After a great night of racing it was off to see the open wheel drivers in the Star Mazda Series, Firestone Indy Lights Series and the IZOD Indy Car Series compete at the Iowa Speedway on Saturday. As I started to make the drive to the Iowa Speedway it was raining but by the time we arrived at the speedway it wasn't raining.
We did some walking around first and then it was time for the first race of the day. The Star Mazda Championship Series for the Pizza Ranch 100. Martin Scuncio would lead the first lap but 16 year old Sage Karam took the lead on lap 2. Karam would have to battle with Scuncio in the early going when Scuncio would take the lead back on lap 6 and then Karam would regain the lead on lap 7. Karam would go on to the win meanwhile Scuncio would end the day in the garage. J.V. Horto took 2nd, Gustavo Menezes was 3rd, Tristan Vautier was 4th and Tatiana Calderon was 5th.
After that race was the Firestone Indy Lights Series Sukup 100, 115 lap race or 100 miles. The Original start would be called back as the cars weren't together and side by side. Esteban Guerrieri would lead the that lap along with the next lap. On lap 3, Guerrieri would get together with Gustavo Yacaman in turn 3 but still able to keep the lead despite the yellow coming out. Guerrieri would hold on to the lead until Josef Newgarden made the pass on lap 26 for the lead. Newgarden wouldn't look back as he would take the win. Yacaman, Bryan Clauson, Victor Garcia and Duarte Ferreira rounded out the top 5.
The final race of the day was the featured race. The Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer for the IZOD Indy Car Series. Takuma Sato and Danica Patrick earned front row honors after qualifying on Friday. Sato would take the early lead but on lap 8, 2007 & 2009 Winner at Iowa Dario Franchitti would take the lead from Sato. The only things that would slow down Franchitti were the cautions. The first caution came out on lap 24 for James Jakes in turn 2. The 2nd caution came out on lap 42 for Ana Beatriz and Mike Conway in turn 2.
The next caution wouldn't come out until lap 91 for Will Power putting his car in the turn 2 wall and then the 4th caution came out on lap 115 for Sebastian Saavedra in turn 2 after contact with the wall. After that caution is were things start to heat up. Marco Andretti would take the lead on lap 157 from Franchitti. Franchitti would resume the lead on lap 161 but then pit stops had to be made and JR Hildebrand took the lead on lap 184 in the meantime the caution came out for Takuma Sato after putting his car in the turn 2 wall. Hildebrand would come in so it would hand the lead over to Andretti. 2010 winner Tony Kanaan would take the lead on lap 203.
Kanaan lead would be short lived as Andretti took it back on lap 208. Andretti's lead would be short lived because Kanaan took it back on lap 212. Kanaan would hold on to the lead until lap 232 when Andretti would get by after using a push to pass. Andretti would go on take his first win since 2006 at Infineon Raceway. "TK" Tony Kanaan finished 2nd, Scott Dixon was 3rd, JR Hildebrand was 4th and Dario Franchitti was 5th. Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe and Danica Patrick rounded out the top 10.
Racing came to a finish around the 10pm. Simona de Silvestro, who is a regular on the series was not cleared to compete this week do to the concussion at Milwaukee the week before so see had to take 5 pts.
Next race weekend at Iowa Speedway is July 15th and 16th. On Friday July 15th its a Iowa Speedway Fan Fest along with practice sessions for the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. On Saturday July 16th its the Prairie Meadows 200 for the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 200.
Up next for Foxman is 3 nights of the Stock Car Shootouts at Alta, Marshalltown and Independence so until next time!
Jeremy "Foxman" Fox
