Josef Newgarden gave hope for a Team Penske renaissance in IndyCar, taking pole position for Race 1 for the Synk 275 at Iowa in qualifying, with Alex Palou lining up P1 for Sunday’s race.
With poor weather, including a tornado curtailing all running on Friday, all IndyCar was combined into a single day.
Presenting a test for the teams and drivers, the IndyCar double header weekend would get underway, with Penske looking like the team to beat. Scott McLaughlin topped practice at the Synk 275 ahead of qualifying. Josef Newgarden was from not far his team-mate in fifth, but the other Team Penske of Will Power languished in 15th.
With the qualifying session setting the grid for both races, the drivers would need to push on each of their two laps in Iowa. Lap 1 would position for Saturday’s race, while lap two would the position for race two. The drivers took to the track in reverse entrant order, in two groups.
Group 1
Jacob Abel set the benchmark for the field to beat, with an average speed of 175.255mph. Callum Illott, was next, comfortably beating Abel, with a 182.257. Devlin DeFrancesco’s efforts did not beat the Britons time.
The second Prema of Robert Schwartzman, lifting on his first lap but still took the top spot on both his qualifying efforts.
Sting Ray Robb’s laps did not go to plan, both his laps placing him just above Abel’s Dale Coyne. Louis Foster’s first laps saw him jump to the top of the timesheet, but his second was only good enough for third.
Graham Rahal’s RLL almost hit the wall on his second lap, but still secured him provisional pole for Sunday’s race, while his first slotted him onto the front row for now.
Former Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson was next to take on the oval at Iowa. The Andretti driver struggled for pace, his first lap taking third, his second only good enough for fourth.
Newgarden looked to continue his run of dominance at Iowa, his his laps putting him on provisional pole position for both races, with an average speed of 183.999 mph for Race 1. Conor Daly joined him on the front row for Saturday’s and Sunday’s race after his runs. Nolan Siegel’s laps were good enough to move into third for Race 1, and the front row for Race 2.
Christian Rasmussen failed to make any impression on the session, lining up ninth for both races. Kyffin Simpson fared worse; his first lap was only good enough for 11th, his second, 10th. Alexander Rossi hoped to give Ed Carpenter Racing something positive after Simpson’s run. Lap 1 saw him line up 5th, his fifth, his second eighth.
A high speed crash in IndyCar Synk 275 qualifying
Rinus Veekay had light contact with the wall but was able to continue on lap 1, his second lap also featuring a near miss. He finished down the order on both attempts. David Malukas deposed Newgarden for Race 2 on Sunday, moving into fourth for Race 1.
Scott McLaughlin spun on his first lap, sending him careering into the wall at high speed. His Team Penske car was wrecked by the impact, McLaughlin now out of qualifying.
After a short delay to clean up the track, Santino Ferrucci took to the track, keen to avoid the fate of McLaughlin. His first lap beat team-mate Malukas moving to fourth, but his second lap was a disaster, only securing 13th.
Eight time Iowa polesitter Will Power first lap saw him move into third, his second fourth, but this put two Team Penske’s into the top three for Race 1.
Colton Herta was the next big name to suffer a poor session. His first lap was only good enough for 16th, the second for 14th.
The Meyer Shank of Marcus Armstrong went onto the fourth row on his first and second run.
The Championship contenders take to the track
The running order now moved to the top end of the championship. Felix Rosenqvist’s Meyer Shank secured third on his first lap, jumping to provisional pole for Race 2.
Christian Lundgaard’s McLaren endured a nightmare run. Lap 1 saw him move into 17th, the second only 18th.
Winner last time out Scott Dixon looked to increase his count of two pole positions at Iowa. His first lap took fourth, his second seventh, as the Chip Ganassi driver looked rosy on the second row.
Pato O’Ward looked to improve on McLaren’s mixed qualifying. Lap 1 moved him ahead of team-mate Seigel for Race 1, but behind for Race 2.
Kyle Kirkwood’s run put him at a disadvantage, only driving his car for the first time since being rebuilt. This was reflected in his times: 17th on lap 1, 20th on lap 2.
The last car and championship leader, Alex Palou, set off on his run. Showing his usual supreme confidence, he could only manage fourth for race 1. His second lap however, was good enough for pole position, setting the fastest lap of all the field.
Provisional Classification – Race 1
- Josef Newgarden
- Conor Daly
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Alex Palou
- Pato O’Ward
- Scott Dixon
- Will Power
- Nolan Siegel
- Santino Ferrucci
- David Malukas
- Marcus Armstrong
- Louis Foster
- Alexander Rossi
- Graham Rahal
- Marcus Ericsson
- Robert Schwartzman
- Callum Illot
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Christian Rasmussen
- Devlin DeFrancesco
- Christian Lungaard
- Kyffin Simpson
- Colton Herta
- Sting Ray Robb
- Rinus Veekay
- Jacob Abel
- Scott McLaughlin
