---
title: "IndyCar at Iowa Speedway: Drivers’ Post-Race Reactions on Social Media"
description: "The Iowa short oval put on a great racing show that was dampened by a last-minute fiasco."
date: "2018-07-09"
modified: "2018-07-09"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22026/indycar-at-iowa-speedway-drivers-post-race-reactions-on-social-media"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "indycar"
  - "Indycar Series"
  - "James Hinchcliffe"
  - "Josef Newgarden"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Robert Wickens"
  - "takuma sato"
---

# IndyCar at Iowa Speedway: Drivers’ Post-Race Reactions on Social Media

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/sg196654-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The sub-mile short oval at [Iowa Speedway](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22016/indycar-hinchcliffe-gains-sweet-first-victory-of-2018-at-iowa-corn-300>) delivered an even more exciting race than anyone could've predicted on Sunday. However, a last-minute call by race control that ultimately spoiled Josef Newgarden and Robert Wickens' race dampened the high spirits shared by their respective teams.

Of course, the two-star drivers' losses were others' gains, as [James Hinchcliffe](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21695/indycar-at-road-america-schmidt-petersons-all-star-drivers-talk-synergy>), Spencer Pigot, and Takuma Sato were able to capitalize on the situation when the green flag didn't come out and the race ended on a yellow caution period. As a result, the trio was able to conquer the podium after running in the middle of the pack all day. Needless to say, this was the perfect recipe for some post-race drama.

## James Hinchcliffe - First Place

https://twitter.com/_/status/1016161466846711808

His Schmidt Peterson teammate Robert Wickens may have been troubled by the late-race snafu, but Hinchcliffe was on the mountaintop after clinching his first IndyCar victory since [Long Beach](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20259/long-beach-grand-prix-attendance-highest-in-18-years>) in 2017, 26 races ago. The Canadian now heads to his home race in Toronto with a boosted morale.

## Spencer Pigot - Second Place

https://twitter.com/_/status/1016117793178169349

Much like Hinchcliffe, Ed Carpenter Racing's Spencer Pigot benefitted from the situation to land his first IndyCar podium. While it's nice to see the veterans like [Dixon](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21433/scott-dixon-ranks-third-on-the-all-time-indycar-victory-list-after-texas-win>) and Newgarden fight it out for championship points, there's nothing more heart-warming than seeing a "rookie" or underdog claim a step of the podium.

## Takuma Sato - Third place

https://twitter.com/_/status/1016137970569695234

The 2017 [Indy 500](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21122/indy-500-race-day-driving-the-2018-chevy-camaro-hot-wheels-festival-car>) winner Takuma Sato is hands-down one of the field's most talented drivers; however, a combination of sub-par equipment and pure bad luck has kept him from delivering the results he's often capable of. Thankfully, the stars aligned for the Japanese driver in Iowa and he was able to turn a hard-fought race into a podium finish.

## Robert Wickens - Fifth Place

https://twitter.com/_/status/1016077392891146240

While fourth-place finisher Newgarden simply admitted his defeat by claiming that one must "expect the unexpected" at an IndyCar race, Robert Wickens told [*IndyStar*](<https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/07/08/indycar-end-race-confusion-leaves-robert-wickens-spm-irate/763375002/>) that “IndyCar made a big mistake on this one,” and that the end result was "absolute bull (expletive)." However, the Canadian showed his fellow countryman and teammate his support with this tweet despite his own disappointment.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)