Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Penske makes last-minute crew swap before Sonoma

GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma - Practice

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Josef Newgarden of the United States driver of the #1 hum by Verizon Chevrolet chats with his crew in pit lane during practice on day 1 of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 15, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Getty Images

SONOMA, Calif. - The Verizon IndyCar Series’ season finale, the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (6:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN), will have one additional wrinkle going into it.

Team Penske has made a last-minute crew swap between its No. 2 hum by Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, for Josef Newgarden and Will Power, who will start on the front row of the race.

The outside tire changers, so the right side tire changers, and airjack crew will be swapped between the two cars.

This will mean the following:


  • Newgarden’s usual outside front (Vance Welker), outside rear (Clay Turner) and airjack (Adam Baranski) will move to Power’s car.
  • Power’s usual outside front (Matt Jonsson), outside rear (Shaun Rinaman) and airjack (Blaine Hardy) will move to Newgarden’s car.
  • Both Welker (Newgarden) and Jonsson (Power) are the chief mechanics for both entries.

The team has confirmed the changes to NBC Sports. Jonsson was spotted in a hum by Verizon (No. 2) white crew shirt in the paddock, rather than his usual Verizon (No. 12) gray shirt.

Per Tim Cindric, Team Penske president, the change was made to place some of Power’s race-winning crew from Indianapolis earlier this year onto Newgarden’s car. Cindric is Newgarden’s race strategist, having moved over from Power’s box earlier this year.

Both drivers will start the race on Firestone’s black primary tires.

Follow @TonyDiZinno