Josef Newgarden picks up narrow victory over Pato O'Ward in Texas

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Josef Newgarden and Pato O'Ward swapped the lead over and over, each driver refusing to give an inch at Texas Motor Speedway.

With two laps to go to reach victory lane, they even touched wheels.

"We’re going wheel to wheel like 226 miles an hour or something," O'Ward said. "It’s pretty insane, I have to say."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Josef Newgarden (2) and Pato O'Ward (5) of Mexico race in late laps during the IndyCar auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, April 2, 2023. Newgarden won the race. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Their thrilling race came to an abrupt end when Romain Grosjean crashed with one lap remaining, moments after Newgarden had surged ahead of O'Ward. Newgarden crossed the finish line under caution for a second consecutive victory at Texas, the third of his career.

"We had a great car. I don't know what else to say other than our car was fast," Newgarden said while wearing Texas' traditional celebratory cowboy hat presented to the winner. "I don’t know if it fits right. I apologize to any cowboys that would make fun of my fit."

Newgarden and O'Ward were so dominant Sunday — they combined to lead 214 of the 250 laps — that at one point in the race, they were the only two drivers on the lead lap. They frantically swapped the lead over the final third of the race, and neither showed any inclination to lift off the gas in the fight for the win.

There were periods of white-knuckle pack racing, three-wide passes and jaw-dropping bravery, as drivers were unafraid of Texas' high speeds. IndyCar on Saturday used the entire field to specifically run a second high line around the