As is typical for qualifying on short ovals, each driver completed two flying laps. With a doubleheader weekend on tap, the times weren’t combined: the first lap determined the grid for Saturday’s race, while the second lap set the order for Sunday.
Even with the first race just three hours after qualifying, many drivers pushed to the limit. The first to make a mistake was Rinus VeeKay, who clipped the outside wall with his right rear wheel coming out of Turn 4. He continued, but while entering Turn 3 the car became unbalanced and he had to lift. VeeKay completed his run, but his team will likely need to make repairs before the race.
The biggest incident came shortly after, when Scott McLaughlin lost control entering Turn 1 during his first lap. The New Zealander initially caught the slide, but then spun and hit the wall hard in reverse. As a result, McLaughlin will have to start both races from the back—if Team Penske can even repair the car in time.
Following a frustrating season so far, Newgarden was the ninth driver to attempt qualifying. Unsurprisingly, he posted the fastest times up to that point in both laps. In the second-lap order, David Malukas briefly went quicker than Newgarden with a time that stayed on top for much of the session. But in the closing moments, Felix Rosenqvist unexpectedly edged him out by a fraction of a second.
Newgarden’s first-lap time held up, securing him his first pole position of the season. Palou, who was only fourth after his first lap, bounced back with a strong second lap to knock Rosenqvist off the top spot—earning pole for Sunday’s race and strengthening his position as championship leader.
Full Qualifying Results for Race 1 in Iowa
Full Qualifying Results for Race 2 in Iowa
PhotographyPenske Entertainment
