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Josef Newgarden was still utterly dominant and Team Penske finally flexed its muscles on Saturday at Iowa Speedway. But when it counted most, it was a different driver and team that broke through for their first win of 2025.
Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren snatched the lead away from Newgarden with an overcut on the final round of pit stops and the Mexican star withstood a fierce late challenge from Newgarden to claim the Sukup 275. It was OโWardโs eighth-career win in his 100th start and the first for any Chevrolet driver in 2025, ending a stretch of dominance from Honda.
โThis is great,โ OโWard said. โWeโve been waiting for this one all year. Itโs crazy. My 50th race was also a win here in Iowa, and thatโs the only other win I have here, so itโs a cool story.
โGreat job by my Arrow McLaren guys and gals. This Chevy-powered machine was (great). โฆ Iโm super happy Iโm the Chevy guy that gave them their first win this year.โ
Before the final round of pit stops, it seemed like Newgardenโs race to lose. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner claimed pole and led 232 of Saturdayโs 275 laps.
But when his team brought him to pit road on lap 233, OโWard and others stayed out.
They came in two laps later and OโWard cycled out ahead of Newgarden. The Tennessean hounded OโWard over the run to the checkered, as two late cautions closed the field and brought about restarts. But the 26-year-old withstood the pressure to secure a brilliant victory.
Start of the IndyCar Synk 275 powered by Sukup at Iowa Speedway
Photo by: Penske Entertainment / Chris Owens
Saturdayโs result was the 10th 1-2 finish for the pair, with Newgarden claiming seven wins and OโWard now prevailing three times.
โJosefโs the master at these races,โ OโWard said. โHe rules around here. So I knew that we had to be spot-on and I had to be so precise on the in-laps to beat him at his own game.
Newgarden fell .2352s shy of OโWard as the checkered flag flew. โOโWard got track position there and it was game over,โ he said. โSimple as that.โ
It was all Team Penske in OโWardโs mirror, with Will Power completing the podium in third and Scott McLaughlin mounting a fierce charge from 27th to finish fourth. Alex Palou wrapped up the top-five to keep his championship advantage comfortably intact.
Christian Rasmussen, Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci, Marcus Armstrong and Scott Dixon wrapped up the top 10.
Saturdayโs race was predictably busy, with the challenging Iowa track catching drivers out as they pushed to make gains on a day when passing proved difficult.
The first caution came right at the start of the race, when Colton Herta spun through the infield grass. Jacob Abel crashed on lap 75, Kyle Kirkwood got into the turn 2 wall on lap 153 and both Nolan seal and Callum Ilott suffered shunts in the final stint. Five of the raceโs 27 drivers failed to make the finish and only 15 made it to the checkered flag on the lead lap.
Of them all, none stood taller than OโWard. Now heโll come back on Sunday and try to repeat the success.
โWe have another chance tomorrow,โ OโWard said. โItโd be sweet to double up.โ
The IndyCar field will go live from Iowa on FOX again Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET for the Farm to Finish 275.
In this article
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The Iowa Speedway has become a proving ground for racing legends, hosting thrilling races and record-breaking performances. This unique track, known for its challenging layout, has witnessed countless victories and unforgettable moments, solidifying its place in motorsport history.
Construction on the Iowa Speedway commenced on June 21, 2005, in Newton, Iowa. This D-shaped, 7/8-mile oval, completed on September 15, 2006, was designed with input from NASCAR icon Rusty Wallace, and shares certain qualities with Richmond Raceway. The track quickly earned the moniker, “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.” The inaugural race took place in September 2006; the NTT INDYCAR SERIES made its debut at Iowa on June 23-24, 2007.
Many of INDYCAR’s finest drivers have triumphed at the Iowa Speedway. Josef Newgarden leads the series with six victories, with wins in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, and a doubleheader sweep in 2023. Ryan Hunter-Reay, a former INDYCAR SERIES champion, has earned three victories at Iowa. Dario Franchitti and James Hinchcliffe each have two wins at the track. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has presented twenty-one races at Iowa Speedway, including seven under the lights.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has hosted doubleheaders in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2020 event stood out as one of the first major events in Iowa following the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 and 2023, Iowa Speedway was the only track on the schedule to hold a doubleheader.
*** Set on second lap of two-lap qualifying run.
| YEAR | RACE WINNER | POLE WINNER |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dario Franchitti | Scott Dixon |
| 2008 | Dan Wheldon | Scott Dixon * |
| 2009 | Dario Franchitti | Helio Castroneves * |
| 2010 | Tony Kanaan | Will Power |
| 2011 | Marco Andretti | Takuma Sato |
| 2012 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Dario Franchitti ** |
| 2013 | James Hinchcliffe | Helio Castroneves ** |
| 2014 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Scott Dixon |
| 2015 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Helio Castroneves |
| 2016 | Josef Newgarden | Simon Pagenaud |
| 2017 | Helio Castroneves | Will Power |
| 2018 | James Hinchcliffe | Will Power |
| 2019 | Josef Newgarden | Simon Pagenaud |
| 2020 (R1) | Simon Pagenaud | Conor Daly |
| 2020 (R2) | Josef Newgarden | Josef Newgarden |
| 2022 (R1) | Josef Newgarden | Will Power |
| 2022 (R2) | Pato O’Ward | Will Power |
| 2023 (R1) | Josef Newgarden | Will Power |
| 2023 (R2) | Josef Newgarden | Will Power |
| 2024 (R1) | Scott McLaughlin | Colton Herta |
| 2024 (R2) | Will Power | Scott McLaughlin |
* Qualifications Rained Out; Starting Lineup Based On Points
** Starting Lineup Based On Finish In Three Heat Races
| YEAR | RACE WINNER | POLE WINNER |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Alex Lloyd | Wade Cunningham |
| 2008 | Dillon BATCHISI | I am mistakey behind behind you, J. |
| 2009 | Ana Beatriz | JR Hildebrand |
| 2010 | Sebastian Saavedra | Sebastian Saavedra |
| 2011 | Josef Newgarden | Esteban Guerrieri |
| 2012 | Esteban Guerrieri | Tristan Vautier |
| 2013 | Sage Karam | Carlos Munoz |
| 2015 | Max Chilton | Max Chilton |
| 2016 | Felix Serralles | Ed Jones |
| 2017 | Matheus Leist | Colton Herta |
| 2018 | Pato O’Ward | Pato O’Ward |
| 2022 | Hunter McElrea | Hunter McElrea |
| 2023 | Christian Rasmussen | Jacob Abel |
| 2024 | Louis Foster | James Roe |
Looking ahead, the Iowa Speedway continues to evolve, consistently drawing large crowds and exciting races. The track’s consistent ability to provide thrilling races with close finishes has made it a fan-favorite on the INDYCAR schedule. According to a recent study, motorsports viewership increased by 15% in the past year (Motorsport Industry Report 2024), which could translate to even greater attendance at Iowa Speedway events.
