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Newgarden Leads Carb Day Practice as Emotional Indy 500 Looms After Kyle Busch Tragedy

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Josef Newgarden leads Indy 500 Carb Day practice

Newgarden Dominates Final Practice Before 110th Indianapolis 500

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden sent a clear message to the field on Friday, pacing the final practice session—Carb Day—at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driving the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet, Newgarden clocked a top lap of 228.342 mph, leading an all-Chevy top four in the two-hour session. Christian Rasmussen (227.474 mph), David Malukas (226.565 mph), and Conor Daly (226.341 mph) followed in second through fourth, respectively.

Despite his speed, Newgarden remained measured. “It feels OK, feels all right,” he said post-practice. “But today is Friday. We’ve got to be good on Sunday.” The session featured 2,169 total laps turned by all 33 drivers, with Scott Dixon logging the most (96 laps). Pole-sitter Alex Palou was sixth fastest at 225.986 mph, while Alexander Rossi—recovering from a Monday crash that required minor surgery—finished 31st after 48 laps in a backup car.

Newgarden starts from 23rd on the grid, a position from which no driver has won the Indy 500 since Johnny Rutherford in 1974. Yet his practice pace suggests a strong comeback bid is possible.

Emotional Weight: The Racing World Mourns Kyle Busch

The on-track action was overshadowed by the tragic death of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch, news that broke earlier this week. Newgarden, speaking at a post-practice press conference, offered a deeply personal tribute.

“I just heard about this yesterday, and then the next thing you know, you hear the news about it,” Newgarden said. “It just puts into perspective how fragile life is. You just don’t know.” He added that what broke his heart most was not Busch’s legacy but what he left behind: “It makes me think of his kids, to be honest with you. I have two sons now, and that’s the thing that breaks my heart for sure.”

IndyCar driver Kyle Kirkwood also shared a childhood memory of meeting Busch at Texas Motor Speedway around 2006. “I remember getting that signature, and for many years—and still to this day—I still have that hat with my trophies at my house,” Kirkwood said. “I remember that moment kind of really turned me on to racing.” Katherine Legge called Busch “one of the greatest drivers in my opinion of all time” and recalled his warmth toward her as a newcomer.

Busch’s death has united racing communities across NASCAR and IndyCar, adding a somber tone to the buildup for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Contrasting Fortunes: Rossi’s Comeback and Rookie Speed

While Newgarden dominated headlines, Alexander Rossi’s return to the track was a story of resilience. After a hard crash in Monday’s practice that injured his left hand and right ankle, Rossi underwent outpatient minor surgery. On Carb Day, he completed 48 laps in a backup No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, finishing 31st but reporting no issues.

“I feel amazing,” Rossi said. “I just want to talk about the INDYCAR doctors and everyone at IU Health and what they’ve accomplished in order to get us back to this process of getting in the car today, is pretty exceptional.” Rossi starts from a career-best second on the grid.

Among rookies, Dennis Hauger was the fastest at 225.187 mph (10th overall), driving the No. 19 Only Bulls Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. The 33-car field is packed with talent, including five former winners, but the starting order creates intriguing possibilities.

What’s at Stake: History, Legacy, and the Fragility of Racing

Sunday’s 110th Indianapolis 500 carries multiple narratives. Alex Palou, the reigning race winner and four-time series champion, seeks to become only the seventh driver to win back-to-back Indy 500s. He will start from pole position, a powerful advantage. Newgarden, despite a deep starting spot, has shown blistering speed in both Carb Day and Monday’s rain-shortened practice, suggesting his No. 2 Chevy is a genuine threat.

The broader context of Busch’s passing has forced drivers and fans alike to reflect on mortality. As Newgarden noted, “He was an extreme racer, one of the best you’d ever see on track.” The loss resonates beyond NASCAR, touching every corner of motorsport. In an era where safety advancements have made racing statistically safer, sudden tragedies remind everyone that risk never fully disappears.

For the drivers, Sunday’s race is both a celebration of speed and a poignant reminder of life’s unpredictability. As the green flag drops at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the emotions will run deeper than usual.

Race Details

Interestingly, the racing world is not the only arena dealing with high-stakes drama this weekend. Off-track headlines include Machado Vows 2026 Presidential Run and Return from Exile in Venezuela, showing how themes of resilience and determination cut across sports and geopolitics alike.

For the 33 drivers lining up at Indianapolis, the 500 miles ahead will test not only their cars and skill but also their ability to channel grief into focus. Josef Newgarden, carrying the momentum of Carb Day and the weight of a lost legend, may just be the driver to watch.

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