NEWTON – The inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 will likely be remembered for its demolition derby beginning, the large, enthusiastic crowd and traffic.

Tons of traffic.

It was the major issue facing many of the more than 35,000 fans who made the trip to Newton Sunday to see the biggest auto race in Iowa’s history. Some roads were backed up for miles in the hours leading up to the race.

According to Newton mayor Chaz Allen, the heavy rains that plagued the area last week rendered some of the farm fields officials had designated for parking unusable. That led to significant delays for the fans.

“The fields got really wet and muddy, and it changed the parking plan up a bit and then it got backed up from there,” Allen said. “That will all be corrected. That won’t be an issue going forward.”

At times, IndyCar drivers found the Iowa Speedway’s track to be just as congested as the roads outside.

The track’s steep banking and high-speed, short oval setup, along with unfavorable weather for Indy racing, helped cause three accidents in the first 100 laps that knocked seven cars out of contention.

Drivers realized during test runs that the track would yield little space for movement. But the unseasonably chilly temperatures left tires colder than usual, and more than a few drivers found themselves unable to get a firm grip on the track’s grooves.

Slick wheels knocked out one of the pre-race favorites, Dan Wheldon, on the first lap. He took Tomas Scheckter with him.

“I think I was trying to go too quick for the temperatures of the tires and got loose,” Wheldon said.

Early leader Helio Castroneves lost the top spot when he spun out shortly after leaving the pits during a restart. In the 85th lap, shortly after slapping on a pair of new tries, Tony Kanaan fishtailed through a turn and crashed.

The worst of it came in the 99th lap, when Danica Patrick rubbed tires with Ed Carpenter, leading to a four-car wreck that changed the course of the race.

Chief race official Brian Barnhart told drivers during a pre-race meeting to run the track with the finesse of a super speedway, and not the aggressiveness they’d normally use on a short oval.

Iowa 250 winner Dario Franchitti heeded his advice. He survived the early crashes that whittled down the field, made his move when daylight presented itself and hung onto the lead by hugging the prized inside groove.

Despite the traffic woes, Iowa’s enthusiasm for IndyCar racing was evident. The track sold out the grandstand and the 5,000 temporary seats brought in for the race, and more than 5,000 fans bought standing room only tickets.

“I think the biggest boost is the fact that the enthusiasm of the fans, [that] the people of Iowa love the racing, they love their oval track racing,” Franchitti said. “They come out, they show their enthusiasm and they are passionate about it. That’s what makes events.”