2025 Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend

Palou Prevails in Farm to Finish 275, Extends Championship Lead at Iowa

Alex Palou solidified his grip on the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series championship, dominating the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup at Iowa Speedway. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, in his No. 10 DHL Honda, led 194 of 275 laps from pole to claim his seventh win of the season and first at Iowa, beating teammate Scott Dixon by 0.5260 seconds. Marcus Armstrong's third-place finish marked Meyer Shank Racing's second podium of 2025, while David Malukas and Pato O'Ward rounded out the top five. A crash-filled race, with five cautions and six lead changes, showcased the 0.894-mile oval's chaos, as Palou noted: "I was passing so many cars I felt like I was Lightning McQueen." The doubleheader's finale, following Pato O'Ward's Synk 275 win, set a high bar for Toronto.

Saturday's rain-disrupted schedule and O'Ward's 0.2352-second victory over Josef Newgarden set the stage for a frenetic Sunday under sunny 77-degree skies. Nolan Siegel's absence, after a Lap 248 crash in Race 1 sidelined him, left Arrow McLaren's No. 6 Chevrolet parked. "There's no place I'd rather be than out there driving today," Siegel said, praising his crew's efforts.

The race began at 12:15 p.m. CT with former Iowa Hawkeye Jay Higgins giving the command, but Lap 1 chaos saw Devlin DeFrancesco and Scott McLaughlin collide in Turn 4, triggering a yellow. Both were cleared by INDYCAR's medical team, but McLaughlin's second straight 27th-place start ended early.

Palou led early, but Newgarden, starting fourth, surged to the front on Lap 65, leading 72 laps. "Josef was driving excellent towards the end of the stints," Palou said, recalling their fierce battle, including slight contact in Turn 1.

Cautions defined the race: Sting Ray Robb's quarter-spin in Turn 2 on Lap 50, Marcus Ericsson's Turn 4 contact on Lap 130, Callum Ilott's Turn 4 spin on Lap 177 and Colton Herta's backstretch crash on Lap 254. All drivers were cleared medically, but the 48 laps under yellow disrupted strategies.

"I think today for most people it was about catching the caution," Dixon said, noting their overcut success. Palou regained the lead on Lap 248 after Newgarden pitted just before Herta's yellow, a move that echoed Race 1's pivotal pit cycle: "He kind of had a super big lead … I did not expect him to pit that lap," Palou said.

Dixon, starting eighth, emerged from his final pit stop in third and passed Armstrong for the second position on Lap 265 and maintained it to the finish, extending his record with his 145th podium: "We could run low, we could run high, which definitely helped."

Armstrong, starting 12th, capitalized on Meyer Shank's pit work: "They were especially good on pit lane today."

Malukas, starting third, finished fourth, chasing Palou closely: "We got side by side for … three different times," Palou said, praising Malukas's fairness. O'Ward, starting ninth, climbed to fifth, continuing his recovery trend: "I find my ways in recovery drives," he said post-Race 1. Christian Lundgaard, starting 22nd, gained 16 positions to sixth, while Felix Rosenqvist faded from second to seventh. Newgarden, despite leading, settled for 10th, frustrated by strategy: "We just needed to maintain position," he said after Race 1.

The new aero package — less downforce, more drag, reduced horsepower — produced 382 on-track passes (229 for position), surpassing Race 1's 260. "Today was definitely good. You saw a ton of cars passing," Dixon said, contrasting last year's single-file racing.

Power, out early with a mechanical issue (21st), had predicted better racing: "Everyone will run two lanes." The 1:48:39.2641 race, averaging 135.761 mph, tested physical and mental limits, with Palou noting, "It's more mentally … you need to be aware of what's going on." Armstrong, earning his best oval finish, reflected: "There's so much to learn about oval racing."

Palou's win, Honda's first 1-2-3 at Iowa, widened his points lead to 129: "We started racing not thinking about the points," he said, eyeing A.J. Foyt's 10-win record. With 13 Firestone tire sets and hybrid energy (125 kilojoules per lap), strategy was key, as Barry Wanser noted: "Alex gives us all the options." As IndyCar heads to Toronto, Palou's dominance, Dixon's consistency and Armstrong's breakthrough signal a fierce championship fight.

O'Ward Outduels Newgarden in Thrilling Synk 275 at Iowa Speedway

Pato O'Ward turned chaos into triumph at Iowa Speedway, outsmarting Josef Newgarden in a dramatic pit sequence to win the Synk 275 powered by Sukup on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Arrow McLaren driver, starting fifth in his No. 5 Chevrolet, led 33 of 275 laps to claim his first win of the 2025 season, his second at Iowa and his eighth career victory, edging Newgarden by 0.2352 seconds.

"I knew we had to be perfect," O'Ward said, reflecting on his battle with the six-time Iowa winner. A rain-disrupted weekend, five cautions, and a red flag amplified the intensity of Round 11, setting the stage for Sunday's Farm to Finish 275.

Rain washed out Friday's practice, cramming preparation into Saturday's hectic schedule under sunny 80-degree skies. Qualifying saw Newgarden (183.999 mph) and Conor Daly (183.714 mph) lock out the Race 1 front row, but O'Ward's 183.096 mph lap secured fifth, while teammate Nolan Siegel started eighth before a late crash. Scott McLaughlin, after spinning in qualifying, started 27th, a blow to his bold pre-race claim: "I guarantee (a Chevrolet win)." The 245.85-mile race, official after 138 laps, began at 4:15 p.m. CT with Iowa State basketball star Joshua Jefferson giving the command. Christian Lundgaard's engine hiccup delayed his start, but he rejoined in 21st.

Newgarden dominated early, leading 232 laps and pulling away from Daly by over a second by Lap 25. "Our car was really good," Newgarden said, crediting Team Penske's setup. A Lap 1 yellow for Colton Herta's spin set the tone for a chaotic race, with 260 total passes (179 for position) across five cautions totaling 47 laps. Jacob Abel's Turn 2 crash on Lap 75 brought the first major caution, followed by Kyle Kirkwood's Turn 2 contact on Lap 153. Both drivers were cleared by INDYCAR's medical team. Siegel's Turn 4 crash on lap 248 triggered a red flag at 5:57 p.m. CT for track repairs, halting the field until 6:08 p.m. Callum Ilott's Turn 2 contact on Lap 262 added a final yellow, setting up a tense five-lap sprint.

The pivotal moment came during the Lap 233-243 pit cycle. Newgarden pitted first, but O'Ward stayed out, pushing hard to close the gap. "I was saving more fuel than he was," O'Ward explained, noting Newgarden's defensive strategy. Arrow McLaren's slick pit stop and O'Ward's aggressive out-lap secured the overcut, giving him the lead on Lap 244.

"It was all Pato there on the out lap," team principal Tony Kanaan said, admitting he couldn't watch the final laps: "I sat down just because I couldn't watch."

Newgarden, battling a flat-out car, couldn't close the gap: "He pushed me up in (Turn) 3 on the restart … I was flat out. Couldn't do anything different." The 1:46:00.6760 race, averaging 139.146 mph, saw O'Ward's fastest lap (178.631 mph) on the final lap seal the deal.

Will Power, starting seventh, climbed to third, leading three laps and praising the emerging second lane: "Conor Daly kind of showed us the way when he just rolled the outside … Much better than last year."

McLaughlin's remarkable recovery from 27th to fourth, gaining 23 positions, earned high praise: "To be where he was is pretty impressive," Power said. Alex Palou finished fifth, trimming his points lead to 105 despite a "bad race" being fifth: "The guy just doesn't have any bad races," O'Ward noted of the championship leader. Christian Rasmussen surprised in sixth for Ed Carpenter Racing, while Daly faded to seventh after a slow pit stop. Santino Ferrucci (eighth), Marcus Armstrong (ninth), and Scott Dixon (10th) rounded out the top 10.

The new aero package — less downforce, more drag, reduced horsepower — delivered better racing than 2024, with Power noting a "true two lanes" by race's end: "You can put your tires just on that black seam … It was good."

With 13 Firestone tire sets and hybrid energy (125 kilojoules per lap) to manage, strategy was key. Kanaan highlighted Arrow McLaren's teamwork: "Chevy needed this… It was kind of a little easier to say I think we're going to get that win."

O'Ward, eyeing a doubleheader sweep from ninth in Race 2, said, "I've never doubled up … I'd love to be a part of that list."

As Palou starts on pole for Sunday's 12:20 p.m. CDT race on FOX, with Malukas third and Newgarden fourth, Iowa's second lane and tight battles promise more drama. "Everyone will run two lanes, so it'll be just better racing," Power predicted, setting up a thrilling Round 12.

Newgarden, Palou Claim Iowa Poles as Qualifying Chaos Sets Stage for Doubleheader

A rain-soaked Friday at Iowa Speedway forced a condensed Saturday, but the NTT IndyCar Series delivered a thrilling qualifying session for the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend under mostly cloudy 78-degree skies. Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou emerged with poles for the Synk 275 and Farm to Finish 275, respectively, mastering the 0.894-mile oval's two-lap format. Newgarden's 183.999 mph lap secured Race 1's top spot, while Palou's blistering 184.014 mph run claimed Race 2's NTT P1 Award. Yet, a crash, surprise front-runners, and a compressed schedule amplified the stakes for Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2025 season. "The racing has just been chaotic," David Malukas noted pre-race, and qualifying's twists — capped by Scott McLaughlin's shock crash—proved him right.

With Friday's practice washed out, teams squeezed installation laps, high-line sessions, and a 50-minute practice into Saturday morning before qualifying at 12:30 p.m. CT. The unique two-lap format — Lap 1 setting Race 1's grid, Lap 2 determining Race 2's — tested precision on a track where Malukas once noted, "By the time I was ready to go and do some qualifying laps, I heard on the radio they were saying checkered flag." Newgarden, a six-time Iowa winner, set the tone with a 17.4914-second Lap 1, edging Juncos Hollinger Racing's Conor Daly (183.714 mph) for Race 1's pole. Felix Rosenqvist (183.635 mph) and Palou (183.596 mph) followed, while Pato O'Ward (183.096 mph) rounded out the top five. For Race 2, Palou's 17.4900-second Lap 2 nipped Rosenqvist (183.975 mph) by 0.0037 seconds, with Malukas (183.369 mph) and Newgarden (183.316 mph) close behind. "Our short oval package is just really good," McLaughlin said pre-weekend, but his Team Penske teammate Newgarden stole the spotlight.

Daly's front-row start for Race 1 was a stunner, marking Juncos Hollinger's best qualifying effort this season. Daly's 182.943 mph Lap 2 secured seventh for Race 2, reinforcing his pace. Malukas, a breakout candidate with AJ Foyt Racing, cracked the top 10 for both races — 10th (182.596 mph) in Race 1, third in Race 2—fueling his optimism: "If we could come out with a win this weekend, that would be a big turnaround." Rookie Robert Shwartzman, eyeing a pole repeat from Indy, landed 16th (181.319 mph) and 11th (182.443 mph) for Prema Racing, admitting the track's intensity: "You have literally no rest. You're always turning." Armstrong, with Meyer Shank Racing, was consistent at 11th (182.483 mph) and 12th (182.409 mph).

The session wasn't without drama. McLaughlin, who topped practice at 183.514 mph and predicted a Chevrolet win, spun on his first lap in Turn 1 at 1:04 p.m., hitting the SAFER Barrier with rear and left-rear contact. He climbed out unharmed but recorded no time, relegating him to 27th for both races — a crushing blow for the 2024 Race 1 winner. Kyle Kirkwood, already hampered by a practice crash, struggled to 18th (181.130 mph) and 21st (181.181 mph) after Andretti Global repaired his No. 27 Honda. Will Power, under contract pressure, secured seventh (182.824 mph) and sixth (183.072 mph) for Team Penske, aiming for clean runs.

The new aero package — less downforce, more drag, reduced horsepower — shaped the session, with Power noting its challenges: "If you make a mistake, you really take a long time to get back up." Sting Ray Robb, starting 24th (178.885 mph) and 24th (177.683 mph), explained its goal: "They've taken downforce away to make it more difficult, but they've added more drag … it'll be a bit more racy." Kyffin Simpson, still learning short ovals, landed 22nd (179.966 mph) and 18th (181.589 mph) for Chip Ganassi Racing, admitting, "I've never been good at short ovals." Scott Dixon, chasing his first Iowa win, took sixth (182.924 mph) and eighth (182.664 mph), while rookies Louis Foster (12th, 16th) and Jacob Abel (26th, 25th) showed promise but trailed.

As the Synk 275 kicks off at 4:20 p.m. CDT on FOX, followed by the Farm to Finish 275 at 12:20 p.m. CDT Sunday, tire management (13 sets for the weekend) and hybrid energy deployment (125 kilojoules per lap) will be critical. Newgarden and Palou's poles position them as favorites, but Daly's surge, Malukas's momentum and McLaughlin's recovery from the back add intrigue. With Iowa's chaotic racing and a tight championship, the doubleheader could reshape the season. "You get the second lane, you have a good race," Power said, and fans await whether IndyCar's tweaks deliver multi-lane battles.

McLaughlin Leads Chaotic Iowa Practice as Rain Reshapes Schedule

Rain washed out Friday's plans at Iowa Speedway, forcing the NTT IndyCar Series to cram installation laps, high-line sessions, and a 50-minute all-cars practice into a hectic Saturday morning before the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend's doubleheader. Scott McLaughlin, the 2024 Race 1 winner, topped the practice charts with a blistering 183.514 mph lap in his No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet, signaling Team Penske's intent to dominate Rounds 11 and 12.

"Our short oval package is just really good," McLaughlin said pre-weekend, and his pace — 0.0835 seconds ahead of Arrow McLaren's Nolan Siegel — proved it. But a crash, spins, and penalties in a condensed session under sunny 73-degree skies hinted at the chaos awaiting in the Synk 275 and Farm to Finish 275.

The revised schedule kicked off at 8:55 a.m. CT with installation laps, followed by two 15-minute high-line sessions for Groups A and B. Kyle Kirkwood's day ended early when his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda smacked the Turn 4 SAFER Barrier at 9:12 a.m., damaging the right front and rear. Kirkwood climbed out unscathed, with INDYCAR's medical team clearing him, but his car missed the all-cars session, leaving Andretti Global scrambling before qualifying at 12:30 p.m. CT.

"The racing has just been chaotic," David Malukas noted pre-race, and Iowa's short 0.894-mile oval lived up to that billing as four drivers — Marcus Ericsson, Pato O'Ward, Jacob Abel and Christian Rasmussen — triggered yellows, each earning five-minute penalties for causing cautions.

Siegel's 182.645 mph lap secured second, showcasing Arrow McLaren's speed alongside teammate O'Ward, who was fourth at 182.393 mph despite a spin at pit exit. Alexander Rossi (No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet) took third at 182.512 mph, while Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet), a six-time Iowa winner, rounded out the top five at 182.319 mph.

Will Power, the 2024 Race 2 victor, struggled to 15th (180.643 mph), but his focus remains on clean runs: "Let's use the speed we have and get a bloody result without a mistake."

The top 10 featured surprises like Conor Daly (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet) in eighth at 181.657 mph and Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda) in ninth at 181.607 mph, who credited his team's strategy: "The MSR crew has done a great job."

Championship leader Alex Palou (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) was seventh at 182.013 mph, while teammate Scott Dixon, still seeking his first Iowa win, was 10th at 181.604 mph. Kyffin Simpson, another Ganassi driver, lagged in 19th (180.132 mph), admitting short ovals aren't his strength: "I've never been good at short ovals."

Malukas, a breakout candidate with AJ Foyt Racing, was 14th at 180.928 mph, but his oval pedigree keeps him in contention: "If we could come out with a win this weekend, that would be a big turnaround." Rookie Robert Shwartzman (No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet) showed promise in 17th (180.433 mph), buoyed by a strong test: "We were quite close to the leader, so I think we should be quite good."

The compressed practice heightened the stakes for qualifying, where two laps determine the grids for both races. McLaughlin, wary of rain risks, stressed its importance: "I'm more worried about just trying to get qualifying in here because I don't really want to start on points."

The new aero package — less downforce, more drag, reduced horsepower — added complexity, with Armstrong noting it could ease following: "Probably just a bit easier to follow." Power warned of its challenges: "If you make a mistake, you really take a long time to get back up." Sting Ray Robb, hoping for a "double redemption" after past Iowa struggles, explained the package's intent: "They've taken downforce away to make it more difficult, but they've added more drag… it'll be a bit more racy."

The tight turnaround from Saturday's 4 p.m. CT Synk 275 to Sunday's 12:20 p.m. CT Farm to Finish 275 tests endurance, especially with 275-lap races and 13 Firestone tire sets to manage. Kirkwood's crash and the four penalties underscore Iowa's unforgiving nature, setting up a doubleheader where strategy and precision will be paramount. Watch qualifying on FS1 at 12:30 p.m. CT and the Synk 275 on FOX at 4 p.m. CT, as McLaughlin's pace, Penske's dominance, and underdogs like Malukas and Shwartzman vie to shake up the championship chase.