Friday Show at Iowa Speedway to Feature INDYCAR Qualifying Heat Races
Jun 20, 2012
Friday Show at Iowa Speedway to Feature INDYCAR Qualifying Heat Races
Three 30-Lap Heats and USAC Double-Header Make It A Great Value For Fans
NEWTON, Iowa – June 20, 2012 – The IZOD IndyCar Series has never qualified a starting grid for one of their events without using the traditional time trial format. That is, until this year’s IndyCar weekend at Iowa Speedway in Newton.
The Friday afternoon and evening show will offer a radical departure from the commonly used single-car qualifying method, and will feature three separate 30-lap ‘Heat Races’ to set the field for Saturday night’s 6th annual Iowa Corn Indy 250. In addition, the Casey’s General Stores USAC Challenge will provide even more drama, as the stars of the United States Auto Club’s Mopar National Midget Series and Traxxas Silver Crown Series take to the 7/8-mile paved tri-oval for an open-wheel double header, slated for 8 p.m.
The Heat Race qualification groups will be determined by lap times recorded by drivers in the second 45-minute IndyCar practice session at 2:30 p.m. CDT Friday afternoon. The first of the three qualifying Heat Races is scheduled to be green-flagged at 6:15 p.m.
Race 1 will consist of the even-numbered positions, starting with the 10th-quickest practice time overall, and determine the even-numbered positions in the starting field from 10th down.
Race 2 will consist of the odd-numbered positions, starting with the ninth-quickest practice time overall, and determine the odd-numbered positions in the starting field from ninth down.
Race 3 will consist of drivers ranked one through eight by combined practice times. Results of Race 3 will determine the first four rows, with the winner taking the pole position.
“Qualifying Heat Races are a new addition to IndyCar racing, and we’re honored to be the first IndyCar track to showcase this format,” said Iowa Speedway CEO, Doug Fritz. “But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Heat Races have always been a big part of weekly short track racing, and Iowa race fans recognize that too. This is a great way to give our fans extra value in their Friday ticket, and to create some new excitement for IndyCar.”
Iowa Speedway spectator gates will open at 9:45 a.m. this Friday, June 22, with all-day activities on the schedule, including practice sessions for the Star Mazda series, IZOD IndyCar series and Firestone Indy Lights cars, warming up for Saturday’s “Sukup 100” race. Qualifying for the USAC Midgets and Silver Crown cars will be at 4:15 p.m., while the Firestone Indy Lights cars will qualify at 5:15. A post-race concert by 50’s-60’s revival band Route 66 will follow the conclusion of the Casey’s General Stores USAC Challenge, at approximately 10:15 pm.
Tickets for Iowa Speedway’s Friday show start at $20, and are available online at the track’s official website, www.iowaspeedway.com.
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About Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is a state-of-the-art 7/8 mile asphalt paved tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located just 30 miles east of Des Moines at I-80 Exit 168 in Newton, Iowa. The track is owned and operated by U.S. Motorsport Corporation and designed by former NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace, now an anchor and analyst for ABC-TV/ESPN. Call 1-866-RUSTY-GO, or visit Iowaspeedway.com to learn more.
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