IndyCar's Josef Newgarden hopes to run some NASCAR races in the future
Josef Newgarden says he is open to competing in some NASCAR races in the future.
Newgarden, 25, currently drives the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series, where he currently sits fourth in the standings after Mid-Ohio.
The Tennessee native was on hand for last weekend’s Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International in New York.
Sunday morning, Newgarden told NASCAR.com that "I have a huge interest (in driving a NASCAR car). Open wheel was always my interest as a kid. That always has a special place for me. I want to win Indy 500s. But I'd love to see guys cross over more. I know a lot of (stock car) guys who want to run the Indy 500.
"But in today's day and age it's become less acceptable to cross paths, people don't go into other people's territory. I'd love to see that change. I'd love to do an IndyCar race one weekend and the next weekend run a NASCAR race. That's a big goal."
Newgarden added that, in particular, he wouldn’t mind getting behind the wheel at one of NASCAR’s short tracks or road courses.
Speaking with other drivers in the paddock, Newgarden also discovered that there are more NASCAR stars willing to do “the double” next Memorial Day, racing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
"I don't know if I want to give names but I know there's probably five or six that want to, and two or three that could pull it off and probably will pull it off," Newgarden said. "I think it's something for you guys (in the media) to watch. Kurt (Busch) proved you can do it. And that dispelled a lot of apprehension for guys. You want to win. No one goes over there just to run it.
"I think there's a lot of interest for guys to check it off their bucket list and not just run it, but win it."
