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IndyCar: Iowa highlights 5 major issues that need to be addressed

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IndyCar: Iowa highlights 5 major issues that need to be addressed

As a long-time IndyCar fan and gamer, I can’t help but feel disappointed with the recent turn of events at Iowa Speedway. The race weekend was marred by NASCAR track changes that seemed to negatively impact the on-track product, resulting in a relatively dull and uncompetitive race.

According to Autosport, Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, who finished second on Sunday at the Iowa Speedway IndyCar races, described the doubleheader weekend as “the most dull experience I’ve had.” Several elements contributed to the uneventful Hy-Vee Doubleheader Weekend.

At present, IndyCar deals with several significant challenges, some of which became evident during last weekend’s race at the compact, 0.894-mile (1.438-kilometer) Newton Iowa oval with its four bends.

Here’s a look at five, plus one we hope has finally been rectified.

No passing

We’re grateful for Santino Ferrucci’s presence at Iowa, as without him, the weekend doubleheader races would have been uneventful and processional.

I’ve been an avid fan of motorsports for over two decades now, and I’ve seen my fair share of track repairs and renovations. The repave job at the NASCAR track in June was a sight to behold – it was meticulously planned and executed to ensure a thrilling race experience for fans. The smooth surface and improved grip made for exciting races, just as intended.

I was hopeful that IndyCar would add a second passing lane during the race, but unfortunately, it didn’t materialize. The entire 500 laps saw no on-track pass attempts for the lead position.

NASCAR

Regarding track modifications, the repaving at Iowa signifies another major adjustment for NASCAR races at IndyCar tracks, resulting in subpar racing experiences.

At Texas Motor Speedway a few years ago, using the PJ1 traction compound led to several disappointing IndyCar races in the early 2020s, contrary to expectations that the second lane would become effective. Luckily, racing conditions at Texas significantly improved in 2022 and further enhanced in 2023.

Last month marked the first time the Cup Series raced at Iowa’s track. Despite this, adjustments were made specifically for the stock cars. Notably, NASCAR manages the track. This raises questions about the future of IndyCar racing at Iowa.

No initiative

Last year, we discussed how Texas Motor Speedway delivered a great IndyCar race for the first time. Unfortunately, being a new addition to the schedule, it has been dropped for this coming season, resulting in only one superspeedway race on the IndyCar calendar for the first time – in IndyCar history.

IndyCar tends to take beloved superspeedsways with exciting races off the calendar only to never return, such as Auto Club Speedway and Pocono Raceway being notable instances of this pattern.

Instead of Georgina’s accident at Barber Motorsports Park and over a dozen drivers losing focus during races in Detroit, the Indy 500 is the only race this season that has kept audiences engaged.

IndyCar’s top form of racing continues to be superspeedway events. however, this type of racing seems to be fading away with little effort made to revive it. The only new addition to the schedule in 2025 is a points race at Thermal Club road course, which was found unworthy of one the previous year.

Regarding Pocono being considered too risky, it seems we’ve recently witnessed some thrilling crashes there – Sting Ray Robb soaring through the air after hitting the back straightaway, and Ed Carpenter flipping over Kyle Kirkwood at Iowa on Sunday. Perhaps it’s worth reconsidering if Pocono should be eliminated from the schedule as well.

Iowa receives notable exposure through Hy-Vee, yet the races didn’t draw massive crowds compared to the concerts. Essentially, IndyCar functions more as a supporting act for the music events.

During IndyCar-NASCAR race weekends at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the scene repeated itself: NASCAR held the top spot in popularity. While it may seem unflattering to some, this dynamic actually brings more attention to IndyCar – a strategy that other venues might want to adopt.

Noteworthy, Pocono and Michigan International Speedways have decreased their NASCAR scheduling from two race weekends to one. It would be great if IndyCar followed suit.

No parity

As a long-time fan of motorsports and someone who has followed IndyCar racing closely for decades, I find it hard to swallow the claim that this series is the most competitive in the world. Don’t get me wrong; I respect the skill and determination of every driver out there. But the lack of parity in IndyCar racing is a glaring issue that can’t be ignored.

In the last 14 out of 15 races, two teams have taken first place at the podium. The only deviation from this pattern happened at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course when a pit issue affected Palou, resulting in Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren taking the lead instead. Palou had been dominating the race prior to this incident.

As a passionate fan of racing, I witnessed an exciting development during the recent Iowa race: two different drivers claimed victory for us, the esteemed Team Penske. However, despite the change in winners, we still emerged victorious in the grand scheme of things. In contrast, Formula 1 has become more fiercely competitive at the front, with a remarkable four teams currently shaping the title fight for wins.

In St. Petersburg this racing season, O’Ward emerged victorious, but not until a 45-day delay after the race itself. Initially, it was Josef Newgarden of Team Penske who celebrated on the podium; however, he was disqualified over six weeks later.

And let’s be real. Everybody knows Newgarden would have won the race anyway.

Hybrid era

At Iowa Speedway, NASCAR track modifications aren’t the only reason for the less exciting on-track action.

In the third round of the hybrid era, no driver has taken the lead in a race so far. Surprisingly, none of the pole-sitters have managed to win during this period. Instead, problems at the pits or unfortunate pit sequences have caused all three pole-position holders to lose their leads, ultimately resulting in someone else claiming the victory.

At Mid-Ohio, the race didn’t live up to the “traditional” label given by the series due to the tight finishing margin, which could be attributed in part to the extra vehicle weight hindering smooth passing maneuvers. We can only hope for a solution to this challenge in the future.

From a gamer’s perspective, Iowa qualifying was a complete fiasco for me and the series. Glitches and issues are normal in gaming, but this was an unprofessional display. Given that a significant rule change occurred mid-championship, it was only foreseeable that chaos would ensue.

Instead of constantly hearing praise for the hybrid era without any criticism permitted, it seems unusual that only positive views are expressed.

Reason for hope: Race control

Based on my own experiences and observations, I believe the feedback from the weekend can be seen as a compliment, despite addressing a problem that had escalated over previous races. This situation was not unique to me, but rather an all too common challenge faced by many. It’s important to remember that growth often comes from facing adversity, and this experience presents an opportunity for us to learn and improve. Let’s take this constructive criticism as a chance to reflect on our actions and work towards making things better in the future.

With the right pit stop decision keeping him on the track longer, Will Power advanced from the 22nd position to finish 19th in Sunday’s race.

That’s how it should be, and that’s how it should be for every race.

As a longtime motorsports enthusiast and fan of IndyCar racing, I find the use of yellow flags to manipulate pit cycles during races utterly disappointing and dangerous. Having attended numerous races in person and followed countless others on TV, I’ve come to appreciate the raw skill and dedication of drivers and teams as they navigate the complexities of high-speed competition.

At times, choosing the correct approach is more beneficial than having the swiftest race car. Use caution when necessary. End of story.

As a long-time IndyCar fan, I’m thrilled to share that the series is set to return this Sunday, July 21 on the exhilarating streets of Toronto. Having attended several races in person and watched countless hours of coverage, I can attest to the heart-pounding excitement that comes with every lap.

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2024-07-16 18:33

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