2025 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250

Rasmussen Claims First IndyCar Win in Dramatic Milwaukee Mile Thriller

Christian Rasmussen captured his maiden NTT IndyCar Series victory in the 2025 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, charging from ninth on fresh Firestone Firehawk tires to pass Alex Palou with 15 laps remaining and secure the win on the historic 1.015-mile oval. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver led 16 laps in the No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, finishing 1.9463 seconds ahead of Palou to mark the team's first win since Rinus VeeKay's 2021 Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course triumph.

Rasmussen's breakthrough highlighted Ed Carpenter Racing's resurgence. "We started pretty rough... Got it turned around for qualifying," Rasmussen said in the post-race press conference. "The race went our way. We did what we do best on ovals: running whatever line the car in front is not." Team owner Ed Carpenter praised his aggression: "He wanted it more today than anyone else. That's what it looked like to me."

Palou, starting from pole at 162.971 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, dominated early, leading 199 laps and building gaps up to 8.2952 seconds. His bid for a ninth win—and a shot at tying A.J. Foyt and Al Unser's record of 10 in a season—faded when light rain triggered a Lap 208 caution. While Palou stayed out, Rasmussen pitted for fresh tires, restarting seventh and slicing through the field. "I knew that he was coming and he didn't catch me by surprise," Palou reflected. "He was very good on the outside in one, two, getting great exits."

Scott McLaughlin completed the podium at third in the No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet, earning his first top-three since Barber Motorsports Park in May. "That was probably Alex's race," McLaughlin said, noting the late caution's impact. "Massive congrats to Christian... He's doing an awesome job with that car." Alexander Rossi advanced eight spots to fourth in the No. 20 ECR Java House Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, followed by Pato O'Ward in fifth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

The 250-lap race, covering 253.75 miles in 2:02:08 at an average speed of 124.656 mph, featured nine lead changes among six drivers and five cautions for 49 laps, with 1:24:01 of green-flag racing and 38:07 under yellow. Tire degradation, intensified by the track's 100-degree surface (74 degrees ambient), drove strategy, with stints around 40 laps yielding 685 total passes, 306 for position. Rasmussen and Scott Dixon tied for most passes with 48 each. "The tire deg is really high, which I think it's super good for everybody," Palou noted pre-race, and the chaotic strategy unfolded as predicted.

David Malukas led early, overtaking Palou on Lap 17 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet for 25 laps before a pit stop issue with a tire gun dropped him to eighth. Dixon, penalized nine spots to 14th for an engine change, finished ninth in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Christian Lundgaard climbed 11 positions to sixth in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, keeping pressure on Dixon for third in the standings, trailing by 14 points entering Nashville.

Incidents shaped the race: Nolan Siegel crashed in Turn 4 on Lap 1 in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, triggering the first yellow. Graham Rahal spun in Turn 2 on Lap 10 in the No. 15 WWEX Group Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. Will Power hit the wall in Turn 4 on Lap 105 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, ending 26th. Callum Ilott's mechanical issue prompted a Lap 142 caution in the No. 90 Prema Racing Chevrolet. The Lap 208 rain caution reshuffled the field, with Rasmussen's tire strategy proving decisive. Dr. Julia Vaizer, INDYCAR Medical Director, confirmed Siegel and Power were seen and released.

Rasmussen overcame a pit lane speed violation penalty, restarting from the back during one yellow but recovering swiftly. "We talked about this before the race, knowing if there's going to be a late yellow... that's going to make a big difference," he explained. Malukas set the fastest lap at 157.531 mph on Lap 16, also the fastest leader lap.

Colton Herta gained the most positions, advancing 13 spots from 24th to 11th in the No. 26 Gainbridge Andretti Global Honda. Marcus Armstrong led eight laps en route to 10th in the No. 66 St. Thomas University Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Rookies shone: Louis Foster led one lap and finished 17th in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda despite starting last due to an engine penalty; Robert Shwartzman placed 18th in the No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet; Jacob Abel ended 21st in the No. 50 Miller Lite Dale Coyne Racing Honda.

Palou's runner-up keeps his oval prowess alive, but Rasmussen's breakthrough stole the show. "Winning is fun," Carpenter said. "This sport... the dominance we're seeing out of one driver and one team, that's what makes this one the most special." With one race left, Rasmussen eyes Nashville: "We've had a really good run. Hopefully we can continue that."

Broadcast on FOX, the 116th INDYCAR event at Milwaukee delivered chaos and excitement, as Malukas predicted: "It's going to be a fantastic race... You don't know where we're going to be at until we get a yellow or until the race finishes."

Dixon Tops Final Practice as Milwaukee Mile Gears Up for Chaotic 250

Scott Dixon led the way in Final Practice for the 2025 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, posting a best speed of 156.712 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on Lap 92 of his session-high 107 circuits. The 60-minute session, following a low-line group session to rubber in the 1.015-mile oval, prepared teams for Sunday's 250-lap race under partly cloudy skies with an ambient temperature of 82 degrees and a track temperature of 108 degrees.

David Malukas followed closely at 154.871 mph in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, 0.2771 seconds off Dixon's pace. Nolan Siegel showed promise for Arrow McLaren, hitting 154.514 mph in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, while Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet) and Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 St. Thomas University Meyer Shank Racing Honda) rounded out the top five at 154.486 mph and 154.413 mph, respectively. Pole-sitter Alex Palou, who topped the earlier low-line session at 155.248 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, settled for sixth at 154.221 mph.

The low-line session, split into two 15-minute groups from 3:50 to 4:20 p.m. Central, aimed to improve grip on the track's inside line, with Palou's pace highlighting Chip Ganassi Racing's strength. However, combined practice results across both sessions underscored Newgarden's consistency, with his Practice 1 speed of 161.066 mph remaining the weekend's fastest, followed by Palou at 160.544 mph and Conor Daly at 160.436 mph in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

Final Practice saw one incident: Sting Ray Robb hit the wall on the backstretch in the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, triggering a yellow flag. Dr. Julia Vaizer, INDYCAR Medical Director, confirmed Robb was seen and released from the medical unit. Earlier, Santino Ferrucci received a 20-minute stop-and-hold penalty for contact in the pits during the low-line session, impacting his No. 14 Phoenix Investors AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet's preparation.

Dixon's pace, despite a nine-position grid penalty dropping him to 14th for an unscheduled engine change, signals his race-day potential on a track where he won in 2009. "The tire deg is really high, which I think it's super good for everybody," Palou said after qualifying, anticipating a race with significant passing due to tire wear after 20 laps. Malukas echoed this, predicting "beautiful chaos" with stints around 40 laps.

Christian Lundgaard, seeking to close a 14-point gap to Dixon for third in the championship, improved from his 17th-place qualifying to 11th at 153.355 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. "The tires will last longer luckily," Lundgaard noted pre-weekend, suggesting cooler conditions could extend stints compared to last year's doubleheader. Pato O'Ward, starting third after a 162.078 mph qualifying effort, posted 153.880 mph for eighth, while Will Power, elevated to fifth on the grid, hit 152.772 mph for 15th.

Rookies showed mixed results: Louis Foster (No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) climbed to 14th at 153.102 mph despite a penalty dropping him to 27th, while Jacob Abel (No. 50 Miller Lite Dale Coyne Racing Honda) and Robert Shwartzman (No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet) managed 23rd and 19th at 150.649 mph and 151.807 mph. Felix Rosenqvist, starting 25th after a qualifying crash, posted 147.319 mph, suggesting setup challenges for the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda.

As teams brace for a tire-degradation-driven race, Palou's newfound oval prowess and Malukas's front-row speed set the stage for a dynamic Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, airing live at 2 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX. With Milwaukee's flat layout and multiple racing lines, as Malukas noted, "You'll see some people going in on that lower line, some people going high," the 116th INDYCAR event at the historic oval promises intense battles.

Palou Claims Milwaukee Pole as Penalties Reshape Starting Grid

Alex Palou captured the NTT P1 Award for the 2025 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, posting a two-lap average speed of 162.971 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda during Saturday's single-car, two-lap qualifying session on the 1.015-mile oval. The pole, Palou's sixth of 2025 and 12th career IndyCar pole, came under sunny skies with an ambient temperature of 82 degrees and a track temperature of 107 degrees, edging out David Malukas by 0.1986 mph in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet.

Palou's blistering 163.290 mph on Lap 1 and 162.640 mph on Lap 2 secured his second short-oval pole this season, following Iowa Speedway's second race. "I for sure carried a bit more speed than my brain thought I could do," Palou said in the post-qualifying press conference, crediting small spring adjustments by engineer Blair Julian for added comfort. "I was a bit more uncomfortable, but after Lap 1, I was like, I kind of like this." With the championship secured, Palou's focus is on chasing A.J. Foyt and Al Unser's record of 10 wins in a season, noting, "I think that's our biggest goal. It's a goal that probably I'm not going to have the chance to try and get it again in my career."

Malukas, earning his second front-row start of 2025, hit 162.256 mph, calling his laps "beautiful" but acknowledging Palou's pace: "I saw him come out of 4, and I was like, oh, no, I think he's got it." Pato O'Ward followed closely at 162.078 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, tying Palou for oval points with the pole point. Scott McLaughlin, the 2024 Race 1 pole-sitter, took fourth at 161.758 mph in the No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet, while Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) and Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) rounded out the top six at 160.951 mph and 160.819 mph, respectively.

The session, starting at 1:05 p.m. Central, saw drama with two incidents. Colton Herta slid in Turn 1 on his first lap in the No. 26 Gainbridge Andretti Global Honda, resulting in a 112.717 mph average and 26th place. Felix Rosenqvist spun in Turn 4, making wall contact in the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda, failing to set a time. Dr. Julia Vaizer, INDYCAR Medical Director, confirmed Rosenqvist was seen and released from the medical unit. "It was a bit gusty," Palou noted of the windy conditions, but added, "We have so much downforce compared to other ovals that it doesn't really affect much."

Three nine-position grid penalties for unscheduled engine changes reshaped the provisional starting lineup, pending final practice: Dixon drops from fifth to 14th, Kyffin Simpson from 20th to 26th in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and rookie Louis Foster from 22nd to 27th in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. The penalties elevate Power to fifth, Kyle Kirkwood to sixth at 160.353 mph in the No. 27 Andretti INDYCAR Honda and Josef Newgarden to seventh at 160.330 mph in the No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet.

Local favorite Conor Daly landed ninth at 160.181 mph in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, while Christian Rasmussen secured 10th at 160.158 mph in the No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet. Graham Rahal (No. 15 WWEX Group Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) and Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Dale Coyne Racing Honda) followed at 159.995 mph and 159.514 mph. Christian Lundgaard, who anticipated strong oval performance, qualified 17th at 158.801 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Malukas highlighted Milwaukee's unique challenge: "This is the track that differs the most on what lines people do use. You'll see some people going in on that lower line, some people going high." Palou echoed the strategic complexity, expecting high tire degradation: "The tires are really good for like 20 laps. The grip is amazing, and then suddenly you start losing some grip. That's going to create a lot of passing opportunities." Both drivers anticipate a chaotic 250-lap race, with Malukas predicting, "It's going to be a fantastic race... You don't know where we're going to be at until we get a yellow or until the race finishes."

The provisional lineup places Alexander Rossi 12th at 159.378 mph in the No. 20 ECR Java House Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, with Marcus Ericsson 13th at 159.087 mph in the No. 28 Andretti INDYCAR Honda. Rookies Jacob Abel (No. 51 Miller Lite Dale Coyne Racing Honda) and Robert Shwartzman (No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet) qualified 24th and 21st at 156.599 mph and 158.010 mph, respectively. The lineup remains unofficial until after Final Practice at 4:30 p.m. ET, airing on FS2, with the group session at 3:45 p.m. to rubber in the low line.

As Palou chases history and battles loom across the field, Sunday's race at 2 p.m. ET on FOX promises intense action on Milwaukee's flat, demanding oval.

Newgarden Sets Pace in Extended Milwaukee Mile Practice 1

The NTT IndyCar Series kicked off the 2025 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 weekend with a 71-minute Practice 1 session on Saturday morning, extended due to two yellow flags for track inspections. Under sunny skies with an ambient temperature of 86 degrees and a track temperature of 91 degrees, Josef Newgarden led the field with a top speed of 161.066 mph in the No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet, setting the tone on the 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Newgarden’s best lap came early on his fifth of 24 circuits, edging out series champion Alex Palou, who posted 160.544 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on Lap 45. Conor Daly impressed in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, clocking 160.436 mph for third, just 0.0153 seconds (0.0890 mph) behind Palou. Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Dale Coyne Racing Honda) and Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Andretti INDYCAR Honda) rounded out the top five at 160.260 mph and 160.086 mph, respectively.

The session began with installation laps at 9:45 a.m. Central, allowing teams to shake down their cars before the official 10 a.m. green flag. Two yellow flags interrupted the flow: the first at 10:34 a.m. for a track inspection, halting action for nine minutes, and the second at 10:55 a.m. for another inspection. To compensate, officials added five minutes of green-flag time, extending the session to 11:11 a.m. Despite the stoppages, drivers adapted to the green track, a concern Christian Lundgaard raised in his pre-race press conference, noting its similarity to last year’s conditions when Indy car racing returned to the track.

Graham Rahal, driving the No. 15 WWEX Group Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, posted sixth at 160.062 mph, closely followed by 2024 Race 2 winner Scott McLaughlin at 159.867 mph in the No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet. Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet) and Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda) hit 159.840 mph and 159.739 mph, respectively, while Pato O’Ward, the 2024 Race 1 winner, completed the top 10 at 159.732 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Notably, Lundgaard, who expressed optimism about Milwaukee’s racing after last year’s doubleheader, landed 18th at 157.139 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, suggesting room for improvement before qualifying. Rookie Louis Foster struggled, managing only three laps in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda at 111.808 mph, likely due to a mechanical issue, finishing last among the 27-car field. INDYCAR later announced a post-practice penalty for an engine change which will drop Foster nine grid positions from where he qualifies.

Scott Dixon, with a series-record 14 starts at Milwaukee, posted 159.255 mph for 12th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, while Will Power, the 2014 winner, hit 159.516 mph for 11th in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Rookie Jacob Abel, from Louisville, Kentucky, ran 54 laps — second only to Robert Shwartzman’s 64 — but landed 21st at 155.816 mph in the No. 51 Miller Lite Dale Coyne Racing Honda.

The session’s high lap counts, with Shwartzman (No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet) and Callum Ilott (No. 90 Prema Racing Chevrolet) logging 64 and 57 laps, reflected teams’ focus on setup refinement ahead of the single-car, two-lap qualifying at 1:05 p.m. Central. With 10 Firestone tire sets allotted, plus an extra for the afternoon’s group session from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m., teams balanced speed and durability on the flat oval, which Lundgaard noted favors European drivers for its high-speed corner similarity to road courses.

As teams prepare for qualifying, where McLaughlin and Newgarden swept poles last year at 162.341 mph and 160.983 mph, respectively, Newgarden’s early pace signals Team Penske’s strength. “All of us were kind of worried that it was going to look like an Iowa,” Lundgaard said Tuesday, reflecting on last year’s unknowns. “It didn’t. It was great racing.” With cooler conditions forecast for Sunday’s 250-lap race, tire longevity could shift strategies, as Lundgaard suggested: “The tires will last longer luckily. I think the strategies might play out a little different.”

The action continues with qualifying at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, followed by the group session and Final Practice at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS2, setting the stage for Sunday’s Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 at 2 p.m. ET on FOX.