Late pass gives Indy Lights Iowa Challenge win to Serralles

With two laps remaining in the 2016 Indy Lights Iowa Challenge, Felix Serralles made a final pass to regain the lead. Serralles claimed his third series win of the season by passing Zach Veach on Lap 98 Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

Serralles, who is from Puerto Rico, pushed his No. 4 SS Tire car to the lead of the 100-lap event on Lap 57. He took the lead away from Carlin teammate and Indy Lights Series points leader Ed Jones, who was out front from the green flag.

“It feels great to finally be on the podium again and to win a race. I was really confident today,” Serralles said. “I had the memory of how confident I was when I won at Milwaukee last year, and I felt that way again today. I knew we could get to the front but the Carlin team gave me a car that could help me pull away.”

Jones was awarded the pole position as the points leaders because Indy Lights qualification was rained out late Sunday morning. A thunderstorm moved through the Newton area around 10:30 a.m., and following heavy rain the Speedway track was dried out.

The 7/8-mile track was dry and the sun was out when the Indy Lights race started on time at 2:15 p.m. Once the Indy Lights Iowa Challenge Presented by Cooper Tires it was full tilt with no cautions or pit stops for drivers.

“The turning point of the race for me was getting stuck behind another car. I struggled to get past him and that let Felix by me. That was the momentum changer,” Jones said. “From then on, we struggled in traffic. But it was a good result, and I’ve extended my lead in the championship and if I keep doing that, it’s all good.”

Serralles said one of the biggest parts of ovals is dealing with the lapped traffic and Sunday, that was really difficult.

“Once I was able to catch Zach, he caught traffic. Some of the drivers were kind enough to let us by, but a few others didn’t. I really have to say the Cooper Tires lasted really well. I pushed all the way through the race and the tires did a great job,” Serralles said.

Veach started sixth and had a car that was capable of winning, proven by setting the fastest lap of the race. The 21-year-old from Stockdale, Ohio, appeared to have his second win of the season in hand until the closing moments as he and Serralles fought their way through lapped traffic. Serralles emerged the victor by 0.6681 seconds with Jones, Dean Stoneman and Santi Urrutia rounding out the top five.

“I always like to say that I do better on ovals but what I’ve had this year, I left ‘backing out of it’ off the list of things to do because we had to get to the front,” Veach said. “The battle with Dean was one of the most intense battles I’ve ever had on a short oval and I learned a lot. He worked hard to keep me behind him and in trying to get around him.”

Veach said he discovered his car really liked the high line on the Iowa Speedway track.

“That’s what gave me the exit speed and helped me save my Cooper Tires. The tires were amazing. I was worried about how hard I had pushed but the harder I pushed, the more they stayed with me.” Veach said.

Jones slightly extended his lead in the point standings over Stoneman, 236-213, with Urrutia holding third at 206 points. Serralles’ win has vaulted him to fourth in the standings at 199 with Veach in fifth at 194.

Indy Lights Iowa Challenge Presented by Cooper Tires will air on NBCSN at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Indy Lights heads to Toronto Friday for the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto — Rounds 12 and 13 of the championship. It is a three-day stop for the series.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
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