Category: Auto Racing

Pre-Race Notes: Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway

thepitwindow

From Firetsone:

The Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend takes place at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet ” in Newton, Iowa, and features three races on the 0.875-mile oval; Two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, the “Synk 275” and “Farm to Finish 275” doubleheader, as well as an INDY NXT By Firestone race.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Firestone will supply approximately 1,800 Firestone Firehawk race tires for practice, qualifying, and the pair of 275-lap (245.85 miles) races. Notably, the race distance for both events has been extended by 25 laps from last year.

Qualifying for both races will take place Saturday, July 12, with the first race of the doubleheader, the “Synk 275”, set for later that afternoon, and the “Farm to Finish 275” to take place on Sunday, July 13.

Each NTT INDYCAR SERIES entry will receive the following Firestone Firehawk race tire allocation:

  • 13 sets of tires per entry
  • One additional set of non-race spec tires designated solely for use in highline practice

Notes from Cara Krstolic, Director of Race Tire Engineering and Manufacturing:

Following the June test at Iowa Speedway, we conducted a full analysis of the data collected, and in partnership with INDYCAR, made the decision to build a new right-front race tire. This tire features a slightly revised construction to better handle the extreme loads experienced during the test session. A similar construction has been used successfully at Iowa Speedway in previous races.

The left side tires are the same construction and compounds as the Indianapolis 500 with a smaller stagger from last year at Iowa to help drivers run multiple lines during the race.

The right-side tire compounds remain unchanged from last year, as they performed well in managing the heat generated by Iowa Speedway’s high speeds and temperatures.

INDY NXT by Firestone

Firestone is providing close to 300 race tires for practice, qualifying and Saturday afternoon’s 75-lap (67.05 miles or 55-minute) INDY NXT by Firestone race at Iowa Speedway.

Each INDY NXT by Firestone entry will receive the following race tire allocation:

  • 3 sets per entry

Notes from Cara Krstolic, Director of Race Tire Engineering and Manufacturing, on INDY NXT by Firestone tires:

The INDY NXT by Firestone oval tire for Iowa Speedway features a similar right-side tire design to last year but with a lighter tread gauge. Both right side tires will have the same compound specifications as in 2024 at Iowa. The left side tires have the same construction and compounds as last year.

Quick Thoughts- Honda Indy 200

thepitwindow

One seventh win prevented another. Scott Dixon won his seventh race at Mid Ohio, keeping Alex Palou from winning his seventh race of the season.

The predictable turned unpredictable in the closing laps at Mid Ohio as Dixon took advantage of a rare mistake by Palou to take the lead with five laps to go and turn what had been an unremarkable race into a thrilling finish, winning the Honda Indy 200 for the seventh time. Palou appeared to have another win tucked away before going off track in turn nine and watching his teammate zip by.

“Just a mistake,” Palou said.

It’s nice to know he is human after all.

Dixon is the third different winner of the 2025 season. He keeps a streak intact of winning at least one ace for 21 consecutive seasons. Dixon now has 59 victories in his IndyCar career.

The Penske Spiral

The lost season continues for Josef Newgarden. Newgarden spun just after the start of the race when his rear brakes locked. Graham Rahal made contact but was able to continue. Today marked the fifth finish in the 20s for Newgarden.

Will Power came into the pits after one lap with a fire at the rear of the car. Scott McLaughlin finished 23rd, one lap down.

Great Drives

Pato O’Ward started 14th and finished fifth.

Felix Rosenqvist started 15th and finished sixth.

Rinus VeeKay started 26th and came home ninth.

Kyffin Simpson’s hiccup on his last stop may have cost him a podium, which would have made for a Ganassi 1-2-3 finish. Four of the top 11 finishers today have five or fewer years in IndyCar.

Colton Herta may have lost a podium with a slow last pit stop.

Mid Ohio announced a record crowd today. I can believe it from the traffic entering the track this morning.

Results

That will do it for me today. Thanks for following along this weekend.

Mid Ohio Race Day

thepitwindow

Today’s schedule:

TimeSeriesSession
8:20 AM – 9:00 AMUSF2000Race 3
9:32 AM – 9:57 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup
10:36 AM – 11:31 AMINDY NXT by FirestoneRace
12:20 PM – 12:50 PMFan Grid WalkEnter through the Paddock
12:27 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESDriver Introductions
1:22 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESThe Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport (90 Laps)

Three words for the day- Hydrate, Shade, Sunscreen. The high will be 90 degrees again today, so please take care.

The alternate tire may be the rubber of choice today. Drivers who did not make the Fast Six will have an extra set of reds available for the race.

If anyone can beat Alex Palou today, Christian Lundgaard could be the driver to do it. He has been one of the fastest drivers all weekend.

Heat

Several drivers will be wearing cool suits today as they try to combat the heat.

How will heat affect the hybrids? The units have had a tendency to overheat in similar weather conditions.

I look for a three stop race unless we have a lot of caution periods. The trend this season has been for cautions in the first half of the race, then green for most of the second half.

I will be back after warmup with starting tire selections, and Iwill have a brief race wrap up after thr=e race.

Mid Ohio Qualifying- New Fast Six, Same Result

thepitwindow

A Fast Six combination that has never been seen before ended with the same result. Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson joined Christian Lundgaard, Louis Foster, Alex Palou, and Colton Herta in the final round.

Foster looked to be on track for his second straight pole, and Lundgaard had shown a lot of strength in practice. But in the end, Alex Palou won his third pole of the season as his dominance continues.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Kyle Kirkwood not advancing to the Fast Six. Kirkwood finished seventh in Round 2. Scott Dixon will start ninth.

Team Penske woes continue as Josef Newgarden is their best qualifier in 18th. Will Power and Scott McLaughlin share row 11.

Arrow McLaren placed two cars in the Fast Six,k but Pato OWard, last year’s winner at Mid Ohio, was not one of them. He will start 15th tomorrow. Christian Lundgaard has emerged as the team leader.

Pato O’Ward during qualifying today.

Rinus VeeKay lost his best lap for causing a local yellow and will start 26th.

Christian Rasmussen qualified 10th but will start 16th because of an engine penalty.

Notes

It is nice to start seeing some new drivers in the Fast Six. Foster has a pole and has made two consecutive Fast Six rounds. Siegel seems to have found his groove after a challenging early season. Simpson has show quiet but steady improvement.

Palou just missed turning a lap under 1:05. Lundgaard was 0.19 seconds behind him.

Siegel, Herta, and Foster were more than a second slower than Palou. In today’s IndyCar, that is a huge difference.

Results

Goodbye, Turn 4

thepitwindow

My favorite spot to watch racing at Mid Ohio is the esses, the turn 4 and 5 complex just after the starting line. Turn 4 was a swooping, banked curve with a sand trap on the driver’s left, heading downhill then uphill to turn 5.

Since last year turn 4 has been flattened and the sand trap, affectionately known as China Beach, has been enlarged. The difference is quite striking, as I discovered this morning. I did not expect such a dramatic change. Turn 4 is completely flat now.

You can see the difference in this photo.

Change is inevitable on a track that that opened in 1962. Ground settles, and Midwest weather is rough on pavement. I suppose it had to be done. We will see how it affects the racing tomorrow. I hope itdoesn’t diminish one of the most exciting starts of the season.

Mid Ohio Saturday

thepitwindow

Today’s schedule:

TimeSeriesSession
8:35 AM – 9:20 AMINDY NXT by FirestonePractice 2
9:40 AM – 10:15 AMUSF Juniors Race 2
10:35 AM – 11:35 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIESPractice 2
11:00 AM – 2:00 PMFishing with Cabela’sMeet at the pond south of the Mid-Ohio Tower
11:55 AM – 12:45 PMUSF Pro 2000Race 1
1:30 PM – 2:00 PMINDY NXT by FirestoneQualifying 
1:30 PM – 1:50 PMUSF JuniorsAutograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:00 PM – 2:20 PMUSF2000Autograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:30 PM – 2:50 PMUSF Pro 2000Autograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:35 PM – 4:00 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESQualifying
4:15 PM – 5:00 PMINDY NXT by FirestoneAutograph Session at American Legion in the Midway
4:20 PM – 5:00 PMUSF2000Race 2
After QualifyingCamping with HondaHonda IndyCar drivers will tour the campground
5:15 PM – 6:05 PMUSF Pro 2000Race 2
7:00 PMMovie in the EssesDisney’s “Cars” on the big screen between Turns 4 & 5
DuskFireworks ShowSunset at 9:05 PM 

Another hot day on tap for this afternoon. . If you’re coming to the track, wear light colored clothing, hydrate, and seek shade.

Yesterday Team Penske formalized their new leadership roles, promoting two people who had been working with their Porsche program. Jonathan Duguid, who has been with the team since 2005, is the new president of Penske Racing Inc., covering Indycar and sports cars. Duguid had been managing director of Porsche Penske Motorsport.

Travis Law is now competition director of Penske Racing Inc. Law has been with Team Penske since 2007 and had been director of competition for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

It looks like a fairly seamless transition for the team, and I think they will get the teamback to its usual standard rather quickly. Team Penske cars were among the leaders in yesterday’s mpractice, and I expect them to do well in qualifying today.

I’ll be back after this morning’s practice with results and qualifying groups.

Mid Ohio Practice 1

thepitwindow

Kyle Kirkwood posted the fastest lap of the day in Group 1 of Practice 1 for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio. Will Power led the all car group, and Josef Newgarden led Group 2.

“We’re really fast right now,” Kirkwood said. “As long as we continue that, we’ll be in a really good spot. We’ve come here this year with maybe a different philosophy, and it seems to be working out.”

Red flags in the 40 minute session- David Malukas backed into the tire barrier in turn9 and broke his suspension. He was seen and released in the medical center. Malukas did not return for group practice.

Colton Herta spun and made contact with the wall in turn 6 to end the session. He served his 5 minute penalty during his group session.

Felix Rosenqvist came to a stop two minutes into Group 2 practice.

In the post practice press conference, Will Power and Colton Herta complained of other drivers backing up and costing them a lap. Both drivers are uncertain as to whether the change to turn 4 will affect passing.

Results