LONG BEACH, Calif. — Josef Newgarden received for the primary time on the downtown streets of Lengthy Seaside, holding off Romain Grosjean on Sunday to make Workforce Penske 3-for-3 to open the IndyCar season.

Newgarden led a race-high 32 laps to win a second consecutive race. Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin received the opener at St. Petersburg, then Newgarden received at Texas and now Lengthy Seaside to bump McLaughlin from the championship lead.

Workforce Penske final opened an IndyCar season with three consecutive wins in 2012, when the workforce received the primary 4 races.

Newgarden was challenged over the ultimate 15 laps by Grosjean, the previous Method One driver looking for his first profession IndyCar victory. Jimmie Johnson, who broke his hand in a crash Friday and raced with a carbon fiber forged, crashed with 10 laps remaining to carry out the warning and provides Grosjean and reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou a shot on a last restart.

The race went inexperienced with 5 laps remaining and Grosjean received a number of attractiveness inside Newgarden however could not pull even to aim a profitable cross. Takuma Sato crashed with a lap remaining to carry out a last warning and Newgarden received below warning.

“I used to be working my butt off with Grosjean on the finish there,” stated Newgarden, who received in his tenth profession begin in probably the most prestigious avenue race in the USA.

The victory gave Normal Motors a sweep in Lengthy Seaside; Cadillac went 1-2 on Saturday within the IMSA sports activities automobile race and Newgarden received in a Chevrolet.

Grosjean completed second for Andretti Autosport, which was looking for a fourth consecutive win at Lengthy Seaside. Andretti drivers Alexander Rossi received in 2018 and 2019, Colton Herta received in 2021 and began from the pole on Sunday.

He led 28 laps however had ceded the result in Newgarden when Herta crashed out of the race with 29 laps remaining. He stated he was pushing too exhausting when he crashed.

“It is only a silly mistake. We had been undoubtedly in that factor,” Herta stated. “It is unlucky. I really feel actually dangerous. The automobile was unbelievable. Simply overdid it somewhat bit at present.”

Palou completed third for his tenth podium end in 19 races since becoming a member of Chip Ganassi Racing initially of final 12 months.

Will Energy of Workforce Penske was fourth and Pato O’Ward salvaged his sloppy begin to the season with a fifth-place end. The Arrow McLaren SP driver is meant to be a championship contender however has made errors in every of the primary three race weekends and is admittedly distracted by his want for a brand new contract.

Scott Dixon was sixth for Ganassi, adopted by Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing after which Rossi. Helio Castroneves was ninth for Meyer Shank Racing and Kyle Kirkwood was tenth for A.J. Foyt Racing.

Johnson completed twentieth to shut one of many worst weekends of his profession. He broke his hand in Friday’s crash, crashed once more in Saturday observe, was penalized his two quickest laps in qualifying for interfering with Rahal, after which crashed out of the race Sunday.

“I’ve had [bad weekends] earlier than,” Johnson stated. “Nevertheless it comes with it. I actually really feel dangerous that I put the workforce on this place. This deal is not straightforward. You have to reside on the razor’s edge on the road races and there isn’t any margin for error. Attempting to be sooner, making an attempt to be extra aggressive, I made some errors this weekends and can be taught from them.”