Newgarden overcomes injury to qualify 5th at Indianapolis

By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Wrier

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Josef Newgarden kept the focus simple all week. He ignored the cell phone, avoided social media and spent 48 hours resting. Now the two-time series champ is hoping a good result Saturday will keep him squarely in the IndyCar championship hunt. Newgarden qualified fifth on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course just hours after series officials cleared the 31-year-old from Tennessee to drive. Newgarden’s status had been in doubt since he collapsed in his motorhome and struck his head following a hard crash last weekend at Iowa.