Josef Newgarden Is Still One of IndyCar’s Fastest Drivers — Even on One Good Leg

If anyone wondered whether Josef Newgarden had lost a step after his frightening Indianapolis 500 crash, the answer has been clear for weeks.

He hasn’t.

The two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion continues to race through a significant lower leg injury suffered in May, often arriving at the track in a walking boot and using crutches away from the cockpit. Despite the physical limitations, Newgarden hasn’t missed a race and has remained one of the fastest drivers in the series.

That’s remarkable.

Since the injury, Newgarden has already returned to Victory Lane at World Wide Technology Raceway, proving once again why he’s considered one of the greatest oval racers of his generation. He also qualified on the front row at Nashville Superspeedway before battling near the front throughout the weekend.

The results tell only part of the story.

Driving an Indy car is one of the most physically demanding jobs in motorsports. Every lap requires constant braking pressure, throttle modulation and steering input, all while enduring extreme cockpit temperatures and sustained G-forces. Doing that with a surgically repaired leg isn’t simply uncomfortable—it’s extraordinary.

What Newgarden has shown over the past two months is something his competitors have known for years.

Raw speed doesn’t disappear.

Even while recovering, Team Penske has continued bringing him race-winning cars, and Newgarden has continued extracting everything they have to offer. His ability to separate pain from performance has kept him competitive despite an injury that would’ve sidelined many athletes.

Will another championship be difficult with Alex Palou holding a commanding points lead?

Absolutely.

But if there’s one takeaway from Newgarden’s summer, it’s this:

Don’t mistake the championship standings for a decline in talent.

Josef Newgarden is still one of the fastest drivers in IndyCar.

He’s just proving it the hard way.