Josef Newgarden led the final practice for tonight’s Iowa 250. Simon Pagenaud and Scott Dixon followed in a session that saw the series veteran stats at the front.
Colton Herta drove his repaired car and Rinus VeeKay drove a backup car. Herta was 13th and VeeKay was 14th.
The top seven:
Photo: Pagenaud at Road America last week
Last night should remove any doubts about the aeroscreen. It saved Rinus VeeKay’s life and probably kept Marcus Ericsson from serious injury.
Herat’s crash is one of the worst I have ever seen. Thank goodness for the aeroscreen and that the SAFER barrier at Iowa is in front of the fence. We could have seen another Wickens type incident otherwise.
A driver going from starting last to victory lane is quite an accomplishment, but Simon Pagenaud has had lots of practice this year. Last night he improved eight places in the first 25 laps. His average starting position through last night was 17th. His average finishing position is 6.2
Pit strategy played a big part of the outcome. Once again, the timing of the yellow thwarted some great strategy by Takuma Sato, Oliver Askew, and Pato O’Ward.
Up until last night I have been praising the newer drivers. Yesterday was a big day for the newer teams. Carlin, a single car entry, won the pole with Conor Daly, who finished eighth. Arrow McLaren SP, with Askew getting his first podium and O’Ward finishing fourth, had a shot at the win. Don’t count them out tonight either.
It is hard to believe that it took five races for a Penske car or a Chevy to win this season.
Askew’s third place finish gives him a top 10 and a top 5 in the two oval races to date.
I’m hearing that Andretti will repair Herat’s car, and VeeKay will go to the backup. A badly damaged car in race 1 is a risk on a double header weekend.
Dixon”s try for career win 50 fell less than half a second short. Like Pagenaud, he started near the rear of the field and will do so again tonight. The task might be a bit more challenging with Josef Newgarden and Will Power on the front row.
It was a great race. Once again, the television schedule didn’t work out in Indycar’s favor. This would have been a really nice one to have had on NBC.
I’ll be back with tonight’s starting lineup and practice results later.
Today’s schedule:
Old photo. Someone must have thought these guys would be pretty good drivers
Conor Daly joined the ranks of Indycar pole winners this afternoon as he had the fastest first lap in qualifying for the Iowa 250s. Daly’s first lap of 175.188 beat Josef Newgarden by 0.0085 seconds. Newgarden turned the fastest second lap of 175.333 nipped teammate Will Power for tomorrow night’s pole. Daly starts third Saturday.
Simon Pagenaud had a fuel pressure problem as he started out of the pits for his qualifying run. Pagenaud will start last in both races. Qualifying has been difficult for Pagenaud this season.
It will be fun watching him work his way to the front.
Daly’s first pole follows last Sunday’s first pole for Pato O’Ward. Four drivers have won pokes so far this year.
This is big achievement for Carlin Racing, the only single car team in the field.
Tonight’s green flag is at 9:15 pm Eastern Time.
Good morning from somewhere in the wilds of I-74. As you read this i am on my way to Iowa for Rounds 5 and 6 of the Indycar season.
Today’s schedule: (Times are Central)
The qualifying sets the grid for tonight and tomorrow night. Both races are on NBCSN. Sunset tonight is 8:43 pm Central time, so this race will be run mostly after dark. Saturday’s race begins 30 minutes earlier.
I will try to post after qualifying, but definitely look for my race quick thoughts about two hours after the finish of the race. I will also have a feature tomorrow morning on some news of the week.
Enjoy the races.
yesterday doctors began the process of bringing Alex Zanardi out his medically induced coma. the process is expected to take three days. When he is awake, the doctors will do a neurological evaluation.
Two spotter’s guides, one for each race. Like last week, the 15 car of Graham Rahal will switch liveries for Race 2. It will also be difficult to remember that Ed Carpenter is in the Air Force car and that Conor Daly is driving number 59 for Carlin.
My apologies. I posted last week’s entry lists by mistake. here are the correct ones.
Race1
Race 2
Good morning from the remote Road America media center, located five miles from the track in Plymouth. Talk about distancing.
The NTT Indycar Series begins a four races in nine days stretch toiday with the first of two races at Road America. The REV Group Grand Prix begins at 5:15 Eastern time. NBCSN begins their broadcast at 5 pm Eastern.
Today’s schedule: (All Times Eastern)
Indycar will use the double header qualifying format that is used at Detroit. Practice divides the field into two groups. Each group gets 12 minutes on track. The fastest driver in each group gets a point. The faster of the group leaders is on the pole. On Sunday the order of the groups is reversed.
The 55 laps will require three pit stops. This race will be difficult to run with just two. There have not been any caution laps the last two years.
Spotter’s Guides for today and tomorrow:
Back later with practice results.
Photo- Indycar, Jonathan Ferrey (Getty Images)
Qualifying groups for this afternoon’s knockout rounds and Fast Six:
Qualifying Groups (unofficial)
| GROUP 1 | GROUP 2 |
|---|---|
| Santino Ferrucci | Will Power |
| Pato O’Ward | Marcus Ericsson |
| Ryan Hunter-Reay | Scott Dixon |
| Felix Rosenqvist | Simon Pagenaud |
| Oliver Askew | Spencer Pigot |
| Josef Newgarden | Colton Herta |
| Marco Andretti | Jack Harvey |
| Takuma Sato | Alexander Rossi |
| Max Chilton | Rinus VeeKay |
| Conor Daly | Graham Rahal |
| Álex Palou | Zach Veach |
| James Hinchcliffe | Charlie Kimball |
| Sage Karam | Dalton Kellett |
Qualifying can be seen on NBCSN at 4:30 Eastern. The race is at noon tomnorrow on NBC.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 