July 01, 2024

Rain shortens Indy NXT test session at Iowa Speedway

Eighteen drivers turned just 10 laps due to wet conditions

By IndyCar

An Indy NXT test session was shortened due to rain on Friday at Iowa Speedway. Jamie Chadwick, left, was one of the drivers trying to prepare for the July 13 race.

Mother Nature provided her share of challenges Friday as the rising stars of INDYCAR were limited to only a handful of laps under caution during the INDY NXT by Firestone open test at Iowa Speedway in preparation for Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend.

A total of 18 drivers representing five INDY NXT by Firestone teams were ready to test throughout the day Friday on the new partially-repaved track surface at Iowa Speedway.

Iowa Speedway

Persistent rain throughout the morning and into the early afternoon across Central Iowa prevented teams getting on track, however.

By the time the skies cleared in the afternoon, “weepers” consisting of condensation on the track surface from the day-long rainfall hampered conditions as competitors turned just 10 laps under the caution flag. After scattered showers reappeared at Iowa Speedway late in the afternoon, officials made the decision to call the test session.

Friday’s test was expected to provide valuable information for the developing INDY NXT drivers as the series gears up for the INDY NXT by Firestone Iowa 100 on July 13 — the first oval race of the 2024 series season.

Four of the six remaining INDY NXT by Firestone races are on ovals with Iowa Speedway (July 13), World Wide Technology Raceway (Aug. 17), the Milwaukee Mile (Aug. 31) and Nashville Superspeedway (Sept. 15) on the calendar.

The upcoming series race at Iowa Speedway will provide new challenges for INDY NXT competitors following a spring repave of the four corners at the unique 7/8 of a mile oval.

“A new repave here at Iowa from last year is a nice difference to see,” said series championship leader Louis Foster of Andretti Global, who finished seventh in last year’s series race at Iowa. “We’re already flat around this track in qualifying so I think it’ll be a bit of trimming of aero and just seeing how fast we can really go.”

For the third consecutive year, INDY NXT by Firestone will compete alongside the NTT INDYCAR SERIES during Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend.

The next generation of INDYCAR stars will qualify on July 12 before hosting Round 10 of the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season on July 13.