Penske Aims to Break Drought at Favorable Iowa Speedway
Team Penske is eager to get to Iowa Speedway, as this weekend’s race could be where they end their winless streak. The organization has dominated here, winning eight of the last nine races.
Penske’s Iowa Dominance
At Iowa Speedway, Team Penske has swept doubleheaders the past two years. Scott McLaughlin and Will Power each secured a win last year, while Josef Newgarden has impressively captured two wins in 2023 and five total since 2017.
Winless Streak Woes
Team Penske hopes Iowa Speedway provides an opportunity to end their current drought. Their last victory came courtesy of McLaughlin at The Milwaukee Mile. According to Forbes, only 37% of IndyCar teams won a race in 2023, illustrating the challenge of consistent victories Forbes, 2023.
Recent Struggles
The struggles run deep this season. In the standings, Power is the highest-ranked Team Penske driver in ninth place, with McLaughlin in 11th and Newgarden lagging behind in 19th. At Mid-Ohio, McLaughlin finished 23rd, Power 26th, and Newgarden 27th.
Iowa Speedway History
Iowa Speedway has hosted 21 NTT IndyCar Series races since 2007. Only four drivers in the upcoming field have previously won here: Newgarden (six times), Pato O’Ward (2022), McLaughlin, and Power. Team Penske views this as an ideal chance to return to their winning form.
Palou’s Performance
Alex Palou, who finished second in last year’s second race, enters this weekend with a significant 113-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood. Kirkwood won the only short-oval race this season at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Weekend Schedule
The Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend commences Friday with practice at 3:30 p.m. ET. Qualifying for both races occurs Saturday at noon, setting the stage for Saturday’s Synk 275 and Sunday’s Farm to Finish 275.
