On Saturday afternoon, the 27 drivers of the NTT IndyCar Series turned qualifying laps around Iowa Speedway in order set the grids for both races of the weekend
Qualifying was formatted as it has been for recent double-header oval events, with drivers running two consecutive laps on the short oval with no other cars around.
The times from the first lap determined the order for the first race, and the second lap the second race.
READ MORE: IndyCar Iowa – Full Qualifying Results
Multiple drivers noted that they were affected by hybrid system issues as they climbed from the car, and they were generally not happy with the situation.
It is not entirely clear why the hybrid power boost was not available for some drivers, but there was obviously some sort of technical issue that was preventing it from working correctly for all drivers.
Colton Herta completed his run without any hybrid power assistance, and was given the chance to qualify a second time by IndyCar officials.
The controversial decision was made in the moment, and appeared to be an option that was created by race control only after the situation revealed itself.
Herta’s Andretti Global team talked Race Director Kyle Novak on pit lane extensively before making the decision to complete a second attempt, but they were given the option at the last second to not actually complete a second run.
Herta had provisionally qualified first and fourth and would have been required to abandon those times in order to make a second attempt. Because he did not make the second attempt, he was allowed to keep his initial times and his starting positions.
Herta’s pace and pole for the first race was extra impressive considering he did not have the additional 60 horsepower boost available at all.
Scott McLaughlin qualified on pole for the second race, with his second timed lap topping the timesheets.
Herta and McLaughlin set laps of 17.1506 and 17.0966 seconds respectively, with McLaughlin’s time pushing him over the 188 MPH barrier and setting a new track record in the process.
Alex Palou was also quite quick during his run, and qualified third and second for the two races respectively in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Jack Harvey actually completed three qualifying runs on account of the troubles he had with the system on both of his first two runs.
He placed the Dale Coyne Racing #18 entry into the 19th and 18th starting positions after the unconventional allowance that let him make multiple attempts when no other driver could.
When the hybrid system was working as expected, most drivers chose to spread the use of their electrical boost over the course of both push laps.
A small amount of regeneration was available as drivers rode through the corners, but it was a delicate balance that drivers had to manage manually with controls on their steering wheel.
Drivers and teams only have a short time to recover and digest the results of qualifying, as the first race of the double-header weekend gets underway in just a few hours’ time. Green flag is set to fly at 7:00 PM central time for a 250 lap tilt.
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