The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to the Milwaukee Mile this weekend for the first time since 2015. The sport and the historic track have a rich history together.
From 1946 through 2015, only one year failed to showcase open-wheel racing’s most competitive series. That was 2010, and many of the years prior featured two or more races per year. This weekend features two.
SEE: Race Details
Saturday’s 250-lap race (5:40 p.m. ET, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) will mark the 114th series race at the 1-mile oval, and Sunday’s race of the same distance (2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network) will be No. 115.
The track opened in 1903 as a dirt track and was paved for the first time in 1954. Rodger Ward is the winningest INDYCAR SERIES driver at the Mile, with seven victories. Other notable races include Jim Clark’s first rear-engine victory in series history in 1963, A.J. Foyt’s victory in a roadster in 1964, Foyt’s second-place finish to Gordon Johncock in a dirt car (that was Johncock’s first series win), Michael Andretti running out of fuel with two laps to go to hand the 1990 win to Al Unser Jr., a 1-2-3 sweep by the Andrettis in 1991, Nigel Mansell’s first oval win in 1993, nine combined wins by the Unsers and Greg Moore’s .348-of-a-second victory over Michael Andretti in 1997.
The track became known as the “Milwaukee Mile” after Carl Haas became the promoter in 1992.
Seven drivers have led every lap of a Milwaukee race, the most recent Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2003 (he led an event-record 250 laps). Sebastien Bourdais earned his chops as a road racer, but he won twice at Milwaukee, including the 2015 race.
Among active drivers, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon (2009) and Team Penske’s Will Power (2014) are former winners at the track. Power and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden have won series poles. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal finished second (2011) and third (2015), and Power finished third in 2013.
After earning his first series victory at Nazareth Speedway in 2001, Dixon scored his second series podium that season at Milwaukee. Dixon also finished second at Milwaukee in 2008.
Drivers in the 27-car field are set to make history of their own this weekend.
Palou Can Take Another Step toward Title
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) holds a 54-point lead over Power in pursuit of the series championship, and if he exits the doubleheader with a 55-point margin – or greater – he will have secured his third season title in four years.
Power also seeks his third series championship, this time in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Power has won two of the past four series races, including last weekend’s BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland, a road course race at Portland International Raceway.
Power’s title hopes rest with the unpredictability of oval racing, but the consistent nature of this season – and last season, for that matter – is Team Penske’s strength on ovals.
Roger Penske’s team has won all four oval races this season, including Power’s victory in the Hy-Vee One Step 250 on July 14 at Iowa Speedway. Newgarden (two) and Scott McLaughlin won the other three, and with Newgarden leading the way, the team has won seven of the past eight oval races over the past two seasons. Penske drivers also combined to lead 201 of the 260 laps in the Aug. 17 race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Palou still seeks his first career oval win – Power has 10 – but the series leader has often finished strong in such races. In fact, in four years in this series, Palou is tied with Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) for the most top-10 oval finishes in the series (15 in the 18 races since joining Chip Ganassi’s team), and he has more top-five oval finishes than Power (8-7).
Palou needs to score 109 points over the three remaining races to be assured of the championship, regardless of how others fare. Without bonus points, that’s an average finish of just under 3.0 if Power scores the maximum. But Power is undeterred.
“One (failed to finish), one win for me (and) you’re right there, certainly within 20 points,” Power said. “That makes it very possible (a tight finish) could happen.”
This will be Palou’s first race in Milwaukee. The same is true for third-place Colton Herta of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda) and fourth-place McLaughlin (No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet/Gallagher Team Penske Chevrolet). Power has seven starts at the track, winning from the pole in 2014 and finishing third in 2013. His average finish is 9.6.
Palou Has Been Franchitti-Like
Palou’s second-place finish in Portland earned him a place on the podium for the 16th time in 31 races over the past two seasons. It also gave him 25 top-five finishes in that span, the biggest reason why he is on pace to become the first repeat series champion since Dario Franchitti did it twice (in 2010 and 2011). Franchitti also won in 2009, and all three of those titles came with Chip Ganassi Racing. The Scot is now an advisor with CGR.
Palou’s numbers are strikingly on par with those Franchitti posted in his best two years (2009 and 2010). Franchitti had eight wins in 34 races (Palou has seven), 26 top-five finishes (Palou has 25) and 30 top-10 finishes (Palou has 29).
Franchitti separated himself with the ultimate success on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Franchitti won the 2010 Indianapolis 500, his second of three wins in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Palou’s best finish at Indy is second to Helio Castroneves in 2021.
One advantage Palou has is in his relative youth. He is 27. Franchitti was 37 in 2010.
Power: ‘I’m Not Retiring’
David Malukas’ impending move after this season to AJ Foyt Racing, which has a technical alliance with Team Penske, has led to some speculation that Power might retire after next year. It’s believed Power, 43, has one more year on his contract with Team Penske.
But Power stressed he is not ready to hang it up, in part because he’s having too much fun and is still competitive. His 44 wins, including three this season, has him ranked fourth on the sport’s all-time list.
“I’m not retiring; I’m not,” he said. “It’s just simply, ‘Not retiring.’
“Yeah, I know people probably like to spread that around – rumors or whatever – in the hope that they can take my seat. Yeah, I’m staying here for a while.
“I’ll get better every year, man. I get better every year. I feel like that.”
Only 12 drivers in history have more series championships than Power, who won his titles in 2014 and 2023.
Ferrucci Aiming for Rare Foyt Finish
Santino Ferrucci isn’t just having his best season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, he’s having a historic year as it relates to AJ Foyt Racing.
Last weekend’s eighth-place finish in Portland pushed Ferrucci’s season total to eight top-10 finishes. Last year he had one, a third-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
The result of this year’s strong performances has Ferrucci ranked 10th in the point standings. He is ahead of five full-season drivers who have won races in this series (Felix Rosenqvist, Christian Lundgaard, Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay and Rahal).
The last AJ Foyt Racing driver to finish in the top 10 in points was Airton Dare (ninth in 2002).
“To race as well as we have been all year – we’ve just been so consistent,” Ferrucci said.
For Saturday’s race, Ferrucci will have the first choice of pit boxes – he will take the one closest to pit exit – due to winning the NTT P1 Award at Portland. He noted that should be “a big advantage” in pursuit of his first series race win.
Milwaukee was one of Foyt’s best tracks. He won four races and a record seven poles.