Hunter McElrea was the second car to cross the finish line, but took home the victory after a penalty was handed to Linus Lundqvist following an intense Indy Lights race at Iowa Speedway.
The No. 27 Andretti Autosport machine of McElrea started on pole and was comfortably managing the lead for the first half of the 75-lap contest. Everything was in-hand for McElrea until the caution waved on Lap 41 after James Roe crashed in Turn 2.
.@jamesroe10 has been seen and released after this incident at @iowaspeedway.
WATCH LIVE:
? @PeacockTV– https://t.co/EgcgybvP0A#RoadToIndy // #TeamCooperTire // @INDYCARatIowa pic.twitter.com/ik46HTv0wh— INDY NXT (@INDYNXT) July 23, 2022
The incident set up a restart on Lap 50, which saw McElrea fall into the clutches of Lundqvist’s No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing machine, who rolled to the lead. McElrea ended up falling back to third as teammate Matthew Brabham also went by and in pursuit of Lundqvist.
Brabham’s No. 83 Andretti Autosport entry methodically closed on the gap to Lundqvist, closing to the rear wing until finally trying an outside pass off the exit of Turn 2 with five laps to go. However, Lundqvist faded to the right, making slight contact with Brabham and forcing him into the wall and breaking his front wing.
Pushing to the max.@L_Lundqvist76 was penalized 3 grid spots after this incident with @MattyBrabs.
Listen to the two drivers discuss the battle at @iowaspeedway. #RoadToIndy // @TeamCooperTire // @INDYCARatIowa pic.twitter.com/weikeMH7J1
— INDY NXT (@INDYNXT) July 23, 2022
Lundqvist, the championship leader, crossed the finish line first, while Brabham continued to fight through the damage before falling from second to fourth off the final corner of the last lap.
In the aftermath, Race Control penalized Lundqvist three positions for avoidable contact, dropping him to fourth.
For McElrea, it is his second victory of the season and now trails Lundqvist in the overall standings by 77 points with five races remaining.
Two consecutive weekend sweeps.@HunterMcElrea is on a roll after his second straight Indy Lights victory.#RoadToIndy // @TeamCooperTire // @FollowAndretti pic.twitter.com/e4s8gZ0WyU
— INDY NXT (@INDYNXT) July 23, 2022
Christian Rasumssen ended up second, with Brabham third to give Andretti Autosport a sweep of the podium.
After Lundqvist, it was Sting Ray Robb in fifth.
Jacob Abel, Daniel Frost, Ernie Francis Jr., Benjamin Pedersen and Christian Bogle round out the rest of the top 10.
