Josef Newgarden emerged victorious at World Wide Technology Raceway for the fifth time on Saturday night, overtaking teammate Scott McLaughlin after a late pit stop and fending him off on two restarts.

Newgarden encountered a scare on Lap 196 of the 260-lap race when he partially spun out, managing to avoid hitting the wall as his No. 2 Chevrolet turned sideways exiting Turn 2. This latest win marks Newgarden’s fourth triumph in the last five years at the track near St. Louis, with his winning streak having been interrupted by a crash last year.

Team Penske’s No. 2 cars enjoyed a clean sweep at the venue, following Austin Cindric’s victory in the NASCAR Cup race earlier this year. The IndyCar race saw a smaller crowd turnout, with noticeable empty seats in the main grandstand.

Alex Palou, the defending series champion, extended his points lead as his closest rival, Will Power, was taken out in a late crash after leading the most laps in the race. Power blamed Newgarden for fluctuating speeds around Turn 4 during a restart, resulting in a collision with Alexander Rossi.

After a red flag period for track cleanup, Newgarden maintained his lead during the restart and comfortably secured the win. The race dynamics changed dramatically with 18 laps to go following a crash by David Malukas, setting up a showdown between Newgarden’s and McLaughlin’s pit crews, the only drivers on the lead lap at the time.

Pato O’Ward, currently fifth in the points standings, retired early from the race due to suspected engine issues, a disappointing outcome for the driver who had consistent top-five finishes at the track in the past.

Marcus Ericsson, holding the lead for 13 laps with a strategic fuel approach similar to Scott Dixon’s winning tactics from the previous year, encountered problems with the hybrid system and had to retire from the race prematurely.

The final road course race of the season is set for Sunday, August 25, in Portland, Oregon, where last year’s champion, Palou, will aim to defend his title.