NEWTON, IA – Alexander Rossi and Scott Dixon knew that they had a tall task ahead of them for Saturday’s Iowa 300 (7 p.m. ET/NBCSN/INDYCAR Radio Network). See, Josef Newgarden has been the king of the Iowa Speedway lately. The Team Penske driver has led 623 laps over the last four years here including three top two finishes.

If they wanted to make up more ground on Newgarden this weekend, they need to be on top of their games. Unfortunately for them, this weekend isn’t going very well despite each starting in the top 10.

“Blah” is how Dixon describes it.

“Just kind of blah to be honest,” said Dixon after scoring an eighth place starting spot for Saturday’s race. We’ve been kind of fighting in both ends. (Turns) 1 and 2 we’ve been fighting understreer where (Turns) 3 and 4 our backend is stuck. I think the race is going to be very tough this year.”

Dixon, has never won at Iowa before. He has just one podium in his last seven starts on the .894-mile oval. He was 12th last year and has led just one lap here in his last four starts. While he’s almost 100 points out, he has to hope for some help which he doesn’t feel confident he’s going to get.

Neither does Rossi.

“Shitty,” Rossi says on how he thinks Saturday will play out. “I don’t think I have anything that I like right now to contend with and it’s going to be very hot tomorrow. We just have to get our heads down and figure it out. Just getting me more comfortable in the car. We’re just missing a lot to the top 3 cars. It’s a handful handling.”

Rossi, has also led just four laps over the last three years too. He has never finished on the lead lap in Iowa. He’s never finished in the top five either. After a sixth place qualifying run, he’s not confident at all.

The reason?

Josef Newgarden and Team Penske overall have been just that strong. They were nearly two mph quicker than the rest of the field in qualifying. They’ll start 1-2-3. They were also 1-2-3 in practice on Friday morning. Newgarden, was first in practice and third in quals. With his stats above, it’s why Dixon and Rossi are feeling how they are.