Practice 2 results
NEWTON, Iowa – Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon ran 1-2 on the speed chart in both 45-minute Verizon IndyCar Series practice sessions for the Iowa Corn 300 on the .894-mile Iowa Speedway oval.
Kanaan, who’s earned podium spots in the past five races at Iowa Speedway, posted the fastest lap of 17.7544 seconds (181.273 mph) in the second session in the No. 10 Fusion Chevrolet. His lap of 17.9580 seconds (179.218 mph) in the initial session also was fastest of the 24 entries for the 300-lap race under lights July 18.
“I think we have a pretty good set-up,” Kanaan said. “The track suits my style. The short ovals are definitely one of my strengths. So far, we’re pretty happy with the race car so we'll see what’s going to happen.”
Dixon recorded a best lap of 181.229 mph (17.7587 seconds) in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in the second practice.
He set the track two-lap qualifying record of 186.256 mph on July 11, 2014, and has started from the pole three times in the eight races at Iowa Speedway. Single-car qualifications are scheduled for 4 p.m. ET July 18. Watch qualifying on Racecontrol.indycar.com, augmented by real-time Timing and Scoring and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network broadcast. NBCSN's telecast of the race airs at 8 p.m.
"I think straight-out speed we're definitely OK," said Dixon, who on July 12 at Milwaukee made his 250th Indy car start. "The car seems decent in race trim. With the ambient conditions and track temps way up, grip is going to be definitely key to the race."
The next victory for Chip Ganassi Racing will be the 100th in team Indy car history.
Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power was third overall (180.898 mph) in the No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet to lead teammates Simon Pagenaud (180.795) and Verizon IndyCar Series championship points leader Juan Pablo Montoya (180.474) in the top five.
Dixon is second in the championship standings –54 points behind Montoya -- entering Round 13 of 16. A 500-mile race on the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway and two road course races, including the Aug. 30 finale at Sonoma Raceway, are on deck.
“We've got to keep doing what we've been doing,” said Montoya, who has two victories and six other top-five finishes. “What we've been doing has been working. We've been competitive every week. That's the main goal. You got to be good, run a smart race and see what happens.”
Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Team Penske’s Helio Castroneves are tied for third. Power is one point behind in fifth.
“I think as a team we've been doing a really good job all year,” Montoya continued. “Hopefully, we can get more wins and some more good results.”