Team Penske’s Qualifying Struggles at Long Beach GP: Josef Newgarden and Will Power React
Team Penske faced a disappointing qualifying session at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with both Josef Newgarden and Will Power failing to advance past the first round. This marked another setback for Roger Penske’s team, which has struggled in qualifying this season, including a poor showing at the Thermal Club in the previous race weekend.
Practice Promise Turned to Qualifying Woes
Despite showing strong pace during practice sessions, Team Penske’s drivers could not convert their form into qualifying success. Will Power topped Practice 1 and finished fourth in Practice 2, while Josef Newgarden consistently placed sixth in both sessions. However, their momentum faltered during qualifying, leaving Power and Newgarden in P7 and P8 within Group 1, respectively. Consequently, they will start the race from P13 and P15 on the grid.
Josef Newgarden’s Frustration Over Felix Rosenqvist Incident
Josef Newgarden expressed frustration after his qualifying session was compromised by Felix Rosenqvist slowing down at the hairpin—the final corner of the circuit. According to Newgarden, this incident ruined his penultimate lap and disrupted the start of his final lap. On the team radio, he stated:
“He’s (Felix Rosenqvist) sitting in the hairpin as I’m finishing the lap, and then I don’t get to do my second lap either.”
However, replays indicated that Rosenqvist was not close enough to obstruct Newgarden directly. This raised questions about whether the incident truly impacted Newgarden’s performance or if other factors were at play.
Will Power’s Tire Strategy Criticism
Will Power faced challenges with tire strategy during qualifying. He started his first run on hard tires but struggled to deliver on softer alternate tires during his second run. Explaining his difficulties, Power said:
“Man, it was just… difficult to get a clear lap. People backing up a lot… it’s hard to have a good outlap. Then you got a gap and let people go, and then people stop at the hairpin.”
Power suggested that Team Penske should have opted for two sets of alternate tires instead of saving one for later sessions. Despite showing competitive pace during practice sessions throughout the season, Power has yet to make it out of the first qualifying round this year.
Street Circuit Performance Analysis
Josef Newgarden reflected on Team Penske’s car performance on street circuits ahead of the Long Beach GP. He noted that their street course setup had been strong earlier in the season but acknowledged inconsistencies following their struggles at Thermal Club. Speaking optimistically about Long Beach, Newgarden remarked:
“I think our street course car has been in a really good window… happy about where we’re at coming into the weekend. I think we can really put something good together if we stay on it.”
Conclusion
Team Penske’s inability to capitalize on their practice pace continues to haunt their qualifying results. Both Josef Newgarden and Will Power expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects of their performance—whether due to external interference or internal strategy decisions. As they prepare for the race starting from mid-pack positions (P13 for Power and P15 for Newgarden), overcoming these setbacks will be critical for salvaging their weekend at Long Beach.
