Newgarden wins again in Alabama
Josef Newgarden won at Barber Motorsports Park for the third time in four years. Newgarden led virtually the entire way after starting the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on the pole in a dominant performance that gave him his second win in the first four races this season. Heavy rains on Sunday forced IndyCar to run the final 1 hour, 15 minutes of the timed race on Monday.
The result was familiar: a Newgarden win on the picturesque road course a few hours from his Tennessee hometown, often labeled his “home track.” Newgarden finished with a 10-second advantage over two-time race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, followed by James Hinchcliffe, rookie Robert Wickens and Sebastien Bourdais. It was the sixth win in nine years in Alabama for Team Penske. The defending series champion Newgarden got his ninth career victory.
The race restart opened in sunny conditions and finished amid showers that played an important role in determining the late strategy. Newgarden built a commanding lead before taking his second pit stop with about 15 minutes left. With showers starting to fall, his team switched to rain tires for the stretch run. Bourdais stayed on the track trying to keep a grip on both the lead and the track. He finally relented for a pit stop and Newgarden wasn’t challenged after that.
Bourdais has led laps in each of the season’s first four races.
The series next heads to the IndyCar Grand Prix on May 12 before the Indianapolis 500 on May 27. ated Press All-American after averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. The deadline for college players to declare early for the draft was Sunday night. Players who don’t hire an agent can maintain their college eligibility as long as they withdraw by May 30, 10 days after the draft combine.
South Carolina: Point guard Rakym Felder is no longer part of the team. Felder, a key freshman reserve for South Carolina’s Final Four team two years ago, was dismissed by coach Frank Martin. Felder was suspended last summer after a second arrest in less than a year. He was not enrolled last fall. He was allowed to return in the spring semester although he didn’t play. Martin said there were guidelines Felder had to follow upon coming back “and unfortunately, he has not met those expectations.”