By: Spencer Neff
March 10, 2024

2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Box Score

After edging out Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosnqvist for the pole on Saturday, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden dominated Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The 2017 and 2019 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion earned his third win in six seasons (2019-2020) on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit in Florida.

Newgarden, who led 92 of 100 laps, earned his 30th career victory on Sunday, breaking a tie with Rick Mears for 13th all-time.

The Hendersonville, Tennessee native also joins former Penske teammate Helio Castroneves as the only three-time St. Petersburg winners. Team Penske also scores their 12th victory in 20 tries at this event.

Making it two runner-up finishes in a row and three in five years at St. Pete, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’ Ward was second, 7.9121 seconds back. Newgarden’s teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power made it three Penske cars in the Top Four and a 1-2-3-4 sweep for Chevrolet.

After starting 13th, two-time INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou would begin his title defense with a fifth-place effort for Chip Ganassi Racing, best among the Honda entrants.

Race Recap

Before the green flag, Ed Carpenter Racing rookie Christian Rasmussen spent time on pit lane to resolve a clutch issue but was able tor join at the start.

Shortly after the green flag, contact between Palou and Lundgaard in Turn 4 resulted in a punctured right-rear for the latter. Although there was no damage

Newgarden and Rosenqvist kept a healthy gap to the rest of the field until Lap 28. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong made contact with the outside tire barrier in Turn 10, prompting the first caution of the afternoon.

Rosenqvist and Herta would sneak past Newgarden on the ensuing pit stop. Lundgaard would cycle to the lead for the Lap 31 restart. Further back, O”Ward and Mclaughlin moved past Herta. Two laps later, Newgarden and O”Ward got around Rosenqvist.

On Lap 35, another second-year driver would see their race end prematurely. Sting Ray Robb, who joined A.J. Foyt Racing for 2024, stopped outside of Turn 1 after an apparent brake fire on the right-front tire of his Dallara-Chevrolet.

At the Lap 39 restart, Newgarden began to re-assert his lead. On Lap 54, Marcus Ericsson’s Andretti Global debut ended prematurely with mechanical issues.

On Lap 67, Newgarden cycled back to the lead in front of Herta, the last of the day’s four lead changes.

Shortly after the leaders made their final scheduled pit stops, Linus Lundqvist spun in Turn 10 after contact from Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Romain Grosjean.

Lundqvist’s day would end in the same corner as his CGR teammate. Grosjean was assessed a drive-through penalty for the avoidable contact. 11 laps later, Gorsjean’s day would end due to mechanical issues.

Following the Lap 72 restart, Newgarden pulled away to score the victory.

Among the notable finishers was Pietro Fittipaldi, who improved a race-high 11 spots, finished 15th after starting 26th.

Up Next

The next points-paying race will be the Acura Grand. Prix of Long Beach on April 21. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will have multiple on-track sessions over the next six weeks.

On March 22-24, Thermal Club in California hosts the $1 Million Challenge, with teams splitting their winnings with a club member.

On April 10-11, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts a two-day Open Test in preparation for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on all things NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR