Two times the IndyCar this weekend! ATRL’s Eline Luna takes a look at HyVee IndyCar race at the Iowa Speedway this weekend.
IndyCar heads back to the United States for their only double-header of the season at the Iowa Speedway, which has hosted several IndyCar races since 2007.
The D-shaped oval track features banking ranging from 12 to 14 degrees. Due to its less-than-a-mile length, Iowa is deemed a short track. However, the speeds can make it feel like more of a speedway. This is why it’s often called “The World’s Fastest Short Track.”
Newgarden’s dominance
Josef Newgarden seemed absolutely unbeatable at Iowa last year and has always been fast at the track. Last year he dominantly won the first race of the weekend and was set to take a second win in a similar fashion.
Unfortunately, a mechanical failure saw him crash out of the race with 65 laps remaining. He’ll be looking to make it right and extend his record as the driver with the most wins at the track.
Josef Newgarden on the podium
For Newgarden, this will be an important weekend to try and close the gap to Palou in the championship standings.
Qualifying
Qualifying at ovals is different from Qualifying at road courses.
The qualifying order is determined by the entrants’ championship points. The car with the least amount of points will qualify first, and the championship leader will qualify last.
For this doubleheader, there will only be a single qualifying session. Drivers will be mandated to set two fast laps, of which the first decides the starting order for the race on Saturday and the second for Sunday.
Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
Qualifying, especially at an oval, is not super important for the eventual outcome of a race. But drivers will still be able to score a point for the NTT P1 award.
Conor Daly returns with Meyer Shank Racing
After a hard crash in practice for Simon Pagenaud at Mid-Ohio, the Frenchman is still not medically cleared to race. Meyer Shank Racing has subbed in Conor Daly to fill in for the Frenchman. Conor Daly was a last-minute substitute at Mid-Ohio and remained in close contact with the team throughout the Toronto race weekend, where Tom Blomqvist made his debut with the team.
Track Layout for 2023:
Championship Fight
Alex Palou continues to lead the championship by 117 points over teammate Scott Dixon. A bad qualifying at Toronto was a great opportunity for any hopeful championship rivals to close the gap to Palou.
However, with a little luck strategy-wise, Palou managed to salvage a P2 and extended his championship lead even further.
Track Information:
- Race Length: 250 Laps | 223.5 Miles (Both races)
- Turns: 4
- Track Length: 0.875 miles (1.408 km)
- Most Wins: Josef Newgarden (4)
- Race Lap Record: 17.2283 Hélio Castroneves
Past Winners in Iowa:
-
2022 R2: Pato O’Ward
-
2022 R1: Josef Newgarden
-
2020 R2: Josef Newgarden
-
2020 R1: Simon Pagenaud
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eline follows a variety of motorsports from Formula E to IMSA to Nascar to WEC. They hope to study Mechanical Engineering to work in motorsports one day.
Related Articles
Will Red Bull Ever Defeat the Curse of the Second Seat?
ATRL’s Natasha Warcholak-Switzer takes us through the recent history of Red Bull’s second seat and investigates why it’s so difficult for drivers to last there.
Drive to Silence: The FIA’s Attempt to Muzzle Drivers
The FIA is tightening its grip on its drivers, introducing harsh penalties for swearing and political statements. Is this about protecting the sport or silencing those who dare to speak out? With drivers like Lewis Hamilton refusing to back down, the FIA may have just sparked a fire they can’t control.
Hitting the Apex: Albert Park Street Circuit
It's Melbourne Race Week! Read on to know everything you need to know about the Albert Park Street Circuit.The Albert Park Street Circuit, also known as Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit or simply Albert Park, is a semi-permanent circuit around Albert Park Lake, located 3...
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Interested in Writing for ATRL?
Contact us now! Fill out the form below and wait for an email from us to get started.
Join Our Newsletter
Subscribe to updates when we post a new article!
COMING SOON!
Follow Us
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ATRacingLine
Recent Comments