Thunderstorms possible for concerts, IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway this weekend

Grace Altenhofen, Des Moines Register
·4 min read
1

Fans attending Hy-Vee IndyCar Weekend at the Iowa Speedway may want to pack a rain jacket, according to the National Weather Service.

The NTT IndyCar Series is returning to the state for the first time in two years, with a doubleheader weekend at the Iowa Speedway in Newton scheduled for July 22-24. However, the potential for rain may put a damper on race weekend.

The opening day of Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend on Friday brings the Free Family Friday with gates opening at 2 p.m. and no tickets required to enter. Fans can watch the cars practice, meet drivers in the garage, stand on the winner's podium and hear some live entertainment.

Friday will bring a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. The rest of the day will be mostly sunny, with a high temperature near 94 degrees. A 30% chance of showers and storms lingers into Friday night, with a low temperature around 71 degrees.

Saturday, on the first official race day, Newton will see a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny conditions in the afternoon will bring in a high temperature around 96 degrees. The chance for showers and storms will increase to 40% Saturday night, with a low temperature around 70 degrees.

The NTT IndyCar Series weekend kicks off on Saturday with the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 Presented By DoorDash at 3 p.m. Country singer Tim McGraw opens the day with a concert at 1 p.m. followed by Florida Georgia Line at 5:30 p.m.

More: Everything you need to know about Hy-Vee's IndyCar Race Weekend at the Iowa Speedway

Sunday will conclude race weekend with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high temperature near 88 degrees. A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms will occur overnight Sunday, with a low around 69 degrees.

IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden, of the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet drive his car down Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden, of the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet drive his car down Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

The NTT IndyCar Series weekend wraps up with the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 Presented By Google at 2 p.m. Pop singer Gwen Stefani performs before the race at 12:10 p.m. with her husband Blake Shelton performing after the race at 5:15 p.m.

"Just follow the instruction of officials at the track. If there is lightning or storms that are threatening the track, they (spectators) will be asked to take shelter," said meteorologist Cory Martin with the National Weather Service Des Moines. "So just follow the instruction of safety officials."

More: Top IndyCar drivers hit to oval at Iowa Speedway for a test run: 'Very challenging. Very fun.'

No. 45, the vehicle of IndyCar racer Jack Harvey, is on display in the Hy-Vee Ron Pearson Center on March 5, 2022.
No. 45, the vehicle of IndyCar racer Jack Harvey, is on display in the Hy-Vee Ron Pearson Center on March 5, 2022.

IndyCars do not run when it rains

According to the official website for race weekend, NTT IndyCars and Indy Lights do not run during the rain on oval tracks.

"If inclement weather forces a cancellation of a specific day’s activities, tickets for that specific day will not be valid on any other date. If the event or any portion of the event is postponed, ticketholders should retain their tickets as they will be honored for gate admission on the postponed date. Suite and hospitality tickets are valid only for the date printed on the ticket and will not be valid for gate admission or grant access to a suite or hospitality area on a postponed date," the site noted.

IndyCar drivers Jack Harvey of the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda and Josef Newgarden, of the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet drive their cars down Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
IndyCar drivers Jack Harvey of the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda and Josef Newgarden, of the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet drive their cars down Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

Fans should bear in mind that umbrellas are not allowed at the Iowa Speedway. And despite the possible rain and cloud cover, temperatures will remain in the high 80s to mid-90s — making it important to monitor for symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke such as clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps and headache.

"It does look like the potential for it to be hot and humid at the speedway this weekend as well," Martin said. "So same thing applies in terms of paying attention to how your body's responding to the heat to make sure you're drinking plenty of water, staying hydrated and seeking shade."

More: Off Hours: Making a motorsports pilgrimage to the Indianapolis 500 ahead of IndyCar in Iowa

Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Weather forecast for Hy-Vee IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway in Newton