An all-day IndyCar test session at Iowa Speedway on Thursday produced some interesting results at the seven-eighths mile short oval in Newton, Iowa.
Ten NTT IndyCar Series teams and 27 cars tested on Thursday as the series teams and drivers prepare for their return visit to Iowa Speedway July 12-14.
Two former IndyCar Series Iowa race winners, five Indianapolis 500 winners and four former series champions were among the drivers testing Thursday at the track had all four corners undergo a repave in the spring.
The new surface resulted in increased speed at Thursday’s test as several drivers unofficially surpassed the IndyCar Series track record qualifying lap of 186.809 mph recorded by Helio Castroneves in 2014.
“I think it’ll be very different this year, you know, the racetrack is basically brand new and with the repave in the corners, it’s going to drive totally different than what it did,” said Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, the two-time defending Iowa race winner who has captured five out of the last seven series races at Iowa Speedway. “I love this track. I always have and I like the area.
“Newton kind of comes alive during race weekend more so now, because of the involvement with Hy-Vee.
“Hy-Vee has been such a great partner for us and they’ve made this a destination event.”
There are 15 days left until Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend and teams spent Thursday testing some new elements that will be featured during the series’ doubleheader race weekend.
Cars were on track beginning at 10 a.m. CT Thursday morning through 9 p.m. CT, the test session provided plenty of opportunity for teams and drivers to get familiar with the new partially-repaved track surface at Iowa Speedway while also utilizing the new hybrid power unit that will make its official debut at the next IndyCar race on the schedule — the July 7 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
The first oval races with the new hybrid powertrain will then be contested the following week during Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.
“I think (the partial repave) has leveled the playing field. It’s a big day, you know, it’s a good day to have a test,” said Graham Rahal, who along with Newgarden posted one of the fastest times on Thursday. “Obviously for us as a team, Hy-Vee is our biggest partner and we really want to do well for Hy-Vee here. The commitment Hy-Vee made to our sport is unlike anything else. And so, we want to win for them.”
The Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway features a doubleheader on Saturday night July 13 and a day race on Sunday July 14.