What began as another setback for Team Penske at the first of two NTT IndyCar Series races at Iowa Speedway\u2014Scott McLaughlin\u2019s crash in qualifying\u2014ultimately turned into a small step forward for the struggling organization.<\/p>\n
By the conclusion of Sunday\u2019s Farm to Finish 250, Penske won\u2019t manage a third consecutive doubleheader sweep at Iowa. But Saturday it did notch what was likely its best collective outing of the season so far.<\/p>\n
Arrow McLaren\u2019s Pato O\u2019Ward marked his 100th career start with a win in the weekend opener, but the Penske trio of Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Scott McLaughlin followed in order\u2014helping Chevrolet sweep the top four finishing spots.<\/p>\n
Newgarden started from pole for the first time this season and led 232 of the 250 laps, bringing his career total on the.894-mile tri-oval in Newton, Iowa, to new heights before finishing second.<\/p>\n
\u201cO\u2019Ward got track position there, and it was game over. Just simple as that,\u201d Newgarden said after O\u2019Ward denied him his seventh Iowa victory. Still, Newgarden improved in the standings from 19th to 14th.<\/p>\n
He also earned his first podium since the season-opener in St. Petersburg and received praise from the driver who beat him.<\/p>\n
\u201cJosef\u2019s the master at these races. He rules around here. So I knew that we had to be spot on and I had to be so precise on the in laps to beat him at his own game,\u201d O\u2019Ward said. \u201cWe’ve had so many duels, Josef and I, but he usually has a percentage that comes out on top more. And today is the day that changes. So there’s great racing out there and I had a lot of fun making that outside groove working whenever we were fourth and fifth. And as soon as we were behind him, we just positioned ourselves to get it done.\u201d He passed Kyle Kirkwood to move into second place in the standings, 106 points behind season-long leader Alex Palou.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Power completed the podium and simply took satisfaction in a clean, trouble-free day.<\/p>\n
“I’m really happy with third. I just wanted to have a smooth day with no problems. That\u2019s what I got. We\u2019ve always had the speed. Just a very smooth day, I would say.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also noted the development of the outside groove: \u201cSome good racing out there in the second lane, which is awesome. I think everyone should thank [Juncos Hollinger Racing\u2019s] Conor Daly for bringing it in or at least showing us how you do it. Him and [A.J. Foyt Racing\u2019s Santino] Ferrucci, man, they roll it outside really well. I just watched Conor do it and I’m like, \u2018Oh, OK.\u2019 So he taught me there. But yeah, solid day.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the most impressive drives of this 11th of 17 scheduled events came from McLaughlin, who started last in the 27-car field after his qualifying spin into the outside wall and charged his way up to a fourth-place finish.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s race is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX.<\/p>\n