How will Newgarden fare in May?

Josef Newgarden likes to talk about consistency. In fact, it is the favourite word of many IndyCar drivers, as the leading contenders know it's not just about getting good results - it's about not getting bad results.

So, for a case study, step forward Josef Nicolai Newgarden. At this stage of 2018, just before the IndyCar GP, he was leading the championship with two wins, and two seventh place finishes. Not a bad return.

Then it all fell apart during the month of May, and the tightly packed schedule that follows. Over the next five races, Newgarden placed no higher than eighth, despite strong qualifying performances on the ovals at Indy and Texas, claiming pole at the latter.

For the rest of the year, it was either boom or bust, as Newgarden won at Road America but otherwise failed to trouble the podium.

2019 has seen a strong start, and again the Penske driver is leading the way. But whilst things appear the same on the surface, dig a little deeper and things appear to have changed - for the better.

The opening race at St. Petersberg was a well executed win. No problems there. But the next three races were about taking opportunities, often in the face of adversity.

In Austin, Newgarden could not match the pace of the top three, but a late race caution enabled a top two finish. Alabama saw him extract the best possible result of fourth, whilst virtually every other Chevy powered driver struggled and lost positions. And in the most recent race in Long Beach, the 28 year old kept his nose clean whilst others made mistakes, and came home second only to the dominant Alexander Rossi.

Newgarden has talked incessantly since pre-season about maximising opportunity, about being operationally perfect and eliminating the bad days. So far, his actions, and those of his Penske team, have matched his words.

Now as five races in four weeks loom upon all the drivers, the pressure rises, along with fatigue, stress and expectation. If Newgarden stays top five in the majority of these races, he'll be very difficult to beat over the course of a season.

Over to you Josef...

An old fashioned view of Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Go to Indianapolis Motor Speedway now, and you'll see a modern, professional facility gearing up for the IndyCar Grand Prix on the 11th May, followed by the Indy 500 at the end of the month.

Should you choose to watch the self-titled 'Biggest Spectacle in Motorsport' - and in terms of scale, it's hard to argue with that title - then you'll see a very different view to that shown above.

This is a capture from the 1968 race coverage, which can be viewed on Youtube, and is a fascinating watch - not just for the racing, but for how much things have changed.

Yes, that is a ditch on the inside of the racetrack. A ditch, full of water. No doubt this was the 'drainage solution' back in 1968, and I guess no race driver ever drowned whilst racing the 500, but back then - it could have happened.

Note also the low walls, on both the inside and outside of the track, and how little protection they offer to cars, drivers, and spectators. No SAFER barriers in this picture.

Of course, these were the 'good old days' before health and safety ruled the world, and where in general people accepted their own mortality - or just refused to think about it, and the impact it might have on others lives.

Nowadays we are more enlightened, aren't we? Well, for a final observation, look at that catch fence. It looks to all intents and purposes like the catch fences you'd see at most oval circuits and racetracks around the world today.

Sure, the modern day materials are probably better, but given that we have known for years the dangers posed by a high speed impact into one of these structures - think Kenny Brack, Dan Wheldon and Robert Wickens - surely a more elegant solution is possible.

Or maybe things haven't changed so much since the 60's and we're all still really good at ignoring an issue until it bites. I'm not into offering a prayer before an IndyCar race, but if I was, I know what it would be; 'Lord, we've got most things covered here, but if you could keep the cars out of the fence, that'd be cool. Amen'.