---
title: "Penske’s Ace Pit Strategy Earns Newgarden 2018 IndyCar Grand Prix of Phoenix Victory"
description: "IndyCar rookie Robert Wickens amazes once again with a second-place finish on his second career start."
date: "2018-04-08"
modified: "2018-04-08"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19974/penskes-ace-pit-strategy-earns-newgarden-2018-indycar-grand-prix-of-phoenix-victory"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Alexander Rossi"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "Josef Newgarden"
  - "Phoenix International Speedway"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
---

# Penske’s Ace Pit Strategy Earns Newgarden 2018 IndyCar Grand Prix of Phoenix Victory

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/04/04cj5370a.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Reigning [IndyCar champion](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19895/mario-andretti-opens-up-about-indycar>) Josef Newgarden listened, drove, and delivered for Team Penske by climbing to the top step of the podium on Saturday night's IndyCar Grand Prix of Phoenix. SPM Racing's rookie Robert Wickens and Andretti's Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi followed in second and third place.

The 2018 IndyCar Grand Prix of Phoenix took place on the 1.022-mile oval of ISM Raceway, which saw an impressive 12 lead changes and nine different leading drivers through the duration of the 255.5-mile race. Much to everyone's surprise, the short oval only saw [two caution periods](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19609/indycar-delays-indianapolis-test-and-rookie-orientation-due-to-harsh-weather>) due to on-track collisions, robbing a total of 23 laps from the grand total of 250.

![message-editor%2F1523200387340-16c\_8085-edit-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523200387340-16c_8085-edit-1.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

![message-editor%2F1523200401255-16c\_7314-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523200401255-16c_7314-1.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

The deciding phase of the Grand Prix didn't come until lap 229 when Ed Carpenter crashed and brought out the second and final yellow flag, prompting race engineers to decide whether their respective drivers should risk losing track position and pit for fresh tires or remain on track and fight until the end. After electing for the former, [Newgarden blasted to the front](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19783/indycars-simon-pagenaud-and-josef-newgarden-involved-in-legit-autograph-war>) after racing resumed on lap 243.

Wickens, who chose to remain out on old tires, was left defenseless and surrendered the lead of the race to Newgarden with just three laps to go. Now in second place, Wickens had to face his St. Petersburg archnemesis, Alexander Rossi, who despite having a rocket-ship of a car couldn't execute a pass before the chequered flag fell.

![message-editor%2F1523200434212-jgs\_2018-phoenix-51957-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523200434212-jgs_2018-phoenix-51957-1.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

![message-editor%2F1523200440091-04cj5413.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523200440091-04cj5413.jpg>)
*IndyCar*

Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon drove a squeaky-clean race to finish in fourth place, with Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay taking fifth and Wickens' SPM Racing teammate [James Hinchcliffe](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/3610/hinch-and-honda-on-top-of-indy-qualifying>) wrapping up the top six.

The second race of the 2018 racing season, which was also the first oval of the year, was ruled by Honda engines, which claimed five of the top six spots with the exception of first place. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg saw its top six commandeered by all Honda engines.

1. (7) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 250, Running

2. (6) Robert Wickens, Honda, 250, Running

3. (4) Alexander Rossi, Honda, 250, Running

4. (17) Scott Dixon, Honda, 250, Running

5. (8) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Honda, 250, Running

6. (5) James Hinchcliffe, Honda, 250, Running

7. (18) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 250, Running

8. (9) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 250, Running

9. (12) Graham Rahal, Honda, 250, Running

10. (2) Simon Pagenaud, Chevrolet, 250, Running

11. (13) Takuma Sato, Honda, 250, Running

12. (20) Marco Andretti, Honda, 249, Running

13. (1) Sebastien Bourdais, Honda, 249, Running

14. (15) Spencer Pigot, Chevrolet, 249, Running

15. (19) Gabby Chaves, Chevrolet, 249, Running

16. (23) Zach Veach, Honda, 249, Running

17. (22) Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, 248, Running

18. (21) Max Chilton, Chevrolet, 247, Running

19. (16) Matheus Leist, Chevrolet, 241, Running

20. (11) Ed Jones, Honda, 228, Contact

21. (14) Kyle Kaiser, Chevrolet, 174, Contact

22. (3) Will Power, Chevrolet, 153, Contact

23. (10) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 40, Contact

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)