The Milwaukee Mile is next for the NTT IndyCar Series. Last year, the old-school 1-mile oval returned after a long absence and it was well received.
The tricky circuit is different from other ovals as its faster line is the outer lane. Regardless of that unique way around, the track put on some of the best racing in all of 2024 and is expected to do the same based on earlier spectacles at Worldwide Technology Raceway and Iowa Speedway.
Last Year
The return of the classic event was the most positive story for IndyCar in 2024. To compensate for the loss of Texas, Milwaukee put on a doubleheader and when the schedule for this event was announced, fans seemed bummed that it didn’t do it once more.
Pato O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin took the wins.
Swan Song
Team Penske and Will Power might be on their last two races before calling it a legacy at the end of the season. With a win at Portland, he has put the capital P back in Penske Perfect. Can he lead the trio to another victory this weekend?
Short ovals have been Penske’s forte for several years now, and that’s been no different this season. But that’s where the bad luck gremlins have used their magnifying glass and fried the team’s chances like little ants. At Gateway, it should have been Power or Josef Newgarden, but fate said no. Then Iowa, it was all Newgarden but then when the checkered fell, others took the W.
Expect them to be strong again and maybe break through with an oval win.
Ed Carpenter Racing
Alexander Rossi’s first year with Ed Carpenter started strong with four top 10s in the first seven races, but he has met a bump or two since Indianapolis. He did earn his first top-five of the year at Portland, finishing fifth. Add in the controversy at that same race where teammate Christian Rasmussen tangled with Conor Daly — a former ECR driver himself — and the team isn’t where they want to be finishing the year out.
This two oval stretch is a spot for both drivers to finish the season strong. Rasmussen was a delight to watch at Iowa as he used a high line to his advantage to earn two top 10s, and showed well at Gateway, earning a career best third. Rossi has a lot of experience, so if luck holds out, a top 10 is possible. But does everything fall in line for the team? Time will tell.
The Foyt Team
David Malukas had the win within reach at Gateway in June before strategy foiled that. Santino Ferrucci finished his 2024 strongly with two great runs at the Milwaukee doubleheader, earning two straight fourths. Since Penske does well on short ovals, and the A. J. Foyt Racing squad is Penske Lite, the duo is set to storm up front.
With the rumors of Malukas being a likely choice to take over Power’s seat if it’s vacant, and both having history from the 2024 Gateway race, the battle between them if both are on rails will be something to keep an eye on.
Engage Chill Mode
The championship is decided. Which means Alex Palou can be on total cruise control the rest of the year. That’s not a good thing for the paddock.
His team won’t be looking at points, instead, rolling the dice and being aggressive for wins. With eight victories on the year, two more will put him in company with A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Al Unser for most in a season.
What Else?
Kyle Kirkwood won at Gateway for his first oval victory, but then faced a rough Iowa doubleheader. Does he bounce back at a flat track like Gateway?
Callum Ilott has his PREMA Racing entry in the top 22 in points, but that doesn’t matter as they don’t have a charter (which is my way of saying that stinks for them). Maybe a strong finish to the year helps them get one?
Ilott’s teammate Robert Shwartzman has been a surprise on ovals. Fear them, he does not. A top 15 is in the cards.
Graham Rahal earned his best finish of the year at Portland with a fourth. His team hasn’t excelled on short ovals and Rahal himself was a rolling chicane at Gateway. Back-to-back ovals means either two chances to improve or a two migraine migraine-inducing weekends.
Frontstretch Predictions
Team Penske sweeps the top three spots this weekend. Their terrible year becomes their best result.
Power gets win number two, while Newgarden follows with McLaughlin in third.
- Power
- Newgarden
- McLaughlin
Coverage for the 250-lap Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 at the Milwaukee Mile starts at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday (Aug. 24), on FOX.
Tom is an IndyCar writer at Frontstretch, joining in March 2023. Besides writing the IndyCar Previews and frequent editions of Inside IndyCar, he will hop on as a fill-in guest on the Open Wheel podcast The Pit Straight. A native Hoosier, he calls Fort Wayne home. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomBlackburn42.