INDYCARNATION

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The first time Patrick McKenna raced on an oval, he won. Now he wants to do it again.

McKenna, the 22-year-old Irishman with a background in European road racing, claimed victory in a Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda race May 29 during the Night Before the 500 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind. On June 19, he’ll try to double down at Iowa Speedway in the No. 2 Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing entry.

“We did pick it up rather quickly, but that’s a reflection of the team’s experience on ovals,” McKenna said. “They helped me to learn how to be quick on an oval. I came to it green, but they helped me through it. The schedule definitely helps you learn all the way up. If you tried to make the move to ovals in an IndyCar with no experience, it would be intense.”

Click it: Get more background on Patrick McKenna. Listen to interview

He won’t be the only one looking to repeat on a short track. Conor Daly, who won the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear race at ORP, will try to pad his points lead in Star Mazda in the Pizza Ranch 100 at Iowa Speedway. June 19 activities will feature races by all three of the Road to Indy series – USF2000, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights.

Adapting to ovals has been the biggest challenge for McKenna, whose goal is to progress up the ladder and eventually compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series, which headlines the Iowa Speedway weekend with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer on June 20.

“Diversity is one thing that attracted me to come over here,” said McKenna, who competed in British Formula Ford last season. “The Road to Indy package has a fair amount of ovals, and I need that experience in order to advance. There’s also a culture here that supports drivers. It’s the right step for me at the time.”

Meanwhile, Daly’s team, Juncos Racing, will be attempting to win its fourth consecutive race and second at Iowa. It won last year with Peter Dempsey.

Drivers from all three Road to Indy series are looking forward to the large and enthusiastic crowds that have flocked to the .875-mile oval in Newton, Iowa.

“Iowa is right in the thick of grass-roots racing,” said Zach Veach, driver of the No. 7 Andretti Autosport entry in USF2000. “I'm told the race weekend has been a sellout every year open-wheel racing has been there.”