car. "I feel bad. I feel like the opportunity that the team put in place for this car was podium potential. The team did just an amazing job to let me get in it and drive, and they did a great race. The only reason we finished where we did is because what the team did. Great strategy, great pit stops," he said.
Newgarden is eighth in the IndyCar standings. The series continues with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in Madison, Illinois, the Sunday after the Detroit Grand Prix. Newgarden is a five-time winner at that event.