Two-time IndyCar champion Will Power has strongly criticized IndyCar’s recent decision regarding the car package for the upcoming Iowa double-header races. His main concern centers on the high downforce package that was tested at Iowa Speedway, which he described as physically punishing during the official test held on June 25, 2025.

IndyCar introduced this new package aiming to improve racing on the 0.875-mile oval track, which had been repaved by NASCAR ahead of its inaugural Cup Series race last year. The previous year’s double-header had disappointed drivers as it became essentially a one-lane race, largely due to the track’s high line becoming unusable. To address this, IndyCar opted for a package with higher downforce and lower power for the 2025 races. However, Power found this change problematic.

Speaking on the Stacking Pennies podcast hosted by Corey Lajoie, Power expressed his frustration:

“I was just trying to say to bloody IndyCar that ‘Man, you gotta take some downforce off’. I’m just waiting for the tire to fail. It’s just insane. It’s painful. Like the G-force is bloody painful.”

He elaborated on the physical toll the package took on him during the test:

“We have 15 minutes at the end of the day… so let’s just fill it up and do half stint with half stint. At the end of it, my arms are aching. You’re just like (hand gesture about no energy left to steer the car), ‘Hope I don’t have a moment.’ I’ll be interested to see what they do with the package there because someone did have a tire failure.”

This feedback highlights that the car setup not only made the racing line more challenging but also increased the physical strain on drivers, raising safety concerns such as tire failures.

At the test, Conor Daly was the fastest among 21 drivers with an unofficial best lap of 181.315 mph, while Will Power ranked 14th with a best lap of 179.535 mph.

In addition to his comments on the car package, the article also notes Power’s involvement in community and sponsor activities. Verizon, his longtime primary sponsor, honored first responders at the 2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 by organizing a ceremonial first lap for them. Power participated in a meet-and-greet with fans and public safety personnel during the event and publicly acknowledged the “real heroes” through social media.

Overall, Will Power’s disapproval of IndyCar’s high downforce, low power package for Iowa reflects concerns about driver safety, physical endurance, and the quality of racing, suggesting that the series may need to reconsider its approach to car setups for oval tracks like Iowa Speedway.