Race Day update from Iowa – rain threatens (2nd Update)
 |
| Air Titans in action |
| Lucille Dust/AR1.com |
The Air Titans are out drying the track. The Indy Lights are scheduled to qualify now at 1 pm. No other changes have been made to the schedule at this time. Lucille Dust reporting for Autoracing1.com
07/10/16
Morning from Newton, Iowa, known as the fastest short track on the planet. They are mighty proud of their track and the their corn. The Iowa Corn 300 is scheduled to start at 4:40 pm. That is subject to change as it is raining heavily here. The good news is they we have at least 2 Air Titans here to help dry the track quickly.
The buzz is about this race being run during the day and not at night like if has been for the past 5 years. The change to the Sunday race was due to the NASCAR race last night in Kentucky and the two series being broadcasted on the same network.
Talking with the drivers after qualifying yesterday, I get the feeling that they like the night race on this short track. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the winner of last year's race, had this to say after his disappointing qualifying run. "It was terrible out there. I had no grip. We need to find grip. I was really loose like I was this morning. And we tried to get away with something, we couldn't there."
"If this race is going to be a good one, it will be because of tire degradation and because of the heat. It will be guys really slowing and other guys coming. It will be a different type of race."
Tony Kanaan had a big grin on his face after this 6th place qualifying effort. "I love the short ovals. You really have to wheel it and drive it. I have enjoyed short track all my life." I told him that no one has won from the pole for this race and the Brazilian replied, "And I know that because I started 16th the year that I won, 2010. I am not really concerned about that. But if we start from the pole, we will try and change that fact. And make sure that someone wins from the pole."
"I don't know what kind of race we will see tomorrow. I think it is going to be different than we seen in the past just because….it is a day race, not a night race. The track will come to us doing a night race. And tomorrow, it is just going to be there. It's going to be hot. It is going to be sticky. I really don't know what to expect."
And now with the rain falling the last hour, no one will be sure what the conditions will be today. Or if we will be delayed and the race will start later tonight.
I had an informal chat with Jimmy Small, President of Iowa Speedway after the announcement that IndyCar will return to Iowa Speedway for the next 2 years. I asked him about the ticket sales and he said the track does not release attendance numbers. He was expecting a good walk up crowd today, but the rain might influence that decision to come out. He is also expecting fans come to the race here after leaving the Saturday night NASCAR race in Kentucky.
Indy Lights qualifying has been moved back to 1 pm.
I will keep you updated as things are announced.
Lucille Dust reporting from Iowa Speedway
07/10/16 Good morning from Iowa! Well we thought it was going to be a perfect day today! But that has quickly changed with thick, black clouds moving over the race track. The sky looks like we are going to get wet here.
I will keep you posted on the weather.
Lucille Dust reporting from Newton