NEWS: @IndyCar
averaged an audience of 1.417 million viewers for Sunday's season-opener on @IndyCarOnFOX, up sizably from last year's opener at @GPSTPETE (975,000).Just barely misses the '22 opener (1.429 million) which was the most-watched non-Indy 500 race since 2011.
An early disqualification last season had Josef Newgarden hoping for a "miracle" to win his third title. So far this year, he's satisfied with how he's run.
The last time Penske failed to advance in the first round of qualifying was 2021 at Portland.Power (14), McLaughlin (15), Newgarden (18), and Pagenaud (26) were all eliminated in the first round.
For all the hyperbole on Pato's "lack" of qualifying results, he finished 2024 with the 5th-best average starting spot. Was 8.5 for the season. 8.7 for the hybrid portion (virtually unchanged).Yes, he qualified outside the top-20 at St. Pete. But let's maybe slow the roll?