Josef Newgarden’s weak point has been uncovered.
Sadly for the remainder of the IndyCar Collection circuit, you gained’t discover any fuel-injected flaws when the two-time Indy 500 winner is behind the wheel. Since becoming a member of the IndyCar circuit in 2012, Newgarden’s impeccable consideration to coaching element has been the catalyst for not solely his success on the Brickyard but additionally his two IndyCar titles and 31 profession wins.
Nonetheless, the Nashville native has discovered that he’s at present most weak on his toes. This maintain true when he’s tasked with operating in opposition to the clock and group of rivals. Meet Josef Newgarden—Hyrox athlete. Lately, when the ignition is off within the Penske No. 2 Chevrolet, Newgarden is targeted on mastering the red-hot world health occasion and its challengingly pesky 1km operating sequences. Whereas his pace on the racetrack earned him the most important test in Indy 500 historical past a yr in the past, Newgarden is slowly taking child steps towards transferring up the Hyrox ranks.
“My cardio quantity included nearly no operating,” Newgarden admits. “It’s been all C2 machines—rowing, ski ergs, and plenty of biking. So, I had little or no operating mileage.”
Newgarden is of course extra comfy conquering 17-turn programs, like this weekend’s Thermal Membership IndyCar Grand Prix, than finishing the eight short-distance runs required in a Hyrox occasion. Nonetheless, regardless of simply two months of preparation and restricted operating expertise, Newgarden completed thirty sixth within the total males’s division (1:09.27) at Hyrox Houston on March 16.
When he places all of it collectively, Newgarden might very properly be within the dialog because the fittest athlete in sports activities. IndyCar, with an aggressive advertising and marketing marketing campaign, is making an attempt to capitalize on his health, hoping to make his shredded body and sq. jawline the face of its sport.
“I used to be fairly good on the purposeful stations; that was simpler to determine,” says Newgarden. “However studying to have an elite operating potential with out getting gassed was basically my weak level.”
To date in 2025, Newgarden has two Hyrox competitions underneath his belt. However he says he’ll maintain off on a 3rd occasion till after the IndyCar season to give attention to profitable his third IndyCar title.
Hyrox is the most recent coaching problem for the well-known exercise warrior, who has beforehand participated within the NFL Mix and was a part of the Indiana Pacers’ “Energy Pack” halftime trampoline slam dunk crew, in addition to making a 2016 look on tv’s “American Ninja Warrior.”
What makes his new health obsession so interesting, Newgarden says, is that coaching for Hyrox aligns completely with the exercises he incorporates into his racing. When he’s not operating, Newgarden’s program requires little or no alteration all through the season.
“The crossover is actually useful,” he stated. “In the course of the low season, once I’m not driving, I wanted one thing aggressive, and I discovered Hyrox to be a brand new outlet to remain engaged with my health.”