In a series like IndyCar that doesn\u2019t use stage racing, tire strategy usually comes into play when determining who will win the race beyond the fastest car.<\/p>\n
This weekend in Newton, Iowa with weather in the mid-to-upper 90\u2019s, it is at the forefront of discussions.<\/p>\n
The series took to the track on Friday morning for an early practice before qualifying in the heat at 1:00 p.m. and drivers like rookie Felix Rosenqvist <\/strong>said the tire fall off between the first lap and the rest of them is drastic.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s about finding the car that works wherever you want to drive,\u201d Rosenqvist said. \u201cIf you have a car that\u2019s only good on the second lane and then you go into the first, you\u2019ll have a bunch of understeer and just eat through the tires. If you can find a setup your car works everywhere, your tires [are going to] fall off less.\u201d<\/p>\n Rosenqvist ended qualifying in P15.<\/p>\n Series veterans are used to the heat causing massive falloff, however.<\/p>\n \u201cIt tends to amplify understeer, especially in qualifying when it’s hotter,\u201d 2017 NTT Data IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden <\/strong>said. \u201cIt amplifies tire wear, too. That’s the biggest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The series will have what could be considered an extra practice tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET, to better reflect what the racing will be like on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.<\/p>\n \u201cI think our practice two tonight will give us a really good read of what we’re going to have for tomorrow’s race,\u201d Newgarden, who will start P3 on Saturday, said.<\/p>\n Temperature is expected to drop 8-10 degrees for Saturday\u2019s race, but with heat indexes factored in, the track will still be extremely hot.<\/p>\n Polesitter Simon Pagenaud <\/strong>even insisted that whoever manages their tires the best on Saturday will win the race.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely, yeah,\u201d Pagenaud said. \u201c[Tire strategy will be a big deal]. \u201cThe juice of the tire only lasts one lap. Which is expected with the level of downforce we have \u2013 it\u2019s really low and it\u2019s a very abrasive racetrack. So, degradation is going to be everything. You\u2019re going to have degradation no matter what, but the car that has the least degradation is going to be the one that wins the race.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting between Pagenaud and Newgarden is their teammate, Will Power.<\/strong><\/p>\n It sets up a Team Penske 1-2-3 start for Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s very strong competition within the team,\u201d Pagenaud said. \u201cBut as you can see, Team Penske is phenomenal. They give us the fastest car. I think Team Chevy also has a big part in this. They’ve made such an improvement since Toronto. Definitely seem to have the upper hand right now. So thanks to them for doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Penske has won two of the past eight races as well as five of the past eight stretching back to Pagenaud\u2019s sweep of the month of May.<\/p>\n On top of it, it\u2019s the team\u2019s fifth straight pole at Iowa Speedway.<\/p>\n When it comes to them at this time of the season \u2013 during the dog days of summer \u2013 they know where to find success.<\/p>\n \u201cTeam Penske, man, they keep plugging away all season long,\u201d Pagenaud said. \u201cWe’re really right now hitting our stride. Definitely happy to be ahead of my teammates. Josef is main competition this year. I got to grab any points I can get, be aggressive, show authority. That’s what we’re trying to do with the No. 22 car.\u201d<\/p>\n Saturday’s race is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. ET green flag and will be televised by NBCSN.<\/p>\n Iowa 300 Starting Lineup
\n<\/strong>1. Simon Pagenaud
\n2. Will Power
\n3. Josef Newgarden
\n4. Takuma Sato
\n5. James Hinchcliffe
\n6. Alexander Rossi
\n7. Graham Rahal
\n8. Scott Dixon
\n9. Ryan Hunter-Reay
\n10. Marcus Ericsson
\n11. Colton Herta
\n12. Santino Ferrucci
\n13. Tony Kanaan
\n14. Sage Karam
\n15. Felix Rosenqvist
\n16. Conor Daly
\n17. Ed Carpenter
\n18. Marco Andretti
\n19. Spencer Pigot
\n20. Zach Veach
\n21. Sebastien Bourdais
\n22. Matheus Leist<\/p>\n\n\n
\n NTT Data IndyCar Series Standings<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Position<\/strong><\/td>\n Driver<\/strong><\/td>\n Points<\/strong><\/td>\n Behind<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1<\/td>\n Josef Newgarden<\/td>\n 434<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2<\/td>\n Alexander Rossi<\/td>\n 430<\/td>\n -4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3<\/td>\n Simon Pagenaud<\/td>\n 395<\/td>\n -39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/td>\n Scott Dixon<\/td>\n 348<\/td>\n -86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/td>\n Will Power<\/td>\n 306<\/td>\n -128<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6<\/td>\n Takuma Sato<\/td>\n 301<\/td>\n -133<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 7<\/td>\n Ryan Hunter-Reay<\/td>\n 285<\/td>\n -149<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 8<\/td>\n Graham Rahal<\/td>\n 266<\/td>\n -168<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 9<\/td>\n James Hinchcliffe<\/td>\n 244<\/td>\n -190<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/td>\n Felix Rosenqvist<\/td>\n 239<\/td>\n -195<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n