2013 In Review: Breakout Star

Looking back on the 2013 Indycar season this week, I realized that among all the breakout stars of this year, one driver and team really stepped up their results: Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

Josef leaving the pits at Milwaukee, 2013

The 2011 Indy Lights champ joined the big series in 2012 with a best result of 11th in his debut race. He finished the season 23rd in points and was a factor to win at Toronto.
In 2013, Newgarden and SFHR finished the season 14th in points-ahead of respected veterans Ed Carpenter, Takuma Sato, and Graham Rahal. He likely would have won in Brazil but for Sato's blocking, and he took a car with failing brakes to second place on the podium in Baltimore. There were 5ths in Brazil, Pocono, and Houston, along with several other top 10s.

Best of all, Josef Newgarden is a great story, the kind Indycar should be going all-out to promote: All-American hometown kid uses his ability to win a championship in a feeder series, then translates that into a multi-season ride with a popular American team owner, and they start producing results. On top of it all is Josef's "Aw Shucks" demeanor-every time I see him on TV, he's so gosh-darn happy to be there! Need any other reasons to be a fan? Oh, yeah, he adopted a poor, cute little homeless kitten out of a shelter after the Baltimore race...

Josef Newgarden: Yet another reason I'm looking forward to 2014

As usual, I'm going to slip in another plug for my Indy car t-shirts, available at the link above. Order now for immediate shipment! Thanks,