Josef Newgarden has turned Iowa Speedway into his personal playground, racking up a remarkable seven wins and consistently arriving as the favorite whenever IndyCar races on the short oval. He dominates not just by winning, but by leading huge chunks of the race, even setting a record by leading 282 of 300 laps in one event. Newgarden’s comfort and speed on Iowa’s unique bullring put him in a class of his own among current drivers.
In much the same way, Alex Palou has made WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca his happy hunting ground. From just five starts at the legendary California road course, Palou has claimed three wins and posted an astonishing average finish of just 1.6. He didn’t lead during his debut at Laguna Seca, but since then, Palou has found the magic—mastering the twisty layout and turning every return trip into a genuine shot at victory. For both drivers, these tracks aren’t just venues; they’re stages where they do their best work and everyone else is trying to catch up.
