NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 11-12
PREVIEW Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend (USA)
Felix Rosenqvist returns to the track this weekend as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues at full speed with the only double-header event of the season.
Just days after the previous round on the streets of Toronto, America’s premier single-seater series is gearing up for twice the fun with two races to be staged on consecutive days at Iowa Speedway.
Dubbed the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend, the up-coming meeting holds a unique place on the calendar with double the racing, and double the points up for grabs.
“In terms of sheer points, this is the most important weekend of the season,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “Two races mean twice the points available, and we only have one practice and one qualifying session to set ourselves up for both. It will be an intense event, just like last year, and you really have to roll off strong.”
At 0.875 miles, Iowa Speedway is known as “The World’s Fastest Short Track”, referencing 18-second lap times at average speeds of around 180 mph.
As the third oval event on the schedule, Rosenqvist is hoping to repeat the kind of performances that saw him qualify on pole at Texas Motor Speedway and then lead large portions of the famed Indianapolis 500 earlier this year.
The Arrow McLaren Swede, however, is well aware that Iowa Speedway poses a very different challenge.
“We’ve been super strong on the ovals this year, both in Texas and Indy, and we will obviously try to repeat that this weekend,” Felix Rosenqvist concludes. “Having said that, those two superspeedways are wildly different to a short oval like Iowa. Frankly, short ovals have historically been our weak point, but we’ve worked incredibly hard over the winter to overcome that.
“I’m really, really keen to see what this weekend brings; it’s one of the most exciting tests for us this season.”
The single practice session for the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend takes place on Friday. Qualifying follows on Saturday morning (local time).
The two races, which are both run to 250 laps, play out on Saturday and Sunday.
TIME TABLE
All times local (U.S. Central)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 11-12
Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend
Iowa Speedway (USA)
Friday 21 July
Practice: 3:30-5:00 pm
Saturday 22 July
Qualifying: 8:30-9:30 am
Race 1 (250 laps): 2:00 pm
Sunday 23 July
Warm-up: 10:05-10:30 am
Race 2 (250 laps): 1:30 pm
TIMING: INDYCAR App / racecontrol.indycar.com
ENTRY LIST: view here
TRACK DATA: view here
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: view here