Palou had a solid Iowa, with a fifth-place finish in the first race and then a victory (his seventh of the year) in the second race. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver would need an unprecedented collapse to lose the title.

Josef Newgarden, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, secured the pole position at Iowa Speedway, a track significantly altered by a partial repave. Team Penske, despite past dominance at Iowa Speedway, has struggled this year, facing scandals and on-track misfortunes. NEWTON—The King of Iowa Speedway added another trophy to his collection July 12.

Since 2020, the series has held back-to-back races at Iowa, giving fans double the excitement. The only time a driver has swept the weekend set was in 2023, when Josef Newgarden won the double, winning in Corn Country for the fifth and sixth time in his career.