IndyCar Series holds testing session at Iowa Speedway

With just 16 days remaining until the green flag waves on Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend, Iowa Speedway hosted a pivotal team test session Wednesday as NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitors fine-tuned their machines ahead of the only doubleheader race weekend of the 2025 season on July 11-13.

Mother Nature made her presence felt from the outset of the test as torrential storms soaked Central Iowa on Wednesday morning at the “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

After the skies cleared, track crews battled persistent “weepers” — moisture seeping through the surface due to the heavy rainfall — delaying the start of on-track activity until the early afternoon.

Once the green flag waved shortly after 2 p.m., the action ramped up quickly. A total of 21 cars from nine teams took to the 0.894-mile oval that was partially resurfaced prior to the 2024 INDYCAR weekend in Iowa, logging a combined 2,984 laps during an intense, fast-paced afternoon session.

Among the quickest drivers on the day was 2020 Iowa Speedway polesitter Conor Daly, piloting the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

Reigning series champion and 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou also was quick in the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing while Felix Rosenqvist, driver of the No. 60 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing, also posted a time among the fastest on the afternoon.

“I love this track but just a really good learning experience for us today,” Daly said. “Not really sure what to say when it comes to race trim stuff, but it is nice to be P1, and fast cars are fun to drive for sure around here. We’ll see what happens when we come back for the race.”

The test featured a star-studded lineup, including five Indianapolis 500 champions, four former NTT INDYCAR SERIES title holders and four past Iowa Speedway winners, all preparing for what promises to be one of the most thrilling weekends on the 2025 INDYCAR calendar.

Teams were testing a new aerodynamic package and tire combination specifically developed for Iowa Speedway.

Due to the delayed start, the test session was extended until 8 p.m., and as a result, no additional team testing took place at the track on Thursday.

“Always fun to be back in Iowa. It’s a track that takes quite a lot of commitment so it’s always fun,” Rosenqvist said. “I think the high line will be usable in the race so there is still more to come, but always good to be out there. It’s double points, technically two weekend races.”

The 2025 Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend officially begins on July 11 with the return of Free Family Friday, offering free gate admission for all fans.

The turbocharged weekend in Central Iowa continues on July 12 with the INDY NXT by Firestone race at 12:30 p.m. (FS1), followed by the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of the doubleheader — the Synk 275 at 4 p.m. (FOX). The action culminates on July 13 with the Farm to Finish 275 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at 12:00 p.m. (FOX).

This year’s event carries special significance as Sukup Manufacturing Co., celebrating its 62nd anniversary, steps into the spotlight as title sponsor for the first time at its home track.

The partnership underscores the deep-rooted connection between Iowa’s agricultural innovation and its high-octane motorsports tradition.

Iowa Speedway’s doubleheader weekend is set to deliver even more high-speed action in 2025, as both NTT INDYCAR SERIES races will be extended to 275 laps, 25 more than last year’s 250-lap contests.

This change increases each race distance from 218 to 240 miles and is part of a broader initiative by INDYCAR and FOX Sports to enhance the fan experience by lengthening six of the 17 races on this year’s schedule. The goal is to amplify the intensity, strategy and spectacle that define INDYCAR racing.