Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden expressed deep remorse and accepted responsibility for manipulating the push-to-pass system in his season-opening IndyCar win, which has since been stripped. In an emotional news conference at Barber Motorsports Park, Newgarden acknowledged the embarrassment of the situation and the potential challenges in regaining the respect of his peers.
Newgarden, a two-time series champion, emphasized that he did not intentionally break the rules and insisted that he is not a liar. The disqualification of his victory at St. Petersburg marked the first such incident in IndyCar in 29 years, a decision Newgarden deemed as the right call by the series.
