UPDATE: Because of breaking news Saturday’s Iowa Speedway race at 8 p.m. ET has been moved to CNBC (and also is streaming on Peacock)
Starting with the Saturday-Sunday doubleheader race weekend at Iowa Speedway, six of the final eight races on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule will be contested on ovals.
That’s a stretch that heavily favors Josef Newgarden, who has won eight of the past 11 oval races since Iowa returned to IndyCar in 2022. The two-time defending Indy 500 winner is ranked 10th in the standings, 143 points behind leader Alex Palou, so it likely is too late for Newgarden to mount a charge at a third championship.
But the Team Penske star could affect the title race over the next two months, and teammate Will Power (48 points behind Palou) still is in striking distance of his third championship.
Due to breaking news, coverage of tonight’s @INDYCAR race will move to CNBC and Peacock. Coverage begins at 8 pm ET.
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) July 13, 2024
Penske’s Dallara-Chevrolets dominated Iowa last year with Newgarden sweeping (increasing his series-high total to six wins at Iowa) and runner-up finishes for Scott McLaughlin and Power.
Graham Rahal said Penske’s advantage is rooted in the dampers, the suspension pieces that help make for a smoother ride over a rough surface such as Iowa. But a partial repaving of the short track could affect that edge.
“Obviously, Penske has a huge leg up when it comes to the dampering,” Rahal said. “The dampers and the shocks that they build in-house, go look at them on the cars because they look like aliens compared to every other damper in IndyCar. They’re a totally different thing.
“So they dominated, but that’s gone this year at Iowa. This is a fresh take on what Iowa is going to be. I think that’s great for the fans. I think it’s great for the opportunity.”
After Iowa, IndyCar will visit the ovals of World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway. Newgarden has won at all but Nashville (where IndyCar last raced in 2008).
At Iowa, the two-time series champion has led 1,847 laps (49.77% of those he’s completed there). The other 26 drivers in this weekend’s field have combined to lead only 681 laps at Iowa.
And though Power is winless on ovals since 2019, he had five ovals victories from 2016-18 (including the Indy 500). That bears noting as he chases two-time series champion Palou, who is winless on ovals (but has shown impressive adaptation after racing exclusively on road and street courses in his career until four years ago).
Here are the details for the Hy-Vee IndyCar at Iowa Speedway race weekend (all times are ET):
INDYCAR IOWA SPEEDWAY START TIMES
TV: Saturday’s broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and streaming on Peacock. Sunday’s broadcast will begin at noon ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters. Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying and Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on how to sign up for Peacock.)
COMMANDS TO START ENGINES: Saturday, 8:01 p.m.; Sunday, 12:25 p.m.
GREEN FLAGS: Saturday, 8:06 p.m.; Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after the race ends.
INDYCAR RADIO NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy NXT races and all practices and qualifying sessions will air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.
PRACTICE: Friday, 3:45-6 p.m. (Peacock)
SPEEDS: Click here for results from P1
QUALIFYING: Saturday, 3:45 p.m. (Peacock); two laps with first to set Race 1 lineup, second for Race 2 lineup
STARTING LINEUPS: Click here for how the 27-car grid will line up in Race 1 and Race 2
RACE DISTANCES: Both races are 250 laps (223.5 miles) on a 0.894-mile oval in Newton, Iowa.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: Teams will have 14 sets available for the weekend. Indy NXT: Teams will have three sets for the weekend.
HYBRID ENERGY DEPLOYMENT: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 105 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.
FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, Saturday is expected to be 87 degrees and an 8% chance of rain at the green flag. Sunday is expected to be 86 degrees and a 1% chance of rain at the green flag.
ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 27-car field for this weekend at Iowa Speedway
INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 18-car field at Iowa
INDYCAR IOWA SPEEDWAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, JULY 12
2-3:15 p.m.: Indy NXT practice
3:45-4:15 p.m.: IndyCar high-line practice wth two groups for 15 minutes apiece (Peacock)
4:30-6 p.m.: IndyCar practice (Peacock)
6:30-7:15 p.m.: Indy NXT qualifying
8:30 p.m.: $50,000 Pit Stop Challenge
SATURDAY, JULY 13
2:15 p.m.: Indy NXT (75 laps/67.05 miles, Peacock)
3:45 p.m.: IndyCar qualifying (Peacock)
5:15 p.m.: Luke Combs concert
8 p.m.: Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart (250 laps/223.5 miles, CNBC, Peacock)
10:30 p.m.: Eric Church concert
SUNDAY, JULY 14
12:30 p.m.: Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade (250 laps/223.5 miles, NBC, Peacock)
3 p.m.: Kelsea Ballerini concert
4:45 p.m.: Post Malone concert
2024 SEASON RECAPS
ROUND 1: Josef Newgarden dominates in season opener l Results, points
$1 MILLION CHALLENGE: Alex Palou takes big payday l Results
ROUND 2: Scott Dixon sublimely saves fuel to win Long Beach l Results, points
ROUND 3: Scott McLaughlin wins from the pole at Barber l Results, points
ROUND 4: Alex Palou wins again on the Indy road course l Results, points
ROUND 5: Josef Newgarden repeat winner at Indy 500 l Results, points
ROUND 6: Scott Dixon wins another wild Detroit race l Results, points
ROUND 7: Will Power ends 34-race winless streak at Road America l Results, points
ROUND 8: Alex Palou takes championship lead with Laguna Seca win l Results, points
ROUND 9: Pato O’Ward outduels Alex Palou at Mid-Ohio l Results, points
INDYCAR COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS
IndyCar enters the hybrid era at Mid-Ohio
Alexander Rossi on his Arrow McLaren exit
Christian Lundgaard leaving Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for Arrow McLaren
Jamie Chadwick eyeing IndyCar after Indy NXT breakthrough
Arrow McLaren signs Nolan Siegel to multiyear deal to drive No. 6
Why Will Power’s Road America victory was special
Nolan Siegel replaces Agustin Canapino at Road America
Indy 500 legend Parnelli Jones dies at 90
Helio Castroneves replacing Tom Blomqvist for two races
Exclusive sitdown with Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden
The Indy 500’s $4.2 Million Man
Arrow McLaren and Pato O’Ward’s Indy 500: ‘Damn, this really hurts’
Kyle Larson on his disappointing attempt at The Double
GM Motorsports seeing lots of crossover in Larson’s “Double”
Would IndyCar drivers ever try “The Double” in reverse?
The logistics of Kyle Larson’s “Double” attempt
The wreath girl of the Indianapolis 500
Simon Pagenaud returns behind the wheel of an Indy car
NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick excited for first Indy 500
Kyle Larson embracing Indy 500 traditions, such as milking cow
Incredible drama, tremendous pressure in Indy 500 qualifying
IndyCar drivers have plenty of snark, insults after Sonsio Grand Prix
An interview with Roger Penske ahead of the 108th Indy 500
“There’s a lady attacking me": IndyCar drivers react to mannequin
Michael Andretti calls out Penske for push to pass scandal
“That’s a lie": IndyCar reacts to push to pass scandal
“I’m not a liar": Emotional Josef Newgarden discusses push to pass scandal
Despite suspensions, Will Power remains confident
Team Penske suspends four key team members for May
Myles Rowe focused on reaching IndyCar in 2025
Josef Newgarden disqualified from GP of St. Pete; Pato O’Ward declared winnner
Kyle Larson “finally ready” to tackle the Indy 500
Katherine Legge back at Indy 500 with Dale Coyne Racing and beauty brand sponsor
Prema Racing will join IndyCar with two cars for 2025 season
Major face time for Josef Newgarden at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Newgarden paces Indy 500 Open Test; Kyle Larson second fastest
Christian Lundgaard being courted by teams but putting trust in Rahal
IndyCar reacts to Pato O’Ward’s $10 million salary revelation
Marcus Ericsson fits in perfectly as new face in Andretti Global star trio
Six major issues facing IndyCar entering the 2024 season
What’s new for IndyCar teams in 2024
Callum Ilott will replace David Malukas at St. Pete
Dale Coyne Racing announces lineup for season opener
IndyCar stars meet with Penske executives on big issues ahead of 2024 season
Pato O’Ward signs contract extension with Arrow McLaren
Marcus Ericsson paces parade of new faces at preseason Sebring test
IndyCar reveals host of changes, including practice and restart tweaks, lighter parts, safety, hybrid details
Jon Bon Jovi to lead IndyCar field to the green flag for St. Pete season opener
Kyle Larson enjoys “old school feel” at Phoenix IndyCar test
David Malukas sidelined for season opener with injury
Callum Ilott testing for Arrow McLaren in place of Malukas
IndyCar moving season finale from downtown Nashville to superspeedway
When will IndyCar return to the streets of downtown Nashville?
Scott Dixon, Alex Palou to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans
HOW TO WATCH INDYCAR IN 2024: Full NBC Sports schedule