NEWTON, Iowa — “Racing doesn’t owe anyone anything, really.”
Andretti Autosport racer Zach Veach was reflective about his 2016 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires defeat at Iowa Speedway as he lost the lead with three laps to go. Coming back to the 0.894-mile short oval as a Verizon IndyCar Series rookie, the Ohioan is looking for a bit of redemption after qualifying 14th for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 300.
“Yeah, extremely disappointed with that run to be honest,” Veach said following the two-lap run that put him on the outside of Row 7 in the No. 26 Relay Group 1001 Honda. “(In opening practice on Saturday), we were very free, the car was right where it needed to be, so we really didn’t think we needed to change much. Obviously, the track made a big difference because the thing wouldn’t even turn out of its own way (in qualifying).”
Veach was fifth fastest in the opening practice session, turning 45 laps with a fastest of 181.938 mph. While disappointed that he couldn’t qualify better in the afternoon, when many drivers struggled with changing track conditions, his crew focused instead on making sure Veach was comfortable running the high line in the final practice Saturday evening.
Veach turned the third-most laps (85) in final practice, gaining valuable experience – in particular, how to reduce tire degradation. He ended the final session in 10th position.
“It’s going to be something, that’s for sure,” Veach said about tire wear, adding that running the higher line around the track may preserve the Firestones better than the low line. “The main goal is keeping all four tires alive and the longest distance around the track does just that, so I think that’s going to be prime real estate for a lot of people.”
Now 23, Veach has past Iowa Speedway experience in all three Mazda Road to Indy levels to draw from in his Verizon IndyCar Series debut at the track.
“It was much easier in a Lights car, to be honest,” he said. “The track ends up feeling a lot smaller in an Indy car and then, with the bumps and the extra speed and now that we’ve taken downforce away from the Indy car, you’re definitely busy in it.”
Veach’s best finish at Iowa was second place in Indy Lights in 2016. His other MRTI results at the track were fifth, sixth and seventh. He still recalls vividly fumbling in lapped traffic two years ago costing him the Indy Lights victory.
“When I win here in INDYCAR one day, it’s just going to be even better.”
The Iowa Corn 300 airs live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.