Iowa’s Doubleheader Tests Drivers and New Package

Is it “Suck-up” or “Su-cup”? IndyCar drivers debated the pronunciation of race sponsor Sukup with a grin at Iowa Speedway’s media bullpen, but the real challenge lies ahead. The Synk 275 powered by Sukup on Saturday and Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup on Sunday, Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series, promise a high-speed showdown on the 0.894-mile oval known as “The World’s Fastest Short Track.”

Marcus Armstrong initially called it “Sock-up” before being corrected to “Su-cup,” while Kyffin Simpson thought “Suck-up” fit its corn-picking function. Scott McLaughlin, fresh from a media event, nailed it as “Sucup.” The lighthearted confusion reflects Iowa’s local flavor, but the 27 drivers entered are all business, facing a grueling doubleheader that could reshape the championship.

The stakes are high at Iowa, the third and fourth oval races of 2025, with only three winners — Alex Palou, Kyle Kirkwood, Scott Dixon — in the season’s first 10 races. Palou, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 champion, leads the points with six victories, including a dominant Indy run. Kirkwood’s oval win at World Wide Technology Raceway makes him a threat, while Dixon, with 13 top-five finishes in 21 Iowa starts, chases his first win at the track. Team Penske, with nine Iowa victories, looms large.

McLaughlin, the 2024 Race 1 winner, exudes confidence: “Our short oval package is just really good … I feel like we can really have a good weekend.” He boldly predicted a Chevrolet win, declaring, “I guarantee it.” But IndyCar’s revised aero package, potential rain and Iowa’s relentless pace add layers of uncertainty.

IndyCar tweaked the cars for 2025, reducing horsepower via lower turbo boost, cutting downforce, and adding drag to encourage multi-lane racing after last year’s single-file complaints post-repave. Will Power, the 2024 Race 2 winner, emphasized the goal of a second racing lane: “You get the second lane, you have a good race.” He cautioned that lower power makes mistakes costly: “If you make a mistake, you really take a long time to get back up.”

Armstrong offered a technical take, noting “more draggy downforce” with “less undertray downforce,” which could make following easier and boost passing: “Probably just a little bit more drag overall, maybe a bit easier to follow.” McLaughlin, who pushed for even more downforce reduction, believes the changes will help: “I think it will make it better for sure.”

Sting Ray Robb explained the intent to make the track “more racy” through increased drafting: “They’ve taken downforce away to make it more difficult, but they’ve added more drag.” Yet, the package’s impact remains uncertain, with Power calling it “finicky” and McLaughlin noting momentum loss could sting: “If you lose momentum, it’s going to hurt.”

The new package’s demands amplify Iowa’s physical toll, where drivers have no respite on the short, high-banked oval. Power labeled it a “physical track,” noting that despite reduced power, “you’re still fast in the corner.”

Prema Racing rookie Robert Shwartzman underscored the intensity: “This track is going to be very physical… you have literally no rest. You’re always turning.”

Armstrong, confident in his training, framed it as part of the job: “Physically demanding? Yes, it is … I train all year round to do this.” He argued Iowa’s doubleheader is less taxing than Laguna Seca’s single race, but the quick turnaround from Saturday’s 4:20 p.m. CDT green flag to Sunday’s 12:20 p.m. CDT start tests endurance.

David Malukas, driving for AJ Foyt Racing, called it a “trifecta” of challenges: longer races, a heavier package, and Iowa’s heat. The physical strain, combined with the new package, makes error-free racing critical, as Power stressed: “Let’s use the speed we have and get a bloody result without a mistake.”

Adding to the challenge, rain threatens Friday’s practice, potentially disrupting setup work and qualifying preparation. McLaughlin, comforted by recent testing, is most concerned about qualifying: “I’m more worried about just trying to get qualifying in here because I don’t really want to start on points.”

Shwartzman, craving track time as a rookie, pleaded, “I hope for me there will be something because, come on, I’m a rookie and I need some more laps.” Armstrong downplayed the issue, citing consistent short-oval setups: “Short oval setups, I don’t think they vary massively … I hope for everyone that we’ve got everything dialed in.”

The weather wildcard heightens the pressure of Saturday’s unique two-lap qualifying at 11:05 a.m. CT, where Lap 1 sets Race 1’s grid and Lap 2 determines Race 2’s. Malukas recalled his first Iowa qualifying, surprised by its brevity: “By the time I was ready to go and do some qualifying laps, I heard on the radio they were saying checkered flag.”

The doubleheader’s format — two 275-lap, 245.85-mile races—offers both opportunity and risk. McLaughlin sees it as a chance for Team Penske to turn their season around: “It’s a no-brainer … a great track for us and a chance for us to qualify really well for two races.” Power, focused on consistency, aims for “two solid results” to avoid the frustration of squandered potential. Robb, scarred by past Iowa struggles like an airborne crash, prefers single races: “If you have a bad weekend or a bad package, then it’s times two.” Yet, he hopes for a “double redemption,” reflecting on his crash with resilience: “I walked away from that weekend after that accident with no fear… The Halo did its job.”

Armstrong noted setup tweaks between races due to temperature and wind: “Usually it’s just little bits and pieces … a different temperature, could be different wind.” The format’s intensity, coupled with Iowa’s chaotic racing, excites Malukas: “The racing has just been chaotic. You’re passing so many cars and you don’t even know what position you’re in. You’re just having a good time.”

Amid the competition, personal storylines add depth. Power faces contract uncertainty with Team Penske, with talks delayed until August or post-season: “It just happened to fall on a year where I’m up for contract.” His performance as a defending race winner carries extra weight.

Shwartzman, buoyed by a strong test, dreams of repeating his Indy pole: “I want to believe that I can. I’ll do my best.” His result of 10th at Gateway showed progress, and he’s targeting top-five finishes: “The goal now is to find a way to get top five and then top three and then P1.”

Simpson, thriving with Chip Ganassi Racing, feels increasingly comfortable: “When we did the test here … I felt the most comfortable I’ve ever felt on an oval.” Despite admitting, “I’ve never been good at short ovals,” his Mid-Ohio top 10 signals growth. Malukas, in his 55th start, eyes a breakout win with AJ Foyt Racing: “If we could come out with a win this weekend, that would be a big turnaround for us and make the confidence just skyrocket.”

Team dynamics further shape the narrative. Penske’s nine Iowa wins, including eight of the last 10, make them favorites, with Josef Newgarden’s six victories and 1,847 laps led looming large. Andretti Global, with seven wins, fields Colton Herta, Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson, while Ganassi relies on Palou, Dixon and Simpson.

Meyer Shank Racing, led by Armstrong’s recent top-10 streak, is a dark horse: “We’ve had a decent run … the MSR crew has done a great job on strategy.”

AJ Foyt Racing, bolstered by a Penske partnership, gains an edge, as Malukas noted: “The more data that we can get, especially when it comes to as many drivers as possible, that’s better for me.” Prema Racing’s Shwartzman and Callum Ilott, along with Juncos Hollinger’s Robb and Conor Daly, aim to upset the establishment.

As Iowa’s doubleheader unfolds, the blend of technical tweaks, physical demands, weather risks and personal stakes sets the stage for drama. Broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday and 1 p.m. EDT Sunday, with qualifying on FS1 at noon ET Saturday, the races will test strategy and resilience. McLaughlin’s guarantee, Malukas’s hunger and Shwartzman’s rookie ambition collide with Power’s experience and Palou’s dominance. In Iowa’s chaotic, high-speed battles, anything can happen, and as Robb hopes, redemption — or a new champion — may emerge.