IndyCar Doubleheader at Iowa Preview: Schedule, Predictions and How to Watch

IndyCar returns to Iowa for the first and only double header weekend of the season. Here’s everything you need to know before drivers hit the track both on Saturday and Sunday.

IndyCar Rounds 11 & 12: Iowa Speedway Preview and Predictions

IndyCar is immediately back in action this weekend, as part of the four straight race weekends, this time at the Iowa Speedway, also known as “the fastest short track on the planet” for the only double header of the season.

Last week at Mid-Ohio, Scott Dixon took the top step, his first of the season, after capitalizing on a rare mistake by teammate and Championship leader Alex Palou in the late stages of the race. 

With Dixon’s victory last week and this weekend, which features a race on Saturday and Sunday, we could finally see a new trend of drivers not named Palou or Kirkwood finally getting a win this season.

Read More: Scott Dixon Secures His 59th IndyCar Career Win at Mid-Ohio

Race Preview:

The doubleheader weekend at the Iowa Speedway will kick off on Saturday with the Synk 275 and finish with the Farm to Finish 275 on Sunday. Double the races means double the points; points that could go a long way to deciding the series championship.

Last year, McLaughlin took home the victory in Race 1, while Power took the top step in Race 2 in another Penske sweep. Their dominance at this track should give them confidence, but the way the season has gone, who knows what will happen?

With the short dimensions, laps are under 18 seconds, and races lasting almost two hours, Iowa Speedway is exceptionally physically and mentally demanding on drivers and the cars. Mistakes could be made, cars could be pushed over the limit.

The Track-Iowa Speedway:

Built and opened in 2006, Iowa Speedway has become a destination oval for the NTT IndyCar Series. The oval is 0.894 miles (1.439 km) with banking reaching a maximum of 14 degrees, with 10 degrees on the frontstretch and 4 degrees on the backstretch.

Drivers To Watch:

Team Penske 

Penske has had a nightmare of a season, winless up to this point. Their season so far could be summed up by their results last time out at Mid-Ohio, where their drivers Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden finished 23rd, 26th, and 27th, respectively.

This weekend could be a defining moment for Penske. Looking at the past performances and dominance in Iowa, this could be the perfect opportunity to turn the narrative around, even just a little bit.

Its drivers have won eight of the past nine series races held at Iowa Speedway, including a sweep of the past two doubleheaders.

Last year, McLaughlin took home the victory in Race 1, while Power took the top step in Race 2, but the driver who becomes a different animal when he gets to Iowa is Newgarden.

IndyCar has staged 21 races at Iowa Speedway since 2007, but only four drivers in this field have gone to victory lane: Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, and the two mentioned above each have one win; Newgarden has six, five with Penske since 2017.

The two-time champion has claimed Iowa victories in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, and claimed both races in 2023. Newgarden also has podium finishes in 2014, 2015, and 2024, and two top-five finishes.

Santino Ferrucci

Ferrucci has had a decent season so far. He is currently sitting 10th in the championship, leading his teammate David Malukas, McLaughlin, and Newgarden.

He’s had some strong performances, including Road America and Detroit, but more importantly, he’s had some strong top-five finishes on ovals this year, like in the Indy 500 and at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Last year, he showed some confidence at Iowa, finishing in sixth in race 1 and 11th place in race 2

How To Watch IndyCar’s Doubleheader at Iowa: