Drivers are getting ready for the physical challenge that the Iowa Speedway will offer for this weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250. At less than a mile around the Iowa Speedway is one of the smallest ovals that the Indy Racing League competes on but it is one of the most challenging circuits for the drivers.
Driver E.J. Viso says there’s movement and action inside the cockpit as drivers have to work in and out of the corners. He says the amount of work depends on how much traffic there is. Viso says he enjoys the challenge and says it’s one of his favorite racetracks in the championship.
Viso says driving at Iowa is much different than the larger tracks on the circuit as at the bigger tracks the car does most of the work, and you just drive and try to be as clean as possible.
Ed Carpenter the 250 miles will take a toll on the drivers. He says the g-forces at Iowa are the highest of anywhere and there’s a toll because you are always turning on the short track. Carpenter says you have to be able to block out how tired your arms are by the end of the race.
Carpenter feels Iowa is tougher to drive than the larger tracks, and cites Indianapolis where the longer straightaways give you a chance to relax a little, but at Iowa there’s not time to break. A full weekend of racing begins on Friday with the USAC Midget Series. The Iowa Corn Indy 250 is on Sunday.