A huge crash involving Sting Ray Robb marred the end of an otherwise processional second IndyCar race of the 2024 Iowa double-header, won by Will Power over championship leader Alex Palou.
The accident on the final lap was set up by eighth-placed Alexander Rossi slowing up and being hit at speed by Robb, whose DW12 launched terrifyingly high into the air, barrel-rolled upon landing and continued to skid down the straight after returning to the ground.
Meanwhile, that contact had sent Rossi across the track, leading into an eventual collision with the cars of first Ed Carpenter and then Kyle Kirkwood, who spun after checking up - with Carpenter's car ending up on top of Kirkwood's.
A look at the multi-car incident on the final lap at @IowaSpeedway.
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 14, 2024
Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood have been seen and released. pic.twitter.com/EWvkQFSbhZ
Rossi, Carpenter and Kirkwood - who indicated Rossi had run out of fuel - were attended to by the medical team and swiftly released.
"All good."
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 14, 2024
Ride onboard with @KKirkwoodRacing on the last lap of the race. pic.twitter.com/RqDm8LERwn
Robb, stretchered away from the site of the accident, was initially described by IndyCar as being "awake, alert and in good condition" as he headed to Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center for precautionary checks.
He was discharged from hospital the same day once those checks were complete.
Additional update on @sting_ray_robb. #INDYCAR | #INDYCARatIowa pic.twitter.com/xj6B40dV8H
— AJ Foyt Racing (@AJFoytRacing) July 14, 2024
The race for the win
The series swapped a cool night race on Saturday for the searing Iowa sun on Sunday afternoon, but the tyre deg and drivers struggling with the heat did not translate to high drama.
Pato O’Ward summed up the first 100 laps of 250 when he was caught on camera opening his visor and appearing to itch his eye, with very little action happening on track as drivers saved tyres - the rubber lasting much longer than expected - and fuel and the one-lane nature of the track didn’t allow overtaking after a repave.
Palou took the lead at the first stops as he was allowed to pit before IndyCar threw a caution for the spun car of Agustin Canapino.
And Power hadn’t pitted before the caution - so jumped from 19th to second by taking his pitstop under yellows.
With the pair now ahead, Palou predictably led the entire next stint as passing was rare other than on restarts where cars weren’t up to speed and tyre marbles had been swept to allow grip briefly higher up the track.
In the final round of stops, an almost 0.9s swing across inlap, time in the pits and outlap put Power just ahead of Palou, the Australian having stopped a lap after the Spaniard.
Iowa