Category: Auto Racing

Quick Thoughts- Iowa Race 1 Makes the Case for a Return

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Its IndyCar future still remains uncertain, but Iowa Speedway put on a very good race today as we saw a new season winner and Chevrolet may have saved their season.

Chevrolet took a sledgehammer and smashed their losing streak into a million pieces. Pato O’Ward led the three Team Penske cars across the finish line in Race 1 at Iowa Saturday. It was O’Ward’s first win of the season as well as the first win for Chevrolet.

Arrow McLaren is just he third team to score a victory in 2025, and O’Ward is just the fourth driver to win a race.

O’Ward got past Josef Newgarden during the final pit stops and held on through two yellow flags and a restart after a red flag. Today’s finish was the closest at Iowa since 2007.

Quick Thoughts

Team Penske had their best day of the season. Newgarden won pole and led 230 laps. Will Power finished third and Scott McLaughlin ended the day in fourth after starting last. Still, there is probably frustration in nthe Penske camp that the victory eluded them.

Kyle Kirkwood had his worst day of the year. He crashed in practice this morning, then he hit the wall during the race. Kirkwood dropped to third in the points standings.

Nolan Siegel had a great run spoiled by his crash on lap 257. he had a top ten all but clinched.

The yellows seemed to come just in time for pit stops or just after a pit cycle had been completed.

The red flag was appropriate as the wall needed to be repaired. Just happened at a bad time for the leader. O’Ward said he wasn’t worried about the restart after the red flag.

Compared to 2024’s races, this Iowa race was not quite up to the old Iowa races, but it was much better than last year. There were passes, mad dashes off pit lane, and a fight for the lead most of the second half of the race. Let’s hope for more of the same tomorrow.

Weather in Iowa is usually brutally hot. While today was warm, it was definitely the most comfortable I have ever been at this track. Tomorrow’s weather will be similar to today’s.

Tomorrow’s race begins at 12;20 pm. FOX comes on the air at noon Central.

Pre Race Notes

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Congratulations to Myles Rowe who won the IndyNXT race today. Rowe passed points leader Dennis Hauger with about 15 laps left to win his first indy NXT race and his first oval victory,

According to pole sitters Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou, how the racing will be is still an unknown. Indy NXT looked very racy this morning, but we shall see.

The finish line corn is back! Replaced by a Hy Vee logo the past few years, the traditional ear of corn has returned to its rightful place at the start/finish line

Scott mcLaughlin and Kyle Kir4kwood go into today’s race with untested rebuilt cars. Kirkwood got some laps during his qualifying run, McLaughlin’s first laps will be in the race.

It is time for oval qualifying order to be set on practice times rather than points. Qualifying groups are set by time on road and street courses, so setting the order by practice times on ovals would make qualifying procedures uniform for every race.

If there is a race at Iowa next year, it will be a single event, not a doubleheader. With fewer than 12,000 tickets sold for the weekend and no promotional help from the track, this venue seems doomed to be off the IndyCar schedule in 2026. IndyCar needs to find a way to make it worth the track’s while to have this event. Perhaps give the track a percentage of the gate. Give Iowa Speedway free signage at races earlier in the year.

If need be, pair IndyCar with another series (shudder!).

Let’s go racing. I’ll be back after the race.

Iowa Qualifying: Poles for Newgarden, Palou

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Team Penske regained a little bit of their luster as Josef Newgarden took pole for this afternoon’s race 1 at Iowa Speedway. Alex Palou nipped Felix Rosenqvist on the last qualifying lap of the day for the pole for race 2.

All was not perfect for Team Penske, however, as Scott McLaughlin crashed on his first qualifying lap. He will start 27th today and tomorrow.

Some drivers not normally in the qualifying conversations had strong runs this afternoon. Conor Daly starts second today and seventh tomorrow. The Foyt drivers, Santino Ferrucci and David Malukas, share row five this afternoon. Malukas rolls off third Sunday.

Felix Rosenqvist held the pole for race 2 until Palou turned the fastest lap of the day on his second lap. Palou’s speed of 184.014 mph was faster than Newgarden’s first lap by 0.015 mph, 0.014 of a second.

Race 1 starts at 4:20 pm Central, FOX coming on air at 4pm (5 pm Eastern.)

Interesting stat- Palou starts fourth today, and Newgarden starts fourth tomorrow.

Results

Race 1

Race 2

Good Morning from Iowa Speedway

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After an adventure filled Friday, I am now at Iowa Speedway. High line practice just finished, with Conor Daly recording the fastest speed. The session had one major inxident.

Kye Kirkwood went low then came up high, hitting the wall with the right side of the card. The damage didn’t look too bad, but he may not get back for the main practice.

Josef Newgarden touched wheels with Alexander Rossi, but both cars kept going without further issues.

My journey to Iowa began in chaos. Just as I was about to leave for the airport 5:45 am, a text from Soutwest informed me that I had been rebooked on flight departing at 3:30 pm and arriving in Des Moines after my connection at 11 pm. Communication with the airline produced no palatable alternative, so I decided to drive.

The drive is long, and the rainstorm I encountered 50 miles from the track did not help my mood. By the time I reached the exit to the track, the rain was very heavy. I pulled into the convenience store lot and parked. I found out the tracked had cancelled activity for the rest of the day.

Weather will not be an issue for the rest of the weekend. In fact, this morning is the most pleasant and comfortable I have ever been at Iowa.

IndyCar practice has just started. I will be back after practice with results as Indy NXT will get their race underway.

Iowa Saturday-Two Days in One

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Revised schedule: All times Central.

Gates open at 10 am.

Only Indy NXT qualifying has not carried over.

An install lap at 8:55 am begins the day.

IndyCar practice will consist of two groups doing high line practice for 15 minutes each followed by a 45 minute full field practice.

The Indy NXT grid is set by points standings. Dennis Hauger will start on pole.

The time between qualifying and the race may be a concern for anyone having an issue on their qualifying run.

I was wondering why this was a three day event to begin with.

I now television had a big say here, but IndyCar had an opportunity top move today’s race to a night contest.

Thunderstorm Washes Out NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice at Iowa Speedway 

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From IndyCar:

 NEWTON, Iowa (Friday, July 11, 2025) – Inclement weather forced the cancellation of the first day of NTT INDYCAR SERIES action at Iowa Speedway, setting up a busy two days for the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES races will be held as scheduled. The Synk 275 powered by Sukup is set for 5 p.m. ET Saturday followed by the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Both races will air live on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will be first on the .894-mile oval Saturday with install laps beginning at 9:55 a.m. followed by 30 minutes of high-line group running. All cars will get 45 minutes of regular practice beginning at 10:45 a.m. FS2 will air live coverage of the sessions.
The 75-lap INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway race will be held at noon ET on FS1
.NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying will move to 1:30 p.m. on FS1. Each car will be permitted two timed laps, the first helping to set the starting lineup for the Synk 275 powered by Sukup. The second lap will do the same for the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup.

Iowa Preview: The Last Bullring?

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IndyCar returns to its roots this weekend at Iowa Speedway, the 7/8-mile oval in Newton. Sukup has taken over as sponsor of the two 275 lap races. The action is usually fast and furious on this bullring of a track, but last year it wasn’t furious. The event has been a double header since 2020, but there was no race in 2021. Although Alex Palou is running away with the championship, storylines abound this weekend.

A Return in 2026?

With the Texas race and possibly Mexico City joining the schedule next year, a double header at Iowa is unlikely. But will there be a race at all? Attendance has dwindled since the first big four concert weekend in 2022, and the racing last year was the worst in IndyCar’s time at the track.

The series and Firestone are working to help the competition. The tire company is bringing a new right front tire, and the series is shifting the point of downforce to the front of the car and lowering engine power.

Still unless the cars get lots of time to rubber in the second lane, we may see a parade again. From driver comments after the test a couple weeks ago, it seems there is some hope but little optimism for a better show. The 21 cars at the test did not use the changes to the cars.

Weather may be a factor this weekend, notably Friday and Saturday. Any high line work could be moot if rain washes away the rubber laid down in the outside line.

This track was made for night racing. IndyCar should return to a race beginning at dusk at Iowa. The night shows produced the best racing here.

If there is to be a double header, the races should be different lengths so that we don’t see two near identical pitstop patterns. Saturday’s race should be 300 laps, and the series should run 250 laps on Sunday.

Penske Rebound, Part 5

I have asked this several times this season, but this weekend is likely Team Penske’s last and maybe best chance for s great result in 2025. Josef Newgarden has won at Iowa six times, most recently in Race 2 in 2023. Scott McLaughlin and Will power have also won here. The pair split last year’s races. Team Penske has won nine times in the 21 Iowa races.

Notes

I think we are likely to see the 4th different winner of 2025 in at least one of the races. Pato O’Ward has a strong record here, finishing near the top several times and winning in 2022 race 2 after coming home second in race 1.

Conor Daly was fastest in the recent Iowa test, and one other driver believes he has a good shat at victory.

David Malukas is my pick to win one of the races and earn his first IndyCar win. For the other race, look for Colton Herta to finally break through.

I will be enroute to Newton Friday morning and should arrive at the track before the practice period begins.

I will provide weather updates along the way.

Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend Fast Facts 

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 Race weekend: Friday, July 11-Sunday, July 13Track: Iowa Speedway, a 7/8-mile (0.894-mile) oval in Newton, Iowa
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Synk 275 powered by Sukup: 275 laps / 245.85 miles (Saturday) | Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup: 275 laps / 245.85 miles (Sunday) | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway: 75 laps / 67.05 miles

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 125 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Thirteen sets for use through the doubleheader weekend. An extra set will be available for the high-line session on Friday. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets for use through the event weekend. A carryover set from June’s test day may be used for the first 10 minutes of Practice 1.X: @indycaratiowa, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @indycaratiowa, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @indycaratiowa, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.indycaratiowa.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com
2024 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott McLaughlin (No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet), Race #1Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet), Race #2INDY NXT by FirestoneLouis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global
)2024 NTT P1 Award winners:
Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), 17.5606 seconds, 187.655 mph (Race 1);Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet), 17.0966 seconds, 188.248 mph (Race 2)
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: James Roe (No. 29 Andretti Global), 37.7248 seconds, 170.625 mph (two laps)
One-lap qualifying record:
NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott McLaughlin, 17.0966 seconds, 188.248 mph, July 13,
2024INDY NXT by Firestone James Roe, 18.8114 seconds, 171.088 mph, July 12, 2024
Two-lap qualifying record:I NDY NXT by FirestoneJames Roe, 37.7248 seconds, 170.625 mph, July 12, 2024
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 3:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Synk 275 powered by Sukup Race, 5 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live); Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup Race, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 2:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 6:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Race, 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter
.INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes serves as the anchor, alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young is the turn announcer. Alex Wollf, Drake York and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Synk 275 powered by Sukup race (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday), Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup race (12:30 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway (1:25 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times Central)
:FRIDAY, JULY 11
1:30-2:15 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice, FS2 (live
)2:35 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Installation Laps (one time by), FS2 (live)
2:40-3:20 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES High-Line Session (Two groups, two 10-minute sessions each), FS2 (live)
3:30-5 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice, FS2 (live)
5:35-6:20 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, two laps), FS2 (live)
SATURDAY, JULY 12
11:05 a.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, two laps (Lap 1/Race 1; Lap 2/Race 2), FS1 (live)
12:31 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway “Drivers, start your engines”)
12:35 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway (75 laps/67.05 miles), FS1 (live)
4 p.m. FOX on air
4:15 p.m. Synk 275 powered by Sukup “Drivers, start your engines”
4:20 p.m. Synk 275 powered by Sukup (275 laps/245.85 miles), FOX (live)
SUNDAY, JULY 13
Noon FOX on air
12:15 p.m. Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup “Drivers, start your engines”
12:20 p.m. Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup (275 laps/245.85 miles), FOX (live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Synk 275 powered by Sukup and Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup will be the 11th and 12th races of the 2025 season. There have been three winners in 10 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in the 2025 season. Alex Palou (Streets of St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club, Barber Motorsports Park, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Indianapolis 500 and Road America), Kyle Kirkwood (Streets of Long Beach, Streets of Detroit and World Wide Technology Raceway) and Scott Dixon (Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course).
The Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader, featuring the Synk 275 powered by Sukup and Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup, will be the third and fourth oval races of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. The previous two oval races of the season were won by Alex Palou (Indianapolis 500) and Kyle Kirkwood (World Wide Technology Raceway). The remaining oval races will take place on Aug. 24 at the Milwaukee Mile and Aug. 31 at Nashville Superspeedway.
The Synk 275 powered by Sukup and Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup will be the 22nd and 23rd NTT INDYCAR SERIES events at Iowa Speedway. Josef Newgarden is the only entered driver to win at Iowa Speedway more than once. Newgarden has six wins (2016, 2019, 2020 Race #2, 2022 Race #1, 2023 Race #1 and 2023 Race #2). Past winners Pato O’Ward (2022 Race #2), Scott McLaughlin (2024 Race #1) and Will Power (2024 Race #2) are also entered in the event.
Team Penske has won nine of the 21 previous races at Iowa Speedway, including eight of the last 10 races. (Helio Castroneves 2017, Josef Newgarden 2019, 2020 Race #2, 2022 Race #1, 2023 Race #1 and 2023 Race #2. Simon Pagenaud 2020 Race #1, Scott McLaughlin 2024 Race #1 and Will Power 2024 Race #2). Andretti Global has seven wins (Dario Franchitti 2007, Tony Kanaan 2010, Marco Andretti 2011, Ryan Hunter-Reay 2012, 2014 and 2015 and James Hinchcliffe 2013).
Chip Ganassi Racing has two wins (Dan Wheldon 2008 and Franchitti 2009).
Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dario Franchitti and Josef Newgarden are the only drivers to win at Iowa Speedway and win the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season. Newgarden accomplished the feat in 2019, Hunter-Reay in 2012 and Franchitti in 2007 and 2009. Scott Dixon is the only driver to have competed in every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Iowa, and although he has 13 top-five finishes in his previous 21 starts on the oval, he’s never won at “The World’s Fastest Short Track.”
Thirteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Josef Newgarden 1,847, Will Power 433, Scott McLaughlin 260, Dixon 131, Alex Palou 104, Pato O’Ward 97, Colton Herta 86, Graham Rahal 32, Conor Daly 17, Felix Rosenqvist 9, Alexander Rossi 4, Marcus Ericsson 3, and David Malukas 1).
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 350th and 351st consecutive starts, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 250th and 251st consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 213th and 214th consecutive starts, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Pato O’Ward will attempt to make his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start in Saturday’s Synk 275 powered by Sukup…Callum Ilott will attempt to make his 50th start in Sunday’s Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 414 with starts Saturday and Sunday…Dixon’s win at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 6 – his 59th INDYCAR SERIES win – extended four other ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: Seasons with a win (23), consecutive seasons with a win (21), podium finishes (144) and top-five finishes (214).
INDY NXT by Firestone Race Notes:The INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Andretti Global drivers Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes moves to Iowa Speedway for the first of three ovals in the final six races. Hauger, who has recorded five wins this season, heads to Iowa with a 47-point lead over Hughes, a two-time race winner this season. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen three winners in eight races so far, with six different drivers finishing on the podium.The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Iowa Speedway will be the series’ 13th race at Iowa Speedway. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Iowa include Josef Newgarden, Ana Beatriz, Sage Karam, Matheus Leist, Pato O’Ward, Hunter McElrea, Christian Rasmussen and Louis Foster.