Felix Rosenqvist completed both of this weekend’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES races at Iowa Speedway, gaining valuable experience on the shortest oval of the season but ultimately unable to repeat his winning performance from last week.
Rosenqvist, who arrived in Iowa hot after scoring a breakthrough first INDYCAR win at Road America, was restricted to 14th and 15th place respectively in the two races of the double-header weekend.
The Swede was shuffled out of contention in a strategic lottery in Saturday’s Race 1, and then struggled for grip in a difficult Race 2 on Sunday.
“A difficult weekend for us, but you have to take the lessons and try to do better next time,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “Today was a tough race and we just really struggled with balance and grip. We were really loose a few times and it was just one of those days you’re glad to get the NTT DATA car back in one piece and work on it for next time. At the end of the day it’s positive to have finished both races with all three cars, giving us a lot of data.”
France’s Simon Pagenaud won the first Iowa race on Saturday, while Penske team-mate Josef Newgarden (USA) emerged victorious in the second.
The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race takes place at Mid-Ohio, where Rosenqvist scored his maiden podium in the championship last year, on August 9.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 6
Iowa 250s – Race 2 | Iowa Speedway
1: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, 250 laps
2: Will Power (AUS), Penske, +2.786s
3: Graham Rahal (USA), RLL, +3.564s
4: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), Penske, +6.124s
5: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, +6.575s
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15: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, +1 lap
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
Iowa 250s – Race 1 | Iowa Speedway
1: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), Penske, 250 laps
2: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, +0.495s
3: Oliver Askew (USA), McLaren SP, +7.212s
4: Pato O’Ward (MEX), McLaren SP, +13.989s
5: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, +16.735s
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14: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, +3 laps
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 6/14 races
1: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 244 p.
2: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), Penske, 195 p.
3: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, 191 p.
4: Pato O’Ward (MEX), McLaren SP, 162 p.
5: Will Power (AUS), Penske, 142 p.
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9: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, 120 p.