After completing the fourth stage of their abbreviated 14-race season this past weekend, the NTT IndyCar Series surges ahead with a Hawkeye State double header.
Photo Credit: IndyCar – Chris Owens
The opened-wheeled series holds back-to-backs at Iowa Speedway in Newton Friday and Saturday. The .875-mile tri-oval, widely regarded as “The World’s Fastest Short Track” due to its 18-second laps, hosts a pair of 250-lap features.
The green flag drops for the Friday race at 8:15 p.m. while the Saturday event starts at 7:45 p.m.
This past weekend’s two-race event at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin saw current points leader Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) claim the checkered flags on Saturday while teammate Felix Rosenqvist snared victory in the Sunday finale.
Photo Credit: IndyCar – Chris Owens
Dixon, who notched three straight wins to start his 2020 campaign, currently holds a 54-point lead over IndyCar sophomore Colton Herta (173-119) going into Friday’s flight.
“We want to keep doing what we’re doing,” Dixon said. “You really need to stay focused and maximize these opportunities. There is no room for mistakes. We were able to get the results in last week’s doubleheader, but that was last week, and Iowa presents a new challenge. I know the PNC Bank No. 9 team will be up for it.”
The 20-year-old Herta (Andretti/Harding/Steinbrenner Autosport) claimed a pair of fifth-place finishes at Road America and plans to utilize that momentum to narrow the deficit.
“It’s going to be nice to get back to Iowa for a doubleheader weekend, although it’s going to be very tough physically,” he said.
Simon Pagenaud (Team Penske) currently sits in third place in the standings, nine points behind Herta (119-110). The 2016 series champ seeks his first win since last July at Toronto.
Photo Credit: IndyCar – Joe Skabinski
“I’m looking forward to Iowa, which is one of my favorite ovals,” he said. “It’s a short oval, and the racing is tight and really exciting at night. We are third in the championship and are looking forward to this doubleheader to perform at our A-game in those two races.”
Other potentials looking to record their first win of the season this weekend include rookie Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren SP), who claimed his first career IndyCar podium Sunday with a second place finish, and Team Penske veterans Josef Newgarden and Will Power.
Both races airs live on NBCSN. Follow the series at this link.
The NTT IndyCar Series competes at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois on Sunday, August 30.
Arch City Media will provide continuous coverage of the NTT IndyCar series as the season progresses.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
