PPG 375 winner Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Augustin Canapino and Callum Ilott

Speakers: Bruce Martin, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Agustin Canapino, & Callum Ilott

Scott McLaughlin:

Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske Chevy. And you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

[Music Playing]

Bruce Martin:

IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcasts. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series.

Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport.

I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR. Working for such media brands as nbcsports.com, si.com, ESPN Sports Sticker, Sports Illustrated, Autoweek and Speed Sport.

So, let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy.

Welcome to this week's edition on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. We are proud and honored to bring Penske Truck Rental to the show as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. We will continue to cover the entire NTT IndyCar Series community and our new partners at Penske Truck Rental will help us tell those stories.

And there was a great story to tell from the April 2nd PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway. Wild racing returned to the 1.5 mile high banked oval, as IndyCar’s aerodynamic changes to the cars created an additional 300 pounds of down force.

That, along with some changes to the Firestone Racing tires, allowed for outstanding racing with the multiple grooves around the track.

The result was one of the best IndyCar oval races in years with Team Penske's Josef Newgarden driving the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet to victory for the second year in a row at Texas after a thrilling side by side battle in the closing laps with Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward of nearby Monterey, Mexico.

A look inside of the numbers shows some startling statistics. There were 28 entries, the most at Texas since 2011. The 26 lead changes at Texas were the most in 23 years, dating all the way back to 2000. It was the third most lead changes ever at Texas Motor Speedway and the most in a non Indianapolis500 race since the current body work was introduced in 2018.

8 different drivers led laps representing six different countries. There were an incredible 1,070 on-track passes. The most in seven years at Texas Motor Speedway and the second highest total since IndyCar began tracking on track passes in 2006.

O’Ward led all drivers with 93 on-track passes. The most since Tony Kanaan had 94 on-track passes in 2016. It was also, the highest passing for position numbers in six years at Texas Motor Speedway with 439 passes for position. There were also, 169 passes in the top five, 256 passes in the top ten.

Five different race teams led laps in the PPG 375. Seven different teams were represented in the top 10 of the finishing order. In the end, it was Newgarden edging O’Ward in a race that ended under caution with just over one lap left because Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport hit the turn two wall.

It was Newgarden's 26th career NTT IndyCar Series victory and his second straight at Texas Motor Speedway. His third overall at the track located in Fort Worth, Texas.

I caught up with the winner of the PPG 375 shortly after his big victory for this exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is the winner of the PPG 375 for the second year in a row. Team Penske driver, Josef Newgarden.

Josef had an exciting race today. It's like the excitement returned to Texas Motor Speedway IndyCar style. How exciting was it from your point of view?

Josef Newgarden:

Incredibly exciting. It was nerve-wracking. Certainly, the finish. I think when we got down to one of the final cautions, not the final one, but about 60 to go, it would turn into a fuel game where everybody was trying to posture and figure out where do you wanna be positioned and when do you wanna save fuel? Because it was a big number that you had to hit. It wasn't easy to run to the finish.

And then obviously, we had another caution around 206 and that changed the game again. And so, it just had a lot of twists and turns with 60, 70 laps to go and you didn't know what you needed to do.

But for sure, being up front and I think just trying to always go forward was the name of the game today. And the big thing for us was we had a fast car and I think we put it to the best use that we could.

Bruce Martin:

They did a lot of changes aerodynamically with the cars and with the track and with the tires, and it really seemed to pan out with a lot of passing, a lot of wild actions. Do you like the package just as it is right now, here at Texas Motor Speedway?

Josef Newgarden:

Yeah, it's pretty stout. I mean, I don't know that I make a lot of changes. Yeah, I think IndyCar did a great job. And it's not just IndyCar choosing the configuration, is the track was better as well. It had more grip across multiple lanes and that made a big difference for us. So, if we could just repeat this style, I think it would be good.

Bruce Martin:

26 career victory in IndyCar for Josef Newgarden. How exciting is that for you to reach that level?

Josef Newgarden:

I think it's just great to get one this year. For me, it always starts with that. You start a new season and you're like, “Well, let's try and get another win.” And we've done that and now, we've gotta build towards the next one. So, I'm excited to keep going and see how far we can go.

Bruce Martin:

Racing side by side with Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren Racing, how much confidence did you have? He said he loved racing with you. He knows he can trust you. It seems that you can trust him pretty well. What was it like battling with Pato O’Ward in such tight quarters?

Josef Newgarden:

Yeah, for me, it was, he did a great job. He's very impressive as a driver and can't wait to race him more. He's just stellar at what he does.

Bruce Martin:

And as far as the rest of the season, second race of the year, you got a victory points wise. I know winning a championship is very important for you. So, what's your outlook going the rest of the way for the season?

Josef Newgarden:

Yeah, I feel confident. I think with our team, we've got the best of the best. There's no doubt. I feel comfy with Team Penske and proud of the entire group, every individual. And PPG this weekend we got Hitachi later on, Shell at Indianapolis. So, I've got a lot of high hopes for the season.

Bruce Martin:

Very important weekend for Team Penske and the Penske Corporation. A lot of guests were here from PPG. A lot of guests were here from the Penske Corporation. NTT announced earlier this week that they're extending the contract as series sponsor and there were more fans in the stands this year than last year. So, in a lot of ways you have to leave Texas with a very positive feeling.

Josef Newgarden:

Yeah, definitely. I'm confident. And I'm thankful for our partnerships. We've got deep, long-standing partnerships with people like PPG and to have the crew here most of the executives, this was a big weekend for us and yeah, I'm excited for everything we can do going forward.

Bruce Martin:

You get a week off, Easter weekend, and then it's gonna be a pretty hectic schedule the rest of April with the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Followed by the Indy 500 Open test, followed by one of your favorite races at Barber Motorsports Park, then off for the month of May of Indianapolis. So, gonna be a lot, business is gonna pick up pretty big here shortly. And what's your plan?

Josef Newgarden:

Well, I was just gonna stay focused on the task. We gotta be good across every race. Long Beach is coming up, let's see what we can do leading into May, but May's gonna be most important. We've got our eyes focused on that and I'm hoping this year we can have a really good run.

Bruce Martin:

Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, congratulations on winning the PPG 375 for the second year in a row. And thank you for joining us today, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Josef Newgarden:

Thanks, Bruce.

Bruce Martin:

We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. The PPG 375 was the second race in the state of Texas in as many weekends for our next guest. It's Conor Daly of Ed Carpenter Racing.

On March 26th, Daley drove a NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet for the Money team in the stock car race at Circuit of the Americas. It was Daly's second NASCAR Cup Series race this season for that team. He also, competed in the 65th Daytona 500

I caught up with Daly before the IndyCar action began at Texas Motor Speedway for this exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is Conor Daly, who is rapidly becoming a NASCAR Cup Series regular, recently drove at COTA, Circuit of the Americas, was a pretty wild race. You hung in there pretty well. If you could describe how your latest NASCAR experience went.

Conor Daly:

Yeah, I mean, honestly, as every race has gone in the NASCAR Cup Series for me, like we keep getting better as the race goes on, but sadly our race got cut short. So, bit of a shame because we had just started racing well with some guys around us and some pretty strong cars too, so.

But mechanical failures happen and that's part of our sport, so onto my full-time job.

Bruce Martin:

But as far as driving and a stock car around COTA. It's a completely different animal.

Conor Daly:

It is, yeah. And honestly though, I thought the racing was quite fun. You can go side by side there a lot more than you think. And I think that created a — there were a couple moments of decent racing there.

Bruce Martin:

As an IndyCar driver, do you miss it?

Conor Daly:

I don't really know, honestly. I don't know if we race as well there. But I would certainly add more ovals before we add more road courses.

Bruce Martin:

But what do you think though of just put those cars on that track? It's really a Formula One track with stock cars on it. And it's really, if you're getting to the extremes of big time racing today, I'd say those are pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum.

Conor Daly:

They are, yeah. But for some reason, those Cup cars, whether it's the tires or whether it's the Arrow package, they seem to race well there. I thought we raced well there, and it was fun to drive in the Cup series. I'm not gonna lie.

Bruce Martin:

As far as your relationship with the money team in NASCAR, do you have more races that you'll be doing this year with them?

Conor Daly:

Well, I mean, we had planned to do the Brickyard Weekend double, so that was kind of next on our schedule doing the IndyCar race on Saturday and NASCAR on Sunday, but that's not till August. So, we won't be thinking about anything in NASCAR for quite a long time now.

Bruce Martin:

And even though they're really more or less a smaller startup type team, how much do they really need to maybe up their game a little bit so that you can get out there and show your skills?

Conor Daly:

Yeah, it's tough, man. I mean, we have about two employees, maybe three that are there, so it's tough. These big teams, even the teams that have partnerships with other teams and it's hard to keep up with them.

We need a lot and I think they're aware of that. I think every race we have improved a little bit, small areas here and there. We added a really good mechanic for us at COTA, so we'll see. But that's kind of a, you almost need more years than just race weekends to get to a higher level.

Bruce Martin:

Of course, your primary job is in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving for Ed Carpenter Racing, be back on the ovals at Texas. How exciting is that for you? Because this is really one of the biggies.

Conor Daly:

Yeah, I mean, I love this race. We've had two good finishes here and led here my rookie year before I nearly put Josef to the … well, [00:12:49] I did put Josef in the hospital, so. Nice to get back here and hopefully, [00:12:53] the down forest regulations do help the racing.

I wish we were racing here at night, but we will take whatever we can get here because I think we have to be at this track. I think IndyCar, I remember watching IndyCar at Texas for years growing up, loving it. So, happy to be here. And hopefully, the race this weekend is one for the memory books.

Bruce Martin:

And how valuable is it to have an oval race before the Indianapolis 500?

Conor Daly:

Well, I certainly love it, but the Indy test is also super helpful. So, just to get going, get above 220 plus again, is a very nice feeling.

Bruce Martin:

Now, of course, after you ran a NASCAR Chevrolet in the Cup series at COTA, the next day you were in the Chevrolet simulator with an Indy car. And just to be able to go from one type of driving style to the next in 24 hours, what's that like for a driver?

Conor Daly:

I've built enough experience now in my life to where I think I can flip that switch pretty easily. And they both require something so different. But it improves, I would say just everything about your mindset whenever you get into anything else. Expanding your brain using more of it, I think is important. And it helps me no matter what I drive.

Bruce Martin:

And the fact that now, I believe that was your third or fourth NASCAR Cup Series race-

Conor Daly:

Third, yeah.

Bruce Martin:

The third. How do you get along with the regular drivers in the paddock and who are some of the ones that help you out?

Conor Daly:

There's a lot of guys there that are good friends. I mean, [00:14:18]AJ Minger has answered every single question I've asked of him. Chase Briscoe has been super helpful to me as well. And honestly, they've all been pretty cool when it comes to chatting about different things here and there. So, I respect those guys massively in that series.

Bruce Martin:

Conor Daly, driver for Ed Carpenter Racing the bitnile.com Chevrolet, good luck the rest of the NTT Indy Car Series season. And thank you for joining us today, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Conor Daly:

Thank you.

Bruce Martin:

One of the great things about Pit Pass Indy is we get to visit with the big names and the NTT IndyCar Series, but we also, get to introduce our listeners to new drivers entering the series. One of those talented new drivers is Agustin Canapino of Argentina. This year, he is a rookie driver for June coast Hollinger Racing, and has been impressive in his first two races in the series.

In his first ever oval Track race, Canapino started 19th and finished 12th, the highest finishing rookie driver in the race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Let's get to know Agustin Canapino in this exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is Agustin Canapino of Argentina. Hopefully, I wanted to get your name pronounced correctly, but rookie driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing. So far, how do you like the NTT IndyCar Series?

Agustin Canapino:

So far, you are the best name pronounced at the moment. Thank you. Agustin.

Bruce Martin:

Well, that's because I got coached by you before I turn the record button on.

Agustin Canapino:

Don't lie. Don't lie.

Bruce Martin:

But how do you like the IndyCar Series so far?

Agustin Canapino:

Oh, I'm very happy, I'm really happy. For me, it's a big opportunity to be here. Of course, a big and a huge step from [00:16:18]the touring Carson, Argentina from here is a huge, huge step. But I am really happy with the situation with the start, and I'm learning every day. I'm working really hard.

Bruce Martin:

What did you think in your first IndyCar Series race, the Firestone Grand Prix, the craziness that went on in that race?

Agustin Canapino:

I didn't expect this first lap. I didn't expect the accidents. But St. Pete is a really, really tricky track. Really, really tricky. But everything was really went well for us and finishes the race in P12 in the little lap with a good pace at the end.

I need to learn a lot because I still far from the mid pack, but the start was really well, and now, I have my big challenge. My first race over, so I'm very excited about that.

Bruce Martin:

You were also, very impressive in practice and qualifications with your speed. A lot of people seem to think when a driver comes in that maybe not is familiar with IndyCar, it's gonna take a while to get up to speed, but you were pretty fast right off the bat. Maybe a little bit faster than a lot of people may have been their first race. What was the secret?

Agustin Canapino:

I don't know. I am really, really hard worker. I work really, really hard with my physical condition. I was seeing a lot of videos, races, data and everything, trying to learn a lot. And I know maybe it's of course, I have a good car. The [00:17:54] [inaudible] team are doing a really well job.

So, I think it's a combination of things, but I still have a lot of work to do. So, I have my feet on the ground and thinking on learning day by day.

Bruce Martin:

The other interesting thing about you is I believe you taught yourself how to speak English in about a month.

Agustin Canapino:

Yes.

Bruce Martin:

How did you get to be so quick at picking up a different language?

Agustin Canapino:

Honestly, I don’t know. I study a lot and it's the same situation than my driving and my situation with the car. So, work, work, work, and every day, every hour, every time try to learn and work hard is the only way.

Bruce Martin:

A couple of weeks ago, a couple of officials from Penske Entertainment led by Mark Miles and also, Michael Montri went to Argentina to take a look at a potential IndyCar race in Argentina. How excited are you at that prospect? What do you think the future of a potential race in Argentina may be?

Agustin Canapino:

Oh, it will be really, really nice is that happen because in Argentina, the fans are really excited about the motorsport. The motorsport there is the second sport after soccer of course, but it's the second sport in our country, and we have a lot of us. You can see my social medias posts. So, I am really excited with this opportunity and I hope and I wish that.

Bruce Martin:

And of course, at the end of May, May 29th will be your first Indianapolis 500. How excited are you at the prospect of that?

Agustin Canapino:

It's impossible to say because for me, the only thing about that I am really, really excited. So, imagine when I comes out to the beach and start to do the lap. So, I'm really excited, but now, I am focused with Texas, step by step after Turtle Beach. I am trying to focus on the present to make my my mind calm and everything.

Bruce Martin:

Agustin Canapino of Juncos Hollinger Racing, good luck this year in the NTT IndyCar Series. Good luck in the 107th Indianapolis 500. And thank you for joining us today, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Agustin Canapino:

Thank you very much.

Bruce Martin:

And now, let's get to meet Canapino's teammate, young Callum Ilott of Great Britain. Supremely confident, often cunning, Ilott has some very strong opinions and isn't afraid to disagree, as you will discover in this exclusive interview for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental that was taped before an impressive ninth place finish in Sunday's, PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Joining us now, on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, is Callum Ilott of Juncos Hollinger Racing. Your top five after the season opening race Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. And when you consider the race team that you have, may not be one of the biggest on the series, but you seem to get the most outta what you have. What is the secret to that team's success?

Callum Ilott:

The secret is — well, I wish I knew the secret a bit more, but I guess I know it more than some people. Look, I'd say it's just having what you've got, working with the people that you've got, and giving them all the tools to be successful with what they've got. The time and the patience in that sense.

So, in St. Pete, we weren't the fastest, actually, we were nowhere near close to the fastest, but we kept it clean. We did all the right things with the strategy, with the pit stops. And that's an IndyCar race which paid off for us.

Bruce Martin:

You're also, supremely confident in your abilities as a race driver, and you've had a very impressive career so far. What is it about your driving skill that you think is a big reason why you're so good?

Callum Ilott:

Because there's not many people faster.

Bruce Martin:

That's a pretty good answer. What is it that makes you faster?

Callum Ilott:

Look, speed I've never had a problem with. And it is very difficult to answer as to why I've always been quick, but I think I figured it out as a young age. I had a very, very good coach early on to get me to be able to feel the most out go-karts at the time.

And then to be honest, I just worked at it myself. I had to really understand what I needed to do to be quicker. I had some good teammates early on in my racing career to learn from. And yeah, I just adapted the best of everything in a speed aspect. So, I was able to always learn from my own mistakes or my own abilities.

But yeah, right now, it's more getting the most outta the races on the Sunday. That's where I want to improve the most. And whether it's being sensible or being aggressive, gotta take my chances when I get them.

Bruce Martin:

And it seems that team owners, Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger have really upgraded the team significantly. Your cars are just as fast as the Penske cars and the Ganassi cars and the Arrow McLaren cars at times. And you have to really be impressed with the effort that the team's been able to put in with your equipment.

Callum Ilott:

No, we're not as fast, we're not anywhere near as fast. That's incorrect in my opinion of it. I think we've improved a lot outside of it, everything with the car. Obviously, you are always improving with the car, but it's a much slower process to get to that point. I mean, they've got 20 years of experience, millions every year behind the dampers.

And I think we had an extra set of dampers last year and that was it. We're not anywhere close to what they've got. But yeah, when we're on it on the weekend and the car works well for the track that we got, we can definitely compete. But yeah, we're not close.

Bruce Martin:

But how satisfying is it to take what you've got and be able to finish ahead of those teams that I just mentioned?

Callum Ilott:

Well, for me and for the people who know, it's great. But for the people who think that the car's the same, it's not. So, it's satisfying to us internally and we're working super hard to make it better. But St. Pete was the start to that. And yeah, we're not fast enough yet, but I think once we get to Barbara, we'll step it up.

Bruce Martin:

But you're fast in the cockpit and I'm sure that you've got some pretty high goals that you wanna achieve in 2023.

Callum Ilott:

Of course, of course.

Bruce Martin:

And how close do you feel you are to accomplishing some of those goals?

Callum Ilott:

I think we we’re … oh, I am definitely, definitely closer to it. I think the consistency side of things needs to come as a team overall, but yeah, once we get a chance, we'll stand at I think podiums for sure, and maybe a win.

Bruce Martin:

Callum Ilott driver for Juncos Hollinger racing, good luck this season and thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Callum Ilott:

Thank you very much.

[Music Playing]

Bruce Martin:

And that puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

We wanna thank our guest, PPG 375 race winner, and two time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Josef Newgarden of Team Penske. Conor Daly of Ed Carpenter Racing, Agustin Canapino of Juncos Hollinger Racing, and his teammate Callum Ilott for joining us on today's podcast.

Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests helped make Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, your path to victory lane for all things IndyCar.

And because of our guest and listeners, Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental is proud to be the winner of The Best Podcast by the National Motorsports Press Association.

For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at Twitter @BruceMartin (one word, uppercase B, uppercase M) _500.

This has been a production of Evergreen Podcasts. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Brigid Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin and final mixing was done by Dave Douglas. Learn more at evergreenpodcast.com.

Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.