Iowa Speedway was built by a group of Iowan businessmen that included NASCAR champion driver Rusty Wallace.
As far as the NTT IndyCar Series is concerned, it’s owned by Josef Newgarden.
Five of the last seven Iowa IndyCar races ended with the same after-credits scene: Newgarden in victory lane. That run of complete dominance is rare in this competitive series, and 26 other drivers, including his Team Penske teammates, want nothing more than to overcome both the challenging track and Newgarden himself to win.
The fastest short track in the nation hosts rounds 11 and 12 on the 2024 schedule for the series. It will be the third running of the unique Hy-Vee weekend (fourth if 2020 is included, before Hy-Vee sponsorship), with two 250-lap races.
There are some slight differences in this running versus years past. The first race will be run under the lights, something fans have been asking for in order to get at least one of the spectacles out of incredibly hot temperatures under the Iowa sun.
Another change is the track surface itself which had multiple lanes repaved in the turns prior to the venue’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race in June. It’s a new challenge that might impact Team Penske’s domination.
Last Year
Will Power tried. Scott Mclaughlin took a swing. Pato O’Ward looked to defend. And even Alex Palou took a peek.
But none were able to fully challenge Newgarden. He led 341 of 500 laps and swept the weekend, avenging what looked like the pending result in 2022 until a crash ended his day from the lead in Race 2.
Power took pole for both races and held off his teammate through a full stint and was closing on a second. However a check up late in stint two forced him out of the gas and Newgarden went on by, never being challenged again.
In Race 2, Power and McLaughlin held Newgarden off until they caught traffic. Then the American, who clearly has an unmatched level of confidence in his car on this layout, went around both Team Penske drivers in the same turn, jetting off to his second straight win and sixth overall at Iowa.
Heat will make conditions miserable on Sunday, and the night racing will require a different mechanical set up as temperatures cool. Newgarden isn’t having a fantastic year, aside from his Indianapolis 500 win, but Iowa can easily be a place for him to rebound and he seems ready, if what he shared with Fronstretch on Friday is any indication.