Penske aims to finally break through in Iowa

Associated Press

newton, iowa

Every year, Team Penske arrives in Iowa with a host of championship-contending drivers and leaves without a win.

The 10th edition of the IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway could be Penske’s best shot at breaking through.

The grueling demands of Iowa’s 0.875-mile bull ring typically rewards the most skilled drivers. Penske has plenty of those, as Simon Pagenaud, Helio Castroneves and Will Power entered the weekend first, second and third in the point standings.

Pagenaud will start today’s race from the pole, followed by Josef Newgarden, Castroneves, Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball.

Still, Penske has lagged far behind Andretti Autosport, winner of the last six races and seven of nine overall on IndyCar’s shortest track.

“We’ve been close many times,” said Castroneves, winless in Iowa despite two poles and five starts on the front row. “The good news is Team Penske is one, two, three, and that’s our goal to keep going all the way to the end of the season. But we have a big test here.”