Nashville's Josef Newgarden wins second straight Indy 500 after last-lap pass

Josef Newgarden is a back-to-back Indy 500 champion.

Newgarden passed Pato O'Ward on the final lap to win the 2024 Indianapolis 500 in the twilight on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Like last year, Newgarden's celebration spilled into the frontstretch stands after an exhilarating finish. O'Ward was very emotional exiting the car on pit road after his second runner-up finish in the 500 in five tries.

"That's the way I wanted to win the thing right there," Newgarden said to NBC after the race about the last-lap pass for the lead.

The Nashville native started third and had the prevailing strategy as the cautions shook out following a four-hour rain delay.

Newgarden, O'Ward, Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi traded spots for most of the final 25 laps. Newgarden passed O'Ward with four laps to go before O'Ward passed Newgarden coming to the white flag. But heading into turn 3 for the final time, Newgarden swept past O'Ward on the outside for the lead for good.

The 33-year-old is now the 21st driver to win multiple Indy 500s and the first back-to-back 500 winner since Helio Castroneves in 2002.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Josef Newgarden wins 2024 Indy 500, goes back-to-back