Tag: Iowa Speedway

Mayer muscles by Herbst in fraught Xfinity tire battle in Iowa

In a race of tire management and hurt feelings, Sam Mayer held off Riley Herbst in overtime to win Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ return to Iowa Speedway after a four-year hiatus. Mayer’s No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet …

In a race of tire management and hurt feelings, Sam Mayer held off Riley Herbst in overtime to win Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ return to Iowa Speedway after a four-year hiatus.

Mayer’s No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet crossed the finish line 0.146s ahead of the No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford of Herbst, who felt Mayer had abused him earlier in the race.

The victory was Mayer’s second of the season and the sixth of his career, all coming within the last 29 races in the series.

“We struggled [Friday in practice], and the team went to work,” said Mayer, who started fifth when qualifying was canceled because of rain earlier on Saturday. “Obviously, we did pretty good overnight, making different changes on this race car.

“I feel really good. I could do another 100 laps — with a race car like this, it would be a lot of fun.”

 

Mayer held the lead when John Hunter Nemechek slammed the outside wall in Turn 4 with his left front tire down, the result of close quarters racing with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Sheldon Creed.

That accident on lap 245 caused the ninth caution of the afternoon and sent the race three laps beyond its scheduled distance.

In the overtime, Mayer and Herbst took the green flag side-by-side and remained in that posture into Turn 1, but Mayer cleared the race runner-up off Turn 2 and held the top spot the rest of the way.

“I like racing Sam, but Stage 1 or 2 he just absolutely brooms me,” Herbst said. “We were racing clean for fourth, and he takes us back to 10th and then doors me down the back straightaway before the green-white-checker.

“It’s just frustrating the way he wants to do that, but all in all, it was fun. I’m happy to be back on ovals. The speed is back in the No. 98.”

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Corey Heim finished a career-best third after starting 22nd because of the qualifying rainout. Sammy Smith was fourth, followed by Creed, who survived the dust-up with Nemechek after a restart on lap 238.

Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto, Chandler Smith, Ross Chastain and Daniel Dye completed the top 10.

If any driver had cause for frustration, it was Chandler Smith, who led a race-high 131 laps and swept the first two stages. Smith restarted third to begin the final stage, but lack of short-run speed quickly dropped him to 12th, and he never recovered.

Austin Hill likewise had reason to bemoan his result. Overcoming early handling issues, Hill charged into the top five in the final stage, but a cut left front tire sent him hard into the Turn 1 wall on lap 218, causing the seventh caution.

Hill finished 29th and dropped to third in the series standings, 41 points behind Custer, the current leader and defending series champion. Chandler Smith, second in the standings, trails Custer by one point.

RESULTS

Clock ticking for RFK to get both cars locked into Cup playoffs

The calendar is working against Brad Keselowski. “I think my goal that we set was to have it done by the middle of June – to have both cars locked into the playoffs,” Keselowski said at Iowa Speedway. “So, there’s still time.” Not exactly. While …

The calendar is working against Brad Keselowski.

“I think my goal that we set was to have it done by the middle of June – to have both cars locked into the playoffs,” Keselowski said at Iowa Speedway. “So, there’s still time.”

Not exactly. While there is still time to lock both cars into the playoffs, there’s not as much as Keselowski thought. Friday was June 14th, which took him by surprise. He was off on the date by a few days, thinking it was still early in the month.

“That’s less than I thought,” he laughed. “But we’re really happy with how competitive the cars are, how well the teams are clicking, and there is some happenstance involved in winning races and some performance. I think we have solid cars right now.

“Were we as fast as [Kyle Larson] last week? No, no, we weren’t. We weren’t anywhere close to that with either of our two cars, but I expect we’ll be very competitive over the next three weeks and have shots to compete for wins.”

There are divergent feelings within the two RKF Racing teams. Keselowski has a victory at Darlington and is locked into the postseason. It was his first since 2021 and first since aligning with Jack Roush.

“To some degree, I feel a little bit of personal weight off my shoulders,” Keselowski said. “But until we get both cars locked into the playoffs, we still have a big mountain to climb. Obviously, we’ve been very close to that with Chris [Buescher] and the No. 17 car with a number of second-place finishes and a really good run last week at Sonoma.

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“I’m eager to punch that through and have both cars locked in.”

The weight that left Keselowski landed on Buescher’s shoulders. The driver of RFK’s No. 17 is just above the playoff cutline by 32 points heading into Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350.

“It’s just a part of our sport,” Buescher said. “You reset those bags on your shoulders as soon as the year concludes in Phoenix, and you start all over again. We’ve been competitive to Brad’s point. One of the biggest goals I had going through the offseason was, ‘How do we make sure the first eight races are way more competitive than where we were last season?’”

In hindsight, Buescher & Co. gave up a lot of time going through that, but their ceiling is much higher now. He came up short in a few races in heartbreaking fashion, which, had they gone differently, could have been potential victories. There was contact with Tyler Reddick inside 10 laps to go at Darlington Raceway while he led, and he was on the losing end of NASCAR’s closest ever finish at Kansas Speedway.

Buescher described some of his chances at victory as being close but ending in “some catastrophic ways.” He has three top-three finishes on the year.

“We’ve got to capitalize and conclude one of these things,” Buescher said. “The bigger goal at the start of the season was how…we make sure that we’re locked in with a chance to win a championship [and] not just participate. We’re in a good spot, but we’re not in a great spot yet. We’ve got to go through these next handful of races and make all the pieces fit together and click right and, certainly, there has been some frustration on a lot of parts of it. But we’re doing our best to not let that continuously build up and get worse.”

Gragson leads eventful practice in Cup’s first visit to Iowa Speedway

Noah Gragson was fastest in Friday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Iowa Speedway – a session highlighted by numerous tire issues. Gragson went to the top of the board late on at 137.988mph (22.828s). Cup Series teams were given an extended practice, …

Noah Gragson was fastest in Friday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Iowa Speedway — a session highlighted by numerous tire issues.

Gragson went to the top of the board late on at 137.988mph (22.828s). Cup Series teams were given an extended practice, 50 minutes, because it is the first visit for the series to the facility.

Ty Gibbs was second fastest at 136.559mph. Gibbs was one of five drivers who had tire issues.

Alex Bowman was third at 136.334mph, Justin Haley, fourth at 136.269mph, Chase Elliott, fifth at 135.881mph and Ross Chastain, sixth at 135.799mph.

Gibbs, Christopher Bell, Chastain, and Austin Cindric each had a tire go down that resulted in four red flags. Gibbs, Bell, and Cindric had right-front tire issues.

The No. 54 was fortunate enough to have his tire go down off Turn 2, allowing him to stay off the wall, but his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Bell, hit the wall in Turn 4 and is going to a backup car for Sunday’s race.

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Cindric hit the Turn 2 wall in his Team Penske car after his tire went down. He, too, will be going to a backup car for the race.

Chastain suffered a flat left rear tire in his Trackhouse Racing car and stopped on the backstretch. NASCAR put Chastain’s car on a dolly and towed it to the garage to avoid further damaging it by dragging it around the racetrack.

23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick was the fifth driver to have an issue. Reddick, however, caught the right front going down and brought his car to pit road in the final minutes of practice before it resulted in an on-track incident.

Harrison Burton ran seventh at 135.782mph, Denny Hamlin, eighth at 135.735mph, Austin Dillon, ninth at 135.688mph and Chase Briscoe completed the top 10 at 135.554mph.

There are 36 drivers entered in the Iowa Corn 350.

Reddick was fastest in the best 10 consecutive lap average over Chastain, Bowman, Kyle Larson, Hamlin, Briscoe, Bell, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Busch.

NEXT: Cup Series qualifying at 1:05 p.m. ET Saturday (USA).

NASCAR doesn’t anticipate any issues with repaved Iowa corners

NASCAR visits Iowa Speedway for the first time in five years this weekend, and the facility will look different from what race fans remember. NASCAR has owned the speedway since 2019 and July 27 that year was the last time a NASCAR national series …

NASCAR visits Iowa Speedway for the first time in five years this weekend, and the facility will look different from what race fans remember.

NASCAR has owned the speedway since 2019 and July 27 that year was the last time a NASCAR national series event was held at Iowa Speedway with the Xfinity series. But Cup series teams are visiting the track for the first time this weekend.

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One of the most noticeable variables for the weekend ahead is the racing surface for the 7/8th-mile track. Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio there were no plans to touch the surface before race weekend, but a closer look at the facility revealed trouble areas.

Both ends of the racetrack – through the corners – have been repaved. It was done on the bottom lane and, in some areas, extends perhaps a lane or lane and a half up the track.

“Fortunately, we were 70 to 80 percent where we needed to be from all the infrastructure, race control, SAFER barrier, things of that nature,” Sawyer said Tuesday morning. “The one thing that over time that with this facility, obviously the winters are hard there in Iowa, and it took a toll on the surface. Our goal all along when we announced this race back in October of last year was to not repave.

“But as we started scheduling events, whether it was a tire test and looking at the facility, and once we got into the early part of the calendar this year, it was apparent that there were some areas we were going to have to take a look at and do some repaving. Again, our goal all along was not to do that. We wanted our fans to see that track and a race where the surface had been worn, but that just wasn’t going to be the case.”

Denny Hamlin compared the look of the repaved corners to those at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin said last month that Iowa might now have “grip strip vibes” in the corners.

Sawyer admitted that there was not enough time to do a full repave. The best option was to handle the individual areas that needed to be addressed.

“Now, aesthetically, it looks a little different than what we would normally go into a facility (and see),” Sawyer said. “But we’re confident the repairs are to a high level, and it’s not going to be an issue and we’re still going to have some multi groove racing around the racetrack. We’re looking forward to getting out there and getting cars on the racetrack and seeing exactly how things unfold.

“But as we lead into the weekend, we don’t anticipate any issues with the surface.”

Iowa Speedway is sold out for Sunday’s Cup Series race, and Goodyear did a confirmation tire test at the end of May. Christopher Bell (Toyota), Kyle Larson (Chevrolet), and Brad Keselowski (Ford) were the three drivers who participated.

Iowa gets NASCAR Cup date

Iowa Speedway will host its first NASCAR Cup Series race in early June 2024. “Today’s announcement is an exciting one for NASCAR and for race fans in the state of Iowa,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development and …

Iowa Speedway will host its first NASCAR Cup Series race in early June 2024.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting one for NASCAR and for race fans in the state of Iowa,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing development and strategy. “They have long sought a NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway, and we’re happy to deliver that for them.

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“We fully expect this to be one of the most highly-anticipated dates on the 2024 schedule and an amazing weekend of NASCAR racing in The Hawkeye State.”

The inaugural Cup Series race will run Sunday, June 16, at 6 p.m. CT. It will cap off a weekend that also features the ARCA Menards Series running Friday, June 14, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series running Saturday, June 15, at 2:30 p.m. CT.

“The things Iowans value most are what NASCAR represents best – hard work, family and community – which is exactly why our partnerships has always been a natural fit,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said. “We’re thrilled to bring a NASCAR Cup Series race to Iowa Speedway next summer and for this incredible opportunity to introduce millions of racing fans to our great state.”

Iowa Speedway hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series from 2009 through 2019 (pictured). The track was acquired by NASCAR in 2013.

“This is a dream come true,” Rusty Wallace, Iowa Speedway co-founder and designer, said. “This track was built with the intent of hosting a NASCAR Cup Series race one day, and to finally see it come together is a testament to the tenacity of the great race fans in Iowa.”

Iowa Corn will be the entitlement sponsor of the Cup Series race. Iowa Speedway will be one of the 26 regular season races on the Cup Series schedule.

“For years, the Iowa community has patiently waited for the NASCAR Cup Series to come to town,” Brad Keselowski said. “It is with great pleasure for all of the racing community to announce they will finally see that dream come together. Iowa is a hotbed for motorsports fans, I saw that enthusiasm firsthand in 2009 for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and can’t wait to see the atmosphere on race day in 2024.”

Iowa cuts ticket prices in bid to boost IndyCar attendance

The promoters of July’s Hy-Vee Race Weekend hope to increase attendance after reducing prices in four of its seating sections. The July 13-14 doubleheader NTT IndyCar Series event, which also plays host to popular musical acts before and after the …

The promoters of July’s Hy-Vee Race Weekend hope to increase attendance after reducing prices in four of its seating sections.

The July 13-14 doubleheader NTT IndyCar Series event, which also plays host to popular musical acts before and after the Saturday and Sunday races, saw all of its single-day grandstand ticket prices for the 2023 event – barring the exclusive Club seats – start at $100 and reach as high as $225.

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For 2024, the base price has been dropped from $100 to $55-$65, with four sections ranging between $65-$88 on Saturday and $55 to $73 on Sunday. The remaining sections go from $135-$200 on Saturday and $120-$185 on Sunday.

Although the size and cost of the stars for the Hy-Vee concerts have been significant, the event’s promoters continue to seek their first sellout for both days, which inspired the re-think in pricing.

“In 2024, the NTT IndyCar Series will host a Saturday night race under the lights at Iowa Speedway on July 13 followed by the second race of the unique doubleheader weekend on Sunday, July 14,” the track announced. “Each race day ticket will once again include access to the premier trackside concerts featuring some of the biggest names in music. The concert lineup for the 2024 Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

“With the rising stars of Indy NXT by Firestone also competing on the 7/8 of a mile oval and plenty of family fun, great food and entertainment off the track at Iowa Speedway, Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend will once again deliver a special experience in 2024.”

Iowa Speedway also confirmed its ‘Free Family Friday’ with no-cost admission will continue on July 12.

‘I’ve never been more bummed about a fourth place’ – Rosenqvist

Felix Rosenqvist was the first driver home for Arrow McLaren on Sunday in Iowa, and while the Swede was disappointed to miss out on earning his second podium of the year, his 12-position gain to capture fourth after starting 16th provided a bright …

Felix Rosenqvist was the first driver home for Arrow McLaren on Sunday in Iowa, and while the Swede was disappointed to miss out on earning his second podium of the year, his 12-position gain to capture fourth after starting 16th provided a bright spot for his team after stablemates Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi had afternoons to forget.

“The car was really good,” Rosenqvist said. “It was a fun race; we were one lap behind at one point, and from there, we had two really good stints in the middle. The last set was initially really good and then struggled a little bit at the end.”

Restarting second behind race winner Josef Newgarden with just a few laps to go, a dive down the inside by Newgarden’s teammate Will Power, who went on to finish second, left the Swede in a somewhat sour mood.

“The last restart, I’ll have to look at it, but if I felt like Will pushed me up in the marbles; I was very lucky to finish the race, to be fair, waiting to see where I ended up. I’ve never been more bummed about a fourth place. But it was a good run. Hell of a day for us and glad we had some momentum going.”

Newgarden in a class of his own once again in Iowa

Death, taxes, and Josef Newgarden winning IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway. These are three of life’s inescapable truths after the Team Penske driver took his fourth consecutive oval win of 2023, fifth straight since claiming the World Wide Technology …

Death, taxes, and Josef Newgarden winning IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway. These are three of life’s inescapable truths after the Team Penske driver took his fourth consecutive oval win of 2023, fifth straight since claiming the World Wide Technology Raceway win to close 2022’s oval season, and sixth career victory on the 0.875-mile bullring.

Newgarden entered the Hy-Vee IndyCar Weekend doubleheader down 126 points to championship leader Alex Palou, who finished third for Chip Ganassi Racing, and carved a healthy chunk off the advantage to 80 points heading into the next race at Nashville.

“We knew we had a great car, and then the pressure was there,” Newgarden said. “We wanted to execute on it and make sure it was a great weekend. I’m happy now. When you finish the first race, it’s great to have a doubleheader but you just feel incomplete until you get through today. And you know, to be able to come back and do it again and make our car a little bit better, I’m so proud of the team.”

Newgarden led 212 laps which, when added to his 129 from Saturday, made for 341 tours in the lead from the 500 completed in Iowa. The two-time champion’s extraordinary oval dominance places him in illustrious company: He’s the first since Al Unser in 1970 to earn five consecutive oval races, and is only surpassed by Ralph DePalma’s six consecutive in 1918 and A.J. Foyt’s seven in 1964. He also joins Foyt as one of only two drivers to win the first four ovals in a season; Foyt’s achievement came in that record 1964 year.

A late restart added some spice to an otherwise processional day, and in that three-lap sprint to the checkered flag, Arrow McLaren’s Felix Rosenqvist began the run in second but slid up onto the marbles and watched as Penske’s Will Power and Palou motored by to clinch the final podium spots.

“I didn’t really expect to be on the podium,” Palou said. “And honestly, it’s a place where we struggle. We don’t really have the package that we would like, and that I struggle with, but I got a lot of confidence today. But there’s still a lot to improve.”

Despite falling to fourth, Rosenqvist made immense progress after starting 16th and secured his second-best result of the season. Penske’s Scott McLaughlin, who spent most of the day running in a 1-2-3 with his teammates, settled for fifth and Ganassi’s Scott Dixon was embroiled in major battles for most of the race and completed the top six as the first driver who was a lap down to the winner.

Of the other finishers, Colton Herta was the best Andretti Autosport driver in seventh, and behind him, young oval ace David Malukas was competitive all afternoon and took eighth for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports.

Toronto winner Christian Lundgaard was the top performer for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 13th, and he was one position ahead of Callum Ilott in 14th, who started 24th for Juncos Hollinger Racing and played among the bigger teams with one of the series’ newest programs.

The doubleheader was remarkably clean with no heavy crashes recorded from Friday through Sunday. The Ganassi team, as one might anticipate, improved their form overnight, but it was nowhere near what was needed to interrupt Penske’s Iowa domination.

Palou did a great job to limit the points loss with the best short-oval performance of his career, and IndyCar’s two weeks away from a huge roll of the dice in Nashville where the cartoon anvil can strike any driver at any time.

Thanks to Newgarden, the quest for the 2023 championship is on again, and after giving up 37 points, Palou’s gone from seemingly untouchable to more than catchable.

AS IT HAPPENED

Will Power charged into the lead and Marcus Ericsson motored up to P3 by Lap 4 and Pato O’Ward also made a nice improvement to P6. By lap 10, Callum Ilott was up from P24 to P17 as Power led Scott McLaughlin, Ericsson, David Malukas and Josef Newgarden.

Strong Ray Robb, running P28 and last, is lapped on the 15th tour. Lap 21 and Alex Palou takes P9 from Colton Herta and P8 from Ed Carpenter the next time around.

Lap 26 and Newgarden takes P3 from Ericsson and McLaughlin is challenging Power for the lead. Traffic is the issue. Lap 29 and McLaughlin goes to P1 but the fight isn’t over and he reclaims the lead on lap 31 but Newgarden blows by both exiting Turn 2 and is the new leader.

Ericsson’s fallen to P7 as Malukas targets P3 McLaughlin who passes Power and demotes him to P3. Lap 35 and Malukas is by Power for P3. O’Ward is next and then Scott Dixon who pushed Power to P6. O’Ward takes P3 from Malukas on lap 37. This is wild.

Ed Carpenter started P4 and has been lapped in P26. Dixon’s up to P4 after passing Malukas.

Lap 52 and Newgarden is 3.4s up on McLaughlin as Power pits, first of the lead pack. Malukas is next, but the team is slow to change the left-rear tire. Newgarden’s lapped up to 10th and is pitting on lap 55 along with Dixon and McLaughlin.

First caution of the day on lap 87 as Agustin Canapino, while running an impressive P15, briefly rides the wall between Turns 1 and 2. He didn’t crash so much as skip the right-front tire off the SAFER barrier, but that was enough slow the field, apparently.

Lap 94 and the leaders pit under yellow. An extended effort to re-order the field meant the green didn’t wave until lap 107, and when it did, McLaughlin went after Newgarden for the lead but was unsuccessful. At 110 laps it was Newgarden, McLaughlin, Power, Ericsson, Dixon, and O’Ward. Championship leader Palou was P12. Callum Ilott is a strong P11.

Lap 115 and Dixon demotes Ericsson from P4. Lap 122 and O’Ward demoted Ericsson from P5. Lap 136 and O’Ward’s struggling, down to P7 on pace. Kyle Kirkwood’s up to P6. Malukas is next to pass O’Ward and then Herta goes by, leaving him down in an oversteering P10 by lap 142 as Takuma Sato pits after hitting the right-rear corner on the Turn 2 wall.

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Lap 145 and O’Ward’s in. Lap 148 and the leaders pit. Lap 157 and the left-rear wheel falls off of Robb’s car and was somehow avoided by half the field as the race returns to yellow. Robb did an excellent job to keep the car under control. McLaughlin and O’Ward and Kirkwood and Palou are among those to take the option to pit on lap 164 and try to jump Newgarden later in the race.

Running order for the restart is Newgarden, Power, Dixon, Herta, Felix Rosenqvist, Ericsson, Malukas, Alexander Rossi, McLaughlin, and O’Ward, Palou, and Kirkwood.

The Lap 169 restart is a thriller that sees Herta take P3 and Dixon drop to P5. Lap 172 and McLaughlin flies past Ericsson for P6. Lap 179 and Rosenqvist takes P3 from Herta and Dixon is next to take P4 and McLaughlin goes by to leave Herta in P6. Lap 182 and McLaughlin claims P4 from Dixon.

Lap 196 and Newgarden and Power Ericsson and O’Ward are in for their final stops. McLaughlin and Dixon are in the next lap. Rosenqvist, who stopped one lap before Newgarden, is up to P2 and chasing the leader, down 0.2s on Lap 203.

Dixon and O’Ward have been wearing each other out over P7 with the two chasing Herta in P6. Lap 226 and Newgarden is 4.7s clear of Rosenqvist and 11.8 ahead of Power.

Newgarden holds on and goes four-for-four this season on ovals and five straight since WWTR in 2022.

RESULTS

Newgarden frustrated by lapped drivers en route to Iowa win

Josef Newgarden might have seemed to have it all his own way in the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 at Iowa Speedway, once he got past teammate Will Power for the lead, but the race winner still was left steaming over what has become a recurring topic after …

Josef Newgarden might have seemed to have it all his own way in the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 at Iowa Speedway, once he got past teammate Will Power for the lead, but the race winner still was left steaming over what has become a recurring topic after IndyCar races: the behavior of drivers being lapped. Rather than single out anyone in particular, Newgarden decried what he sees as a widespread trend.

“There’s a lot of people. There’s a lot of people,” he said when asked who he meant. “It’s one thing if you’re leading the race. If you’re leading the race, you’re really within your right. If you’re fighting with people around you, seventh, eighth, ninth place, you’re all fighting. You’re within your right to fight as hard as possible.

“I think, the way the rule was written, it’s also legal for them to fight to the death to stay on the lead lap in front of the leader. It is legal. I’m just telling you you’re not making any friends when you do it. There’s 20 laps to go in the race, and I was getting driven like it was literally to the death for the end of the Indy 500. It was just crazy. I couldn’t believe the way people were mirror-driving.

“I’ve never seen it that bad here. Normally if you’re the leader, you’re not getting a handout, but you’re at least getting the courtesy that you are the leader and you’re about to get lapped. You don’t have to pull over, but just don’t be aggressive and weave in front of the leader, block the leader, chop the leader.”

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Newgarden made clear that he’s keeping track, and that paybacks could be coming.

“There’s just a point where you’ve got to understand that that comes back around,” he said. “If you do that to someone, I’m going to fence you the next time I see you. If you’re the leader the next time, I am going to do you so dirty if you did that to me.

“It’s common sense. Everybody in the paddock knows it, and they’re just — for whatever reason, there’s people who just can’t get it. You know what, if they can’t learn it by now, they’ll probably never learn. I guess where I’m going with this — you can tell I’m frustrated by it, which a lot of people are. I can’t change people’s behavior. If they’re going to continue to do that, I have to study and figure out how to counteract it, because that’s how they’re going to play. I’m going to assume they’re going to play like that (Sunday, in the second race of the Iowa doubleheader), and I’ve got to be in a better position and better equipped handle it.”

After teammate Scott McLaughlin said he intended to speak with some drivers about the issue prior to Sunday’s race, Newgarden said, “I’ll go talk to some people too. They need to know.

“Look, it’s not cool. It’s not cool. If you want to play that game, that’s fine, but you should be thinking long term.”

Rasmussen barely edges Abel in closest Iowa Indy NXT finish ever

Christian Rasmussen earned his second victory of the Indy NXT by Firestone season and took a big stride toward the ultimate prize Saturday at Iowa Speedway. Danish driver Rasmussen guided his No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR car to victory by just …

Christian Rasmussen earned his second victory of the Indy NXT by Firestone season and took a big stride toward the ultimate prize Saturday at Iowa Speedway.

Danish driver Rasmussen guided his No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR car to victory by just 0.1227s over fast-closing pole sitter Jacob Abel in the No. 51 Abel Motorsports machine. It was the closest Indy NXT by Firestone finish ever on the 0.894-mile oval.

Rasmussen earned his fourth career win in IndyCar’s development series after starting second. Perhaps just as important, he took the championship lead by 22 points over Nolan Siegel after entering this event trailing the rookie by 16, a swing of 38 points.

“We had good pace today,” Rasmussen said. “HMD has given me a great car. We’ve been fastest from the test (in June). Didn’t get the pole position but dominated the race.”

Rasmus Lindh earned his first podium finish by placing a career-best third in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing machine. Matthew Brabham, called in this week as a replacement driver for this event, finished fourth in the No. 75 Juncos Hollinger car.

Hunter McElrea rounded out the top five in the No. 27 Smart Motors car fielded by Andretti Autosport, the last driver on the lead lap.

Rasmussen wasted little time powering to the lead after the green flag. He drove under pole sitter Abel in Turn 4 on lap two and never trailed thereafter, leading 74 of the 75 laps. The Dane inexorably extended his lead lap after lap, pulling a gap of 8.5s over Siegel by lap 33. While Rasmussen was in cruise control out front, Siegel, McElrea and Abel engaged in a spirited joust for second through fourth place.

That close racing produced the only caution period of the race, on lap 60, evaporating Rasmussen’s lead, which had narrowed to about 5s. The right front wheel of McElrea’s car and the left rear of Siegel’s No. 39 HMD Motorsports with DCR car touched as they raced side by side for second in Turn 2, forcing Siegel into a spin with no contact.

The incident damaged the left rear suspension of Siegel’s car, and he retired with his second consecutive 15th-place finish of the season.

Rasmussen got a big jump on the restart on lap 65 and started to pull away. Meanwhile, Abel passed McElrea for second and set sail for Rasmussen. Abel gained huge swaths of asphalt on the final lap but fell just short of earning his first career victory.

“I think I used up a little too much tire there at the start,” Rasmussen said. “We were super, super quick at the start, and then the caution came, and then everybody caught back up.”

The next race is the Indy NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 6 on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee.

RESULTS