What’s happening in 50208: Fast laps on short track

Via IndyCar.com
July 9, 2014

Iowa Corn Indy 300 presented by DEKALB

TV: NBCSN telecasts the race live (8 p.m. ET July 12) and qualifications (4 p.m. ET July 11).

Radio/web: All Verizon IndyCar Series sessions are broadcast on www.IndyCar.com and the INDYCAR 14 app in conjunction with real-time Timing & Scoring. In addition, the race will be broadcast on IMS Radio Network affiliates, XM 209 and Sirius 213. Paul Page is the chief announcer. … Live streaming video of the July 11 practice sessions will be on www.IndyCar.com, incorporating Timing & Scoring and the IMS Radio Network broadcast.

Twitter: @iowaspeedway, @IndyCar, #IowaCorn300

Weekend schedule (all times Eastern):

Friday, July 11 – 11-a.m.-noon Verizon IndyCar Series practice *
3 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series single-car qualifications
7 p.m. Verizon IndyCar Series practice *
* streaming video on www.IndyCar.com
Saturday, July 12 – 8 p.m. NBCSN on air

Weather forecast: Highs in the low 80s with scattered showers.

Qualifications: Single-car cumulative time of two consecutive timed laps, with order determined by blind draw, to determine the Verizon P1 Award winner. Iowa-based Sukup Manufacturing Co. is the sponsor of Pole Day. … Single-lap track record is 17.3324 seconds (185.687 mph) by Helio Castroneves of Team Penske in 2013 in qualifying for heat races.

Race laps: 300 in counterclockwise direction on the .894-mile oval as measured by INDCYAR Timing & Scoring (12-14 degrees of banking in the turns, frontstretch of 1,075 feet) … 50 laps were added for the 2014 race.

Challenges of the track: “It’s challenging because it’s so small. There are such high G (force) loads, it’s a very physical track. It’s a tricky place because to get over the bumps and make the car good in all aspects of the track is very difficult if not impossible,” said Graham Rahal, who finished fifth in 2013.

Start: Two-wide start based on qualifications results … single-file restarts.
Pit boxes: 40 feet.

Fuel: 40 U.S. gallons of E85 for practice/qualifications; 70 gallons for race … Verizon IndyCar Series cars carry 18.5 U.S. gallons.

Engines: 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V6s supplied by Chevrolet and Honda … 140 kPa turbo boost for oval race. Chevrolet has six victories and Honda has five this season.

Aerodynamics: Short oval specifications — rear wing mainplane angle of 0 degrees +/- .50 degree and rear wing flap angle of 34 degrees maximum. A rear wing wicker is optional, as are front brake backing plates and an underwing strake.

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