June 28, 2024 | By Merrill Cain

Rain Brings Early End to INDY NXT Open Test at Iowa Speedway

NEWTON, Ia. — 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, July 12-14. 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. 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 Speedway. “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.”

INDY NXT by Firestone is the top developmental series for drivers and team members looking to make the leap to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Since its inception in 1986, many of INDYCAR’s biggest names developed their skills in INDY NXT. Notable series champions include active INDYCAR titleholders Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden. More recently, standout racers Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas, Christian Rasmussen, Linus Lundqvist and Rinus VeeKay all raced in INDY NXT on their way to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

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 Friday, July 12 before hosting Round 10 of the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone season on Saturday, July 13 (1:05 pm CT on Peacock).

Highlights of Friday’s limited on-track action from the NDY NXT open test at Iowa Speedway, along with comments from several series drivers, can be accessed at https://pec.imagencloud.com/record/~7049fbe4c3.