By: Spencer Neff
August 30, 2024
Josef Newgarden led the lone practice for the weekend as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to the Milwaukee Mile. The Hy-vee Milwaukee Mile 250s will be the first races on the 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wisconsin since 2015.
Newgarden, the pole winner for that race, posted a best lap of 23.0156 seconds (158.762 mph). He is one of five drivers in the field to race at the Milwaukee Mile in an IndyCar.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon was .0993 of a second back to Newgarden with Arrow MCLaren’s Pato O’Ward in third.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist was fourth as Scott McLaughlin bookended the Top Five for Penske.
Linus Lundqvist of Chip Ganassi Racing was fastest of the rookies in the field in seventh, as he looks to wrap up Rookie of the year honors for 2024 this weekend.
Teammate Alex Palou was ninth as he looks to clinch his third INDYCAR Championship this weekend.
Aside from cautions for track inspections, the lone caution was brought out with less than eight minutes remaining.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen slapped the outside retaining wall in Turn 2 before slowing to a halt on the back straightaway.
The incident ws attended to and practiced resumed for less than two minutes before its scheduled conclusion.
Rasmussen to finish 2024 season in No. 20
On Wednesday, Team Owner Ed Carpenter announced he would forgo racing at Milwaukee and Nashville as planned, opting to put Rookie Christian Rasmussen in the car.
“First off, this was a very difficult decision for me to make. I want to make it clear that this is not a retirement announcement,” stated Carpenter.
Carpenter has contested only the ovals during the INDYCAR season since 2014, when he stepped away from full-time competition. After starting and finishing 17th while leading three laps at the Indianapolis 500 in May, the Owner/Driver started 25th and 26th during the Iowa doubleheader, finishing 20th in both races.
“However, the reality is, I have not performed to the level that I expect of myself for the team. Christian tested at Gateway prior to the race and he showed me that he deserves this expanded opportunity. He also had such a strong performance during the Month of May and has earned the chance to continue his development. I am excited to watch him finish the season out strong for the No. 20 crew and the entire ECR team.”
In Rasmussen’s lone previous oval start, he qualified 24th and finished 12th at the Indianapolis 500, the best finish among the rookies in the field.
“First and foremost, I am incredibly thankful to Ed for providing me this opportunity,” Rasmussen said. “I am excited to drive the No. 20 in the remaining three races and I am fully committed to giving the team my absolute best. While I haven’t raced at Milwaukee or Nashville before, my past performances on ovals have been strong and I’m eager to add these tracks to the list!”
Grid Penalties announced for five entries
Prior to the start of practice, INDYCAR announced penalties for the following entries
No. 2 Team Penske (Josef Newgarden)
No. 6 Arrow McLaren (Nolan Siegel)
No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing (Marcus Armstrong)
No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigana Racing (Pietro Fittipaldi)
No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Christian Lundgaard)
The teams were in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next race, which is the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1 Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Milwaukee Mile.
Up Next
| Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Fast Facts |
| Pit Assignments Spotter Guide (Race 1) (Race 2) Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1 Track: Milwaukee Mile, a 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wisconsin Race distance:NTT INDYCAR SERIES Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1: 250 laps/253.75 miles (Saturday)Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 2: 250 laps/253.75 miles (Sunday)INDY NXT by FirestoneINDY NXT by Firestone at Milwaukee Mile: 90 laps/91.35 miles Hybrid energy deployment parameters:NTT INDYCAR SERIESUnlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 135 kilojoules (kJ) per lap. Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIESThirteen sets for use through the doubleheader weekend. INDY NXT by FirestoneTwo new sets for use through the event weekend. A carryover set from the Milwaukee Open Test in June may be used during pre-qualifying practice Friday.X: @TheMKEMile, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR Instagram: @themilwaukeemile, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT Facebook: @MilwaukeeMileRacing, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR TikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR YouTube: @INDYCAR Event website: www.wistatefair.com/wsfp/indycar-weekend-at-the-milwaukee-mile/ INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com 2015 race winners (most recent event): NTT INDYCAR SERIES Sebastien Bourdais (No. 11 Team Hydroxycut-KVSH Racing Chevrolet)INDY NXT by FirestoneFelix Serralles (No. 4 Belardi Auto Racing) 2015 NTT P1 Award winner (most recent event): Josef Newgarden (No. 67 Hartman Oil CFH Racing Chevrolet), 42.9320 seconds, 170.223 mph (two laps) 2015 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner (most recent event): Spencer Pigot (No. 12 Juncos Racing), 48.4397 seconds, 150.868 mph (two laps) One-lap qualifying record:NTT INDYCAR SERIESPatrick Carpentier, 20.028 seconds, 185.500 mph, May 30, 1998 INDY NXT by FirestoneMark Hotchkis, 23.692 seconds, 151.952 mph, June 2, 1996 USA Network/Peacock race telecasts: Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1, 5:40 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 31, Peacock; Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 2, 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 1, USA Network. Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dillon Welch and Georgia Henneberry are the pit reporters. Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product, while the race telecast of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1 will air exclusively on the streaming service. USA Network’s telecast of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 2 will be simulcast on Peacock. The INDY NXT by Firestone at Milwaukee Mile will be streamed on Peacock with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE. INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Nick Yeoman is the turn announcer. Jake Query, Michael Young and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1 (5:30 p.m. ET Saturday), Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 2 (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone at Milwaukee Mile (3:45 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone at the Milwaukee Mile practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. At-track schedule (all times Central): FRIDAY, AUG. 301:30-2:15 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Practice, INDYCAR LIVE 2:35 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Installation Laps, Peacock 2:45-3:15 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES High-Line Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), Peacock 3:30-5 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice, Peacock SATURDAY, AUG. 31 Noon-12:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Single car, Two laps), INDYCAR LIVE 1:15 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Single car, Two laps (Lap 1/Race 1; Lap 2/Race 2), Peacock 2:55 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Milwaukee 100 (“Drivers, start your engines”) 3 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone at Milwaukee Mile (90 laps/91.35 miles), Peacock 4:40 p.m. Peacock on air 5:01 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines” 5:05 p.m. Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 1 (250 laps/253.75 miles), Peacock (Live) SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Installation Laps, Peacock 1:30 p.m. USA Network on air 1:56 p.m. “Drivers, start your engines” 2 p.m. Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s Race 2 (250 laps/253.75 miles), USA Network (Live) |
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