McLaughlin paces practice on sketchy Iowa Speedway Short-Track
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
Iowa Speedway backed-up its reputation as “The World’s Fastest Short-Track” Friday during an intense NTT IndyCar Series practice that saw Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin emerge atop the speed chart.
Scott McLaughlin – Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend – Hy-Vee Homefront 250 – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
The 90-minute session around the 0.894-mile bull-ring was the prelude to a pair of points-paying races _ Saturday night’s Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart (8 p.m. EDT) and the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade on Sunday at noon. Both races will air live on NBC, Peacock and the NDYCAR Radio Network.
McLaughlin posted the day’s hottest lap at 185.891 mph in his No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. The native New Zealander looms as a contender to break Brazilian Helio Castroneves’ track-record of 186.809 mph set in 2014 during NTT P1 Award qualifying today at 3:45 p.m. (EDT) on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
A field of 27 drivers spent Friday navigating the track’s freshly paved corners _ pavement that made lap times significantly quicker. Teams also are adapting to Firestone’s right-side tire compound, one different from what was tested just last month at the facility in Newton. In addition, INDYCAR has mandated a 10 percent reduction in downforce _ an aero tweak that has teams scrambling to dial-in new chassis setups.
All of the above is packaged around the nuances of INDYCAR’s new Hybrid Power Unit as it makes its oval-track debut. The energy recovery system made its overall series bow last weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, where Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward gave Team Chevy a victory over two-time/reigning series champ Alex Palou of Spain and his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The launch of INDYCAR’s long-awaited Hybrid Power Unit Era marked a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Indianapolis-based sanctioning body and OEM partners Chevrolet and Honda. The unit pairs the existing 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine with ground-breaking supercapacitor hybrid technology.
“It was a successful start to the V6 Hybrid Era with Pato and Arrow McLaren securing the first victory with the new technology for Chevrolet,” said Mark Stielow, Director of Motorsports Competition Programs for General Motors. “Shifting forward to Iowa this weekend, it’s a demanding oval both mentally and physically, and mixing in the July heat with the new hybrid technology during a double-header, it will be a challenge.”
Indeed, no less than six drivers experienced “pucker-up moments” during Friday’s practice, most in the latter part of the session.
The No. 28 Delaware Life Honda of Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson took right-side damage after the Swede lost control in Turn 3. The impact was first with the right rear, then with the right front. The winner of the 2022 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was uninjured, but the accident occurred on just his fourth practice lap, meaning he won’t get another lap until today’s qualifying session.
“Really strange,” Ericsson said of his mishap. “I was so comfortable…it’s a massive setback.”
Katherine Legge of Great Britian survived a scare during the session. Her No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda fielded by Dale Coyne Racing was passing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda driven by Christian Lundgaard in Turn 4 when the car began to slide. Legge, who last raced at Iowa Speedway in 2012, was able to keep her car off the wall.
Lundgaard, meanwhile, was unfazed by the moment. “I think practice was alright,” said Lundgaard, a native of Denmark. “We were still messing with some balance changes in the beginning of the session and went to a relatively alright point. But with all of the cars out there it’s very difficult to get a free spot (to check balance) and then you put a set of tires on and people are backing up. Yeah, we did see some yellows because of that as well.
“Overall, it was a pretty good session for the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda team. I think we have a little bit we need to figure out. The car seems to be very reactive to the seams and there was a tail wind in Turn 3 which I think caught Marcus out and I seemed to struggle a lot just trusting the car in entry there.”
Dallas resident Santino Ferrucci saw his No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing/Sexton Properties Chevrolet push nearly into the wall in Turn 4. Moments later, native Argentinian Agustin Canapino lost control of his No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet in Turn 2 while following two-time series champion Will Power of Australia in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Neither car touched the wall.
“It’s definitely going to be a different experience using (the hybrid technology),” said Ferrucci, who finished 10th at Mid-Ohio last weekend for the team owned by INDYCAR icon A.J. Foyt Jr. and based in Waller, Texas. “I think the hybrid is less effective on the short oval just because of the minimum speeds and how we carry the corners. So, I don’t think I’ll really be using the hybrid much other than maybe for starting qualifying off and being able to play defense and offense. But for normal running, I probably won’t be using much of it.
“I do enjoy racing at Iowa and I’ve had a lot of fun, fun races here. I love the fact that it’s normally two to three lanes. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to be the case this year, but we’re gonna have our fingers crossed…for a two-lane racetrack.”
Returning to pit road, Canapino took light contact from Scott Dixon and his No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. A six-time series champion from New Zealand, Dixon said he mistook Canapino for the team’s sister car _ driven by Frenchman Romain Grosjean _ and didn’t realize Canapino was pitting. Again, neither car took significant damage.
Finally, as the session was ending, McLaughlin spun his No. 3 Chevy off Turn 4 as Legge had done earlier. Scotty Mac escaped without damaging his car. “That proves to kids growing up, like, don’t give up if you’re spinning,” McLaughlin joked after running 121 laps.
McLaughlin added he lost control as a result of trying the outside lane, a section where the older surface doesn’t have as much grip. That’s also where excess tire rubber builds, he said, an issue all drivers will have to contend with the remainder of the weekend.
Each car-and-driver combination will get two timed laps during qualifying today, the first lap determining starting positions for Race 1 and the second establishing grid positions for Race 2.
Point-leader Palou posted the second-fastest lap Friday at 185.536 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. O’Ward logged 111 laps, cranking out a top speed of 184.154 mph to place third.
“It’s going to be a physical two races,” said O’Ward, a native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio. “I’m looking forward to (today’s) night race. We had a session (Friday), and it’s a bit of shame that the compound we’re going to race with I don’t think we’ll be able to race on the second lane. That’s a bit of a bummer, or at least that’s what it seems like right now. Hopefully it’s not just a one-lane show and we can get it working so we can give all the fans a good, entertaining weekend.”
David Malukas, driver of the No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda of Meyer Shank Racing, was fourth overall at 184.112 mph. Alexander Rossi, driver of the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, completed Friday’s top-five at 183.784 mph.
“There was a lot to get done in one session,” Rossi said after running 102 laps. “But considering all of the changes, I think the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was very good. Unfortunately, I think we’re limited to one lane and there was no tire degradation. From our side and the things that we can control, the car is good in race-running and in the qualifying sims that we did. Track position is going to be incredibly important.”
Two-time/reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden _ who swept this twin bill last summer _ ranked 15th Friday after his best lap at 181.511 mph in the No. 2 Hitachi Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet. A two-time series champion, Newgarden completed 105 laps.
James Roe knew what he had accomplished at Iowa Speedway Friday, but wasn’t immediately aware of the accompanying spoils. In addition to winning the first INDY NXT by Firestone pole of his career, the Irishman set a track record with a two-lap qualifying average of 170.625 mph.
Additionally, Roe led a 1-2-3 sweep in qualifying for Andretti Global. “I didn’t know (all) that _ there you go!” Roe said.
The series’ track-record speed had stood since 2017, when Colton Herta ran 163.835 mph. On Friday, 17 drivers eclipsed that mark with the help of the recently repaved corners of the 0.894-mile short-track.
Driving the No. 29 Topcon machine, Roe will lead an Andretti Global contingent comprised of Louis Foster and Jamie Chadwick. Foster’s second lap at 170.601 mph in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies entry fell off just enough to settle for the No. 2 starting position. Chadwick qualified third at 170.387 mph in the No. 28 VEXT car.
Team-owner Michael Andretti’s three drivers will lead the 18-car pack to the green flag for this afternoon’s INDY NXT by Firestone at Iowa Speedway (2 p.m. EDT, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network). The Andretti drivers wheeled the only cars to complete two-lap qualifying runs with average speeds in excess of 170 mph.
After consulting with Firestone officials, INDYCAR announced late Saturday morning an updated format for today’s race “to ensure the most exciting and compelling event” for Round 10 of the 2024 schedule.
Originally set for 75 laps/67.05-miles, the event distance has been adjusted to 55 laps, which, in order, will include a competition yellow condition after the leader completes Lap 15; approximately 10 laps under yellow condition and a single-file restart to begin the remaining race distance. Race procedures are subject to change based upon prevailing circumstances.
Roe’s only other professional career pole was recorded in 2021 in the Indy Pro 2000 race on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval in Madison, Ill., driving for Turn 3 Motorsport.
“I can’t thank these guys enough,” Roe, 25, said of his Andretti Global crew. “It’s been a hell of a few weeks. Yeah, here we are. We’ve got a rocket ship. So, let’s get the job done.”
Roe qualified fourth for last year’s INDY NXT by Firestone race in Newton and finished ninth. Still chasing his first series victory, Roe is ninth in the point standings.
“We were strong here last year,” Roe said. “We knew that our (qualifying) car was mega, so it was a matter of just putting it together. Honestly, we guessed a little bit on setup. I left the pits and said, ‘I’m holding it flat…to the checkers.’^”
NTT IndyCar Series point standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 329; 2, Will Power, Team Penske, 281; 3, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 259; 4, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 258; 5, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 249; 6, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 234; 7, Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren, 226; 8, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 224; 9, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 192; 10, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 186;
11, Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 182; 12, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 180; 13, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 174; 14, Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 151; 15, Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing, 142; 16, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 139; 17, Linus Lundqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing, 128; 18, Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, 125; 19, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 104; 20, Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 103;
21, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 97; 22, Augustin Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 94; 23, Sting Ray Robb, A.J. Foyt Racing, 92; 24, Theo Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren, 75; 25, Jack Harvey, Dale Coyne Racing, 75; 26, Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 46; 27, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 45; 28, Callum Ilott, Arrow McLaren, 39; 29, David Malukas, Arrow McLaren, 32; 30, Luca Ghiotto, Dale Coyne Racing, 27;
31, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 26; 32, Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 21; 33, Kyle Larson, Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren, 21; 34, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 19; 35, Toby Sowery, Dale Coyne Racing, 17; 36, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 14; 37, Tristan Vautier, Dale Coyne Racing, 12; 38, Colin Braun, Dale Coyne Racing, 10; 39, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 6; 40, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb Agajanian, 5; 41, Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, 5.
