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Arrow McLAREN Iowa Speedway Doubleheader: Race 1 Report

"We've got some ideas to come back stronger tomorrow"

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Add another podium to the list for 2023!

Pato O'Ward started on the inside of Row 3 and climbed two positions throughout the race for his fifth podium of the year.

Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist started 20th and 21st, respectively, and move their way forward over the course of 250 laps. Alexander improved 10 positions to 10th, while Felix gained eight to finish 13th.

One more day of racing, another 250 laps on Sunday to determine who will win Iowa Speedway's second leg of the doubleheader.

Read what each of the drivers and Racing Director Gavin Ward said after Race 1 at Iowa.

Race Dates

Saturday, July 22

Sunday, July 23

Rounds

11 of 17

12 of 17

Total Laps

Race 1: 250 laps

Race 2: 250 laps

Total Race Distances 223.5 miles / 359.69 km
Length 0.88 miles / 1.41 km
Number of Turns 4

Pato O'Ward, Driver, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, said:

"Solid podium for us today, but we didn't have anything for the Penskes. We need to take a solid step forward if we want to make them sweat tomorrow. I think they were specifically strong in getting through traffic, and I would get stuck. I wasn't able to really place the car where I needed to in order to get by some of the slow cars. I'm obviously happy with it, but considering how much pace we had here last year, it was a bit of like, 'Where is it?'"

Qualifying - Race 1 5th 178.390 mph
Qualifying - Race 2 11th 177.217 mph
Starting Position 5th  
Finishing Position 3rd  
Championship Standings 4th 309 points

Alexander Rossi, Driver, No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, said:

"We fought hard to get where we ended today in 10th. We made the most of it from where we started, but there's still more in the car that we need to find overnight before we get on track again tomorrow. The team did a great job; this is the best car over a long run that I've had. We'll take a look at the data with the team and get back on track tomorrow."

Qualifying - Race 1 21st 175.864 mph
Qualifying - Race 2 18th 176.664 mph
Starting Position 20th  
Finishing Position 10th  
Championship Standings T-9th 250 points

Felix Rosenqvist, Driver, No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, said:

"It wasn't our best race. We had a few mechanical issues that we need to take a look at before Race 2 tomorrow. We had a good first stint, but then we lost momentum after that. All in all, to gain eight spots to finish 13th, we'll take it, but I'm ready to get back out tomorrow to race again."

Qualifying - Race 1 22nd 175.764 mph
Qualifying - Race 2 16th 176.844 mph
Starting Position 21st  
Finishing Position 13th  
Championship Standings 12th 200 points

Gavin Ward, Racing Director, Arrow McLaren, said:

"Pato and the No. 5 crew did a great job to get on the podium today. We found a mechanical issue on Felix's car that affected the handling, so we'll work on that before the race tomorrow. Alexander had stages of the race where he had really strong pace, but we still have to find a little bit more there. We as a team didn't have anything for those top two Penskes, but we've got some ideas to come back stronger tomorrow."

Session Times

Race 2 Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC