About - The Iowa speedway has been used as an IndyCar venue since 2007 and is situated on the outskirts of Newton, IO. A small town set amongst miles of farm land, the speedway appears on the horizon driving along the I-80. Des Moines is the closest major city, located to the west which is around 45 minutes drive. Once within Iowa there are corn fields as far as the eye can see for much of the journey, demonstrating the link between race sponsorship and the industry. The race is traditionally held in June, and has varied from Saturday evening racing to Sunday afternoon, which is normally dictated by TV times. I attended in 2011 and the vapour trails coming off the back of the cars gleaming at night is a beautiful sight. Qualifying is different too, with grid positions being determined by heat races on the Saturday.
Tickets - Lower tiered weekend tickets are around $30, for higher tier tickets you will be looking at around $70. As with all ovals, want to experience the noise and close action, go low. But to get the best view of the whole track, and with Iowa Speedway, which you can see, go high.
DB – In 2012, having not attended an oval track before, I opted for the higher tier but towards the bottom of it (row 18 to be precise). This, for me anyway, was the perfect blend of being close enough to the action on the near side but also having a great view of the whole track. Tickets for the higher tier were $60 in 2012, although I booked through Ticketmaster which incurred additional charges which is worth bearing in mind, although they are comparable to similar charges for events in the UK, if not less (roughly $7 per ticket).
Paddock Passes - Iowa Speedway has two options, the cheaper Casey's General Store Fan Walk which is $10. This is a corridor which runs behind the pit lane and in front of the garages, good place to get a few autographs and pictures. For those looking to be right in the action, you can purchase a garage pass, this is $60 but you can get close to the cars, meet drivers, crew, and get some great pictures and autographs from your favourite drivers.
To get to the garage area, the speedway provides a novel way of getting there with a tractor pulling trailers. These are nonstop throughout the day as well as being free.
DB – In 2012 there was only one option for the Casey’s General Store Fan Walk. It was a $30 wristband but got you access to the infield including paddock, garages and even onto pit road. It was one part of the experience I would heartily recommend. The casual IndyCar fans I had dragged along were a little nonplussed by it, but for the IndyCar fanatic it was well worth the money.
At the Track - Each season has different support races, these can vary from Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, USF2000 to Midgets. Again with garage passes you can meet the drivers and they are always keen to meet fans and talk about themselves and their cars. DB – In 2012 the support races were Star Mazda and Indy Lights, albeit the schedule was disrupted by the weather.
Away from the Track - Due to the nature of the 7/8 of a mile track, the fan zone, interactive areas are located away from inside of the track. The Indycar Fan Village and concessions are located behind the main grandstands.
DB – In 2012 there was a whole host of fan zones and merchandise stands located both inside and outside of the speedway entrance on the grandstand side of the circuit. Those outside the entrance were open before the speedway was which was great for early birds such as myself to kill some time prior to entry (and also prior to
the crowds gathering).
These included individual driver stands with Charlie Kimball and Ed Carpenter having their 2011 cars on display to have photos with (and Kimball’s could be signed by fans) and they would do a Q&A later in the day, Official Indycar merchandise tent, individual team merchandise stands, independent merchandise stands, including one for the speedway itself.
In 2012 the race day programme ($10) also came with a free 1/64 Iowa Corn 250 die cast car. Although, be quick as by around midday they had run out and were handing out vouchers to collect one later in the month – not so easy from 6,000 miles away!
While you can expect to pay ‘event prices’ for food and drink on the day, there is plenty of variety ranging from the usual burgers and hot dogs to a hog roast (which was interesting for them to try and keep the fire lit through the thunderstorm in 2012!). Unlike many British race tracks, however, while the prices are higher than elsewhere you get decent food and decent sized meals for your money.
Hotels - I stayed at a budget hotel in Grinnell around 30 minutes drive east of the speedway. Room prices do vary and early booking is essential as many of the surrounding smaller towns in the area fill up quickly over race weekends.
Camping is also available at the track, details are can be found on the Iowa Speedway website.
DB – I stayed in Marshalltown, 29 miles outside of Newton (I only know this as Newton was signposted from right outside the hotel). While Marshalltown is a relatively small town in US terms, there was more than enough there to cope with a couple of days in an unfamiliar State. I stayed in the Best Western hotel in Marshalltown, with a family room comfortably fitting 4 adults (2 couples) which set me back approximately $210 for the two nights either side of the race (and I booked within days of the race). Pool and gym use was inclusive, as was the breakfast which comes recommended also.
Also Try - The Grinnell Steak House offers a very good selection of award winning beef, part of the fun there is the option to cook your own steaks on their open pits, make Texas toast and have a beer, something of a social event too! Many teams use this area to stay and you will more than likely bump into them. There are a few bars in Grinnell but not many, and being a small town, a lot of places to go shut relatively early. If heading east towards Chicago, Cedar Rapids is just off the I-80 and worth a visit.
DB – Near the hotel in Marshalltown there is a small retail park which was open well in time to hit the dollar store for ponchos and other rain-resisting items prior to heading for the speedway. There was an “Appleby’s Neighbourhood Grill” which served as both a restaurant and bar, with big screens filled with sports and also a Culver’s which had a few specials ‘for race fans’.
There is an "Adventureland" approximately half an hour from the speedway, however I must confess I didn't visit it.
Other tips - DB - Invest in a paper map! Even if, like me, you are now dependant on your Sat Nav, spend the c.$6 on the old fashioned kind. The main road into the speedway is closed in one direction after the race and if, like me, that was the reverse of your original route your Sat Nav will continually re-programme to take you down that road. After several failed attempts to find an alternative route we stopped at a gas station and bought a map and it was relatively simple from there.
2) Get to the autograph session early! I got to the autograph session about 45 minutes prior to the start thinking smugly I’d beat the crowds. I was very close to missing out I was that far back in the queue, so get there early to avoid disappointment. At Iowa, the drivers were split into two groups, so be prepared to only meet half of them.
Finally, here are some links to places I mentioned http://giovannispiz.biz/giovannis-pizzeria-dinner-menu.htm - Giovanni’s website in Newton
http://www.georgioz.com/ - Papa Georgio’s in Colfax
http://www.pagliais.com/ - Pagliai’s in Grinnell
http://www.thepeppertree.com/site/ - Apparently The Depot has changed its name after its renovations in the last couple of years!
http://www.adventureland-usa.com/ - Here’s Adventureland.
Also, to the south of Newton on Highway 14 is Knoxville, Iowa, known as the Sprint Car capital of the world. Here you can browse the International Sprint Car Museum at the track, and learn about the history of open wheel racing in America (a history intensely intertwined with what would become IndyCar in later years, as you well know from that “Blood and Smoke” book). Just to the north of Knoxville, though, is a tiny little karting track called Slideways. Certainly nothing too thrilling for those used to road courses and shifter karts, but it’s fun in its own way. It’s a tiny little oval with karts that look like Sprint Cars. They put powder on the track to encourage sliding, and it’s pretty cheap to rent. It’s a fun little place,
but I’ve only been once.
Otherwise if you just want to stay in town and relax, head over to Maytag Park and walk around. Dedicated 80 years ago, the park is named after Fred Maytag - the Newton man who founded the company. It has a great disc golf course winding through the trees, a pool, and a bandstand called the Maytag Bowl where high school graduation has been held since before my parents were young. Sometimes they have concerts there, but I don’t know what’s planned for this weekend.
There are also several real golf courses in the area, but given the trip it’s not likely that people will want to bring their clubs. If so, check out Westwood and Cardinal Hills in Newton.
Tickets - Lower tiered weekend tickets are around $30, for higher tier tickets you will be looking at around $70. As with all ovals, want to experience the noise and close action, go low. But to get the best view of the whole track, and with Iowa Speedway, which you can see, go high.
DB – In 2012, having not attended an oval track before, I opted for the higher tier but towards the bottom of it (row 18 to be precise). This, for me anyway, was the perfect blend of being close enough to the action on the near side but also having a great view of the whole track. Tickets for the higher tier were $60 in 2012, although I booked through Ticketmaster which incurred additional charges which is worth bearing in mind, although they are comparable to similar charges for events in the UK, if not less (roughly $7 per ticket).
Paddock Passes - Iowa Speedway has two options, the cheaper Casey's General Store Fan Walk which is $10. This is a corridor which runs behind the pit lane and in front of the garages, good place to get a few autographs and pictures. For those looking to be right in the action, you can purchase a garage pass, this is $60 but you can get close to the cars, meet drivers, crew, and get some great pictures and autographs from your favourite drivers.
To get to the garage area, the speedway provides a novel way of getting there with a tractor pulling trailers. These are nonstop throughout the day as well as being free.
DB – In 2012 there was only one option for the Casey’s General Store Fan Walk. It was a $30 wristband but got you access to the infield including paddock, garages and even onto pit road. It was one part of the experience I would heartily recommend. The casual IndyCar fans I had dragged along were a little nonplussed by it, but for the IndyCar fanatic it was well worth the money.
At the Track - Each season has different support races, these can vary from Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, USF2000 to Midgets. Again with garage passes you can meet the drivers and they are always keen to meet fans and talk about themselves and their cars. DB – In 2012 the support races were Star Mazda and Indy Lights, albeit the schedule was disrupted by the weather.
Away from the Track - Due to the nature of the 7/8 of a mile track, the fan zone, interactive areas are located away from inside of the track. The Indycar Fan Village and concessions are located behind the main grandstands.
DB – In 2012 there was a whole host of fan zones and merchandise stands located both inside and outside of the speedway entrance on the grandstand side of the circuit. Those outside the entrance were open before the speedway was which was great for early birds such as myself to kill some time prior to entry (and also prior to
the crowds gathering).
These included individual driver stands with Charlie Kimball and Ed Carpenter having their 2011 cars on display to have photos with (and Kimball’s could be signed by fans) and they would do a Q&A later in the day, Official Indycar merchandise tent, individual team merchandise stands, independent merchandise stands, including one for the speedway itself.
In 2012 the race day programme ($10) also came with a free 1/64 Iowa Corn 250 die cast car. Although, be quick as by around midday they had run out and were handing out vouchers to collect one later in the month – not so easy from 6,000 miles away!
While you can expect to pay ‘event prices’ for food and drink on the day, there is plenty of variety ranging from the usual burgers and hot dogs to a hog roast (which was interesting for them to try and keep the fire lit through the thunderstorm in 2012!). Unlike many British race tracks, however, while the prices are higher than elsewhere you get decent food and decent sized meals for your money.
Hotels - I stayed at a budget hotel in Grinnell around 30 minutes drive east of the speedway. Room prices do vary and early booking is essential as many of the surrounding smaller towns in the area fill up quickly over race weekends.
Camping is also available at the track, details are can be found on the Iowa Speedway website.
DB – I stayed in Marshalltown, 29 miles outside of Newton (I only know this as Newton was signposted from right outside the hotel). While Marshalltown is a relatively small town in US terms, there was more than enough there to cope with a couple of days in an unfamiliar State. I stayed in the Best Western hotel in Marshalltown, with a family room comfortably fitting 4 adults (2 couples) which set me back approximately $210 for the two nights either side of the race (and I booked within days of the race). Pool and gym use was inclusive, as was the breakfast which comes recommended also.
Also Try - The Grinnell Steak House offers a very good selection of award winning beef, part of the fun there is the option to cook your own steaks on their open pits, make Texas toast and have a beer, something of a social event too! Many teams use this area to stay and you will more than likely bump into them. There are a few bars in Grinnell but not many, and being a small town, a lot of places to go shut relatively early. If heading east towards Chicago, Cedar Rapids is just off the I-80 and worth a visit.
DB – Near the hotel in Marshalltown there is a small retail park which was open well in time to hit the dollar store for ponchos and other rain-resisting items prior to heading for the speedway. There was an “Appleby’s Neighbourhood Grill” which served as both a restaurant and bar, with big screens filled with sports and also a Culver’s which had a few specials ‘for race fans’.
There is an "Adventureland" approximately half an hour from the speedway, however I must confess I didn't visit it.
Other tips - DB - Invest in a paper map! Even if, like me, you are now dependant on your Sat Nav, spend the c.$6 on the old fashioned kind. The main road into the speedway is closed in one direction after the race and if, like me, that was the reverse of your original route your Sat Nav will continually re-programme to take you down that road. After several failed attempts to find an alternative route we stopped at a gas station and bought a map and it was relatively simple from there.
2) Get to the autograph session early! I got to the autograph session about 45 minutes prior to the start thinking smugly I’d beat the crowds. I was very close to missing out I was that far back in the queue, so get there early to avoid disappointment. At Iowa, the drivers were split into two groups, so be prepared to only meet half of them.
Finally, here are some links to places I mentioned http://giovannispiz.biz/giovannis-pizzeria-dinner-menu.htm - Giovanni’s website in Newton
http://www.georgioz.com/ - Papa Georgio’s in Colfax
http://www.pagliais.com/ - Pagliai’s in Grinnell
http://www.thepeppertree.com/site/ - Apparently The Depot has changed its name after its renovations in the last couple of years!
http://www.adventureland-usa.com/ - Here’s Adventureland.
Also, to the south of Newton on Highway 14 is Knoxville, Iowa, known as the Sprint Car capital of the world. Here you can browse the International Sprint Car Museum at the track, and learn about the history of open wheel racing in America (a history intensely intertwined with what would become IndyCar in later years, as you well know from that “Blood and Smoke” book). Just to the north of Knoxville, though, is a tiny little karting track called Slideways. Certainly nothing too thrilling for those used to road courses and shifter karts, but it’s fun in its own way. It’s a tiny little oval with karts that look like Sprint Cars. They put powder on the track to encourage sliding, and it’s pretty cheap to rent. It’s a fun little place,
but I’ve only been once.
Otherwise if you just want to stay in town and relax, head over to Maytag Park and walk around. Dedicated 80 years ago, the park is named after Fred Maytag - the Newton man who founded the company. It has a great disc golf course winding through the trees, a pool, and a bandstand called the Maytag Bowl where high school graduation has been held since before my parents were young. Sometimes they have concerts there, but I don’t know what’s planned for this weekend.
There are also several real golf courses in the area, but given the trip it’s not likely that people will want to bring their clubs. If so, check out Westwood and Cardinal Hills in Newton.
Selection of pictures from 2011 available HERE
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