Twenty-seven drivers from the IndyCar series are testing on the newly paved Iowa Speedway

Changes to the Iowa Speedway track surface should produce different results, says Josef Newgarden, a Team Penske driver who won last year’s Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.

The new surface resulted in increased speed during Thursday’s testing, as several drivers unofficially beat the IndyCar Series track record of 186.809 mph on the qualifying lap set by Helio Castroneves in 2014.

“I think this year will be very different. The race track is basically brand new and the new asphalt in the corners will make it a very different race to what it has been like before,” said Newgarden on Thursday evening.

The driver, who took his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory on May 26, has won five of the series’ last seven races at Iowa Speedway.

“I love this track,” he said. “I’ve always loved it and I like the area.”

“Newton now comes to life even more on race weekends because of the collaboration with Hy-Vee.

“Hy-Vee was a great partner for us and made this event an absolute highlight.”

Ten teams and 27 cars from the NTT IndyCar Series completed testing on the “world’s fastest short track” throughout the day Thursday as the series’ teams and drivers prepared for their return visit to Iowa Speedway July 12-14.

Among the drivers testing the track on Thursday were two former IndyCar Series Iowa race winners, five Indianapolis 500 winners and four former series champions after all four corners were repaved in the spring.

With 15 days left until the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend July 12-14, teams spent Thursday testing some new elements that will be used during the series’ double-header weekend at Iowa Speedway.

The cars were on track from 10:00 a.m. CT to 9:00 p.m. CT on Thursday morning. The lengthy test session gave the teams and drivers ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with Iowa Speedway’s new, partially resurfaced track surface while also testing the new hybrid powertrain that will make its official debut at the next IndyCar race on the schedule – the Honda Indy 200 on July 7 at Mid-Ohio.

The first oval races with the new hybrid drive will then take place the following week at the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at the Iowa Speedway.

“I think (the partial resurfacing) has leveled the playing field. It’s a big day, you know, it’s a good day for a test,” said Graham Rahal, who along with Newgarden posted one of the fastest times Thursday. “For us as a team, obviously Hy-Vee is our biggest partner and we really want to do well for Hy-Vee here. Hy-Vee’s commitment to our sport is unmatched. And that’s why we want to win for them.”

The Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend at Iowa Speedway includes a doubleheader on Saturday night, July 13, and a day race on Sunday, July 14.

This will be combined with a concert schedule featuring some of the biggest names in music. Luke Combs and Eric Church will perform on Saturday 13 July, while Kelsea Ballerini and Post Malone will take the stage on Sunday 14 July.

The Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart will take the green flag on Saturday, July 13. The first night race at Iowa Speedway in four years is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., followed by the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade on Sunday, July 14 at 11 a.m. CT.