Team Penske dominated the practice session ahead of the Hy-Vee Doubleheader at Iowa Speedway, with Scott McLaughlin leading the way at 185.891mph. The high heat and humidity made for challenging conditions on the newly-paved track, with drivers focusing on chassis setup changes and qualifying simulations. Championship leader Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward followed closely behind, with David Malukas, Alexander Rossi, and Scott Dixon rounding out the top six. McLaughlin praised his car's performance but noted the need for adjustments in turn four. Wind and harmless spins added excitement to the session, with Marcus Ericsson experiencing a crash early on. Despite limited mileage, Ericsson will be back for qualifying. Josef Newgarden, a previous Iowa winner, surprisingly finished 15th. The session ended with optimism for improved passing opportunities in the races. Following the practice, IndyCar will move on to qualifying on Saturday.