As full-time IndyCar drivers, Newgarden – with the best team in the series, and Daly – with a rebuilding A.J. Foyt Racing that ranked last among entrants in 2017, the once-inseparable duo found themselves at different ends of the paddock. From all he's seen from the cockpit, and from their personal interactions, Daly wasn't surprised to witness Newgarden's rocket-fast rise at Team Penske.
"What I see in Josef is an incredible discipline and dedication, and that has never changed," he said.
"Always been there. We have to forfeit our entire lives to make it in this sport, and he's never wavered from making those sacrifices to get to the top. He's been learning all the time, developing himself, and mistakes he made in the beginning of his career, those almost never happen now. He had what, one that stood out this season? Count that against all the other guys and it's nothing.
"He could have made the wrong move with Pagenaud at Gateway and crashed, but he didn't. It was the perfect move. He handles pressure easily. I saw him do those things when he was young, and now he's doing them in a more prevalent way with Penske. But he's doing it, still that leading American guy, still funny, always being himself."
Daly can be forgiven for wondering if he'd be at a similar stage as Newgarden without the prolonged European open-wheel stint from 2011-2014. While his friend was going from strength to strength in IndyCar with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, a narrowing road to F1 for Daly – spent in five different championships with seven teams – surely stunted his development.
By the time Daly found a full-season IndyCar ride with Dale Coyne Racing in 2016, Newgarden had begun to discover his full potential and became a title contender with Ed Carpenter Racing
(including winning at Iowa last year, below). Daly, who hopes to stay with Foyt, is chasing the same stability that aided his friend's rapid growth.
"I've always been fighting against Josef," Daly said. "There's no other person I've thought of as the guy I'd be fighting for a job or scholarship other than him. I think about the decision to leave for Europe every day when I see what Josef has become by staying here. I'm just glad I was able to make it back."
The faith and investment by Fisher, Hartman, and Carpenter, coupled with five complete seasons to master his craft, readied Newgarden for his first big shot at stardom when Penske came calling. With time, and the right nurturing from the likes of Shaw and many that followed, supreme speed and potential was shaped into a driver who was "Penske Perfect" upon arrival in 2017.
"I was hugely proud to see Josef win the championship," Shaw said. "Whenever our Team USA guys do well, I feel a thrill inside. Frankly, I'm surprised it took Roger as long as it did to pick him up. But I'm glad it happened, and he's opened his own doors. I maybe helped fine-tune it a bit, but he's taken the bull by the horns and taken his career where he wanted it to go.
"In the early days, he'd call me if he needed any advice, and nothing I saw at Sonoma surprised me. He was on that championship path from the beginning. He was very mature, at 17, when he was picked for Team USA, and he's done exactly what I thought he could. He's made it happen for himself."
For Daly, Newgarden now serves as an inspiration and confirmation of all he can achieve.
"To me, Josef is a known quantity," he said. "With the amount of races we've done together, I know how we've done and know there's no reason why I can't be there in a few years. It's very motivating. I'm so glad he won the championship because by seeing it, I know it's possible for me. Having him as a yardstick is what I've always enjoyed."
As one of the first drivers to congratulate Newgarden Sunday evening, Daly was heartened to find that amid the frenzy and adulation, the new champion was thinking of him.
"I went up to him after the race and said, 'can you believe it man? From where we started?'" Daly continued. "And he said, 'you're next.' Pretty amazing."
The feeling surrounding Newgarden on pit lane, while looking out onto the crowd forming in front of the championship stage, was one of pure energy. The kid, after maximizing every opportunity in IndyCar, had everyone from Roger Penske to GM Racing supremo Jim Campbell singing his praises for all he delivered to the series with his first title.
Newgarden's immense talent, recognized early, formed and cultivated by the right people, and allowed to build over a reasonable timeline, has gifted IndyCar with the one thing they couldn't buy or create in a marketing program.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, the last American IndyCar champion, found a series that was ill-equipped to use his success in 2012 as a launching pad to connect with the masses. Widespread changes to IndyCar's promotions team should prevent Newgarden from being another lost opportunity for open-wheel's resurgence. Little boys and girls should know Newgarden's name, use his story as an inspiration to become future IndyCar champions or, simply, to strive to be better at whatever they dream to achieve.
This is an American with a vibrant personality, who belongs in commercials, on talk shows, and can rally interest in the series as some of its older stars head to sports cars. IndyCar has its first millennial champion, and if 2017 is an indicator of what's to come, Newgarden will have multiple titles before he turns 30.
For the IndyCar team owners seeking a Newgarden of their own, the formula has been established – just follow it. For the series itself, is there a greater priority than pushing Newgarden into the mainstream during the offseason? And don't stop there. Send Daly, Pigot, Colton Herta, Oliver Askew, and some of the lesser known Americans with him.
It's too soon to say Newgarden is a once-in-a-generation talent. That kind of proclamation only becomes possible after numerous titles. We can say, however, that Newgarden has presented IndyCar with a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
"When Josef went over to England, he decided he needed to stay and race the next few years, and he actually made a lot of fans," Shaw said. "He went to the Marshal's dinner at Silverstone, and the Forum at Brands Hatch, and they still follow him today. He's very clearly a remarkable talent, and he has an ability to charm people and draw interest in an uncanny way. Something significant can happen with Josef if he's placed in a position to help IndyCar."
Amen, Brother Jeremy.
