Country music star Carrie Underwood performs at Iowa Speedway during IndyCar weekend

Don’t let “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” IndyCar racers.

Country superstar Carrie Underwood made a quip recommending drivers not to follow the lyrics of her Grammy-winning song after she performed it at the Iowa Speedway in Newton during the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend Saturday.

“I think I’ve sang this song just about everywhere,” Underwood said, adding that she’s “extraordinarily blessed” for performing for about 18 years since she rose to fame with her “American Idol” win in 2005.

“I had no idea where my life would be right now,” she said, telling the Iowa Speedway crowd how “American Idol” had put her far out of her comfort zone.

Underwood helped IndyCar usher in a doubleheader of races, starting with the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart on Saturday and the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade on Sunday. Josef Newgarden won the early race.

More: Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden shares his Iowa favorites, from the speedway to restaurants

Underwood, who performed in front of thousands at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand last year, showed up glammed out in a silver romper and matching boots — a fashion choice she began to regret later in her performance, joking to the crowd she felt like a turkey being basted.

It was warm out during Underwood’s performance, which started just a few minutes before noon as temperatures were in the high 70s/low 80s during the afternoon. Water bottles were passed out to the crowd, many of the concert goers decked in sunglasses, hats and cowboy boots — fitting for an Underwood show.

The “American Idol” Season Four winner kicked off her set with “Church Bells” off her 2015 album, “Storyteller.”

“We are so glad to be here with you all today,” the Oklahoma native told the audience.

She teased that she knows there were no cowboy Casanovas in the crowd, only good boys here, before launching into the song she co-wrote about a “good time cowboy Casanova” who “looks like a cool drink of water, but he’s candy-coated misery.”

More: Everything to know about the IndyCar races in Newton this weekend, from drivers to concerts

Derek Cresto and wife of 31 years, Susan, of Omaha, Nebraska, were at Underwood’s performance Saturday. Cresto, a fan of Underwood since “American Idol,” had seen the blonde-haired songwriter 10 times. Underwood was largely the reason the couple headed to Newton for the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend in the first place.

“Jesus, Take The Wheel” is always a song Cresto enjoys hearing.

“That’s always a good one,” he said of it. “But I love this one just because it was a shorter concert. She was able to sing a lot of her old songs that sometimes she doesn’t sing when she’s covering an album or something like that.”

“She sounds so perfect every time,” Susan added.

Underwood proceeded to perform many of her most popular songs, including “Good Girl,” “Last Name,” “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Blown Away” — the latter, one of many, that showcases Underwood’s award-winning, powerful vocals.

She also performed “Out Of That Truck,” which was released March of this year.

“I can change the lyric truck to IndyCar, but it might not have the same vibe,” Underwood said.

Her last song of her set, Billboard Top 10 charter “Before He Cheats,” had the crowd singing in full force, confidently belting out portions of the hit when Underwood pointed her mic to them.

More: Everything to know about the IndyCar races in Newton this weekend, from drivers to concerts

Caitlin Clark meets fans during the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend

Dozens of people gathered in line earlier Saturday at the Iowa Speedway to meet Caitlin Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball star who captivated the nation when she and her teammates made it to the Final Four earlier this year, making it the first time in three decades a Division I basketball team from the state of Iowa made it to the tournament. Fans got the opportunity to meet Clark, as well as get something signed by the rising sports star.

"She's kind of become an Iowa legend," said Traci Genson, who was standing in line in the early afternoon.

Country artist Kenny Chesney will perform at 4:30 p.m. at the Iowa Speedway as part of the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend.

More: David Letterman surprises shoppers by bagging groceries at Iowa Hy-Vee supermarket

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Carrie Underwood performs at Iowa Speedway during IndyCar weekend