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Newgarden Races Detroit in Walking Boot and Leaves Gateway Return Uncertain

His decision to drive through a painful left-foot injury after the Indy 500 raises clear questions about driver welfare.

Overview

  • A week after a hard crash at the Indianapolis 500, Josef Newgarden started and completed the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday while wearing a walking boot and using a crutch off-track.
  • Newgarden climbed from a 21st-place start to finish 10th after completing all 100 laps despite saying the pain was worse than injuries he raced with in 2016.
  • Team Penske had IMSA driver Felipe Nasr fitted and kept on standby in Detroit in case Newgarden could not continue, and Nasr was prepared to substitute if needed.
  • An INDYCAR doctor described the left-foot injury as "minor," but Newgarden reported significant pain and acknowledged he was not at full strength.
  • Newgarden said he was "in two minds" about racing next weekend at Gateway, a decision that could affect his recovery time and his position in the championship standings.