Christian Rasmussen – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Joe Skibinski

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Denmark’s Christian Rasmussen parlayed deft tire strategy by his Ed Carpenter Racing team during a late caution period and his signature aggressive style to power past all-INDYCAR-everything Alex Palou en route to victory in Sunday’s Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250.

Christian Rasmussen – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Joe Skibinski

“The race went our way,” Rasmussen said after scoring his first NTT IndyCar Series victory. “We did what we do best on ovals _ running whatever line the car in front is not. Again, we were amazing in traffic, which that’s what made the main difference today again I think. Then with a good call there at the end going onto the new tires, having something to fight with.

“Yeah, pretty cool getting my first win here. Good Sunday.”

The 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, Rasmussen earned his breakthrough INDYCAR win in his second NTT IndyCar Series season and 30^th career start. A 25-year-old native of Copenhagen, Rasmussen is the series’ newest first-time winner since fellow-Dane Christian Lundgaard in July 2023 on the Streets of Toronto.

Christian Rasmussen and Ed Carpenter – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Paul Hurley

Additionally, Rasmussen delivered ECR its first victory since Rinus VeeKay of The Netherlands triumphed in May 2021 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course.

“Yeah, it’s going the right direction,” said Rasmussen, who led the final 16 of 250 laps around the historic 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wis. “I think a massive step-up from last year. Even through this year, we’re just getting better and better.

“It’s also not only a testament to my improvement, I think it’s also where this team is going. There’s so much talk about our team with Heartland Food Group, Splenda and Java House coming in, giving us some opportunities we haven’t really had before.

Christian Rasmussen – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 -Photo by Chris Owens

“It’s good to have that opportunity. It’s really what you do with it. I think that’s starting to show. It makes me very excited to see where this team’s going in the future, next year, yeah, to see what we can do.”

Rasmussen and his No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet beat Palou _ the four-time/reigning series champion _ by 1.9463-seconds after taking the lead from the Spaniard and his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on Lap 235 of 250. Native New Zealander Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet of Team Penske, tying his season-best.

Christian Rasmussen and Alexander Rossi – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 -Photo by Joe Skibinski

SEE: Race Results

“I knew this was coming for Christian,” team-owner Ed Carpenter said. “He’s the best there is right now on short ovals; he’s shown it all season long. That yellow played to his hand, and he did an amazing job taking advantage of his new tires and Chevy power. It feels so good; it’s been a while since we’ve won a race.”

Alexander Rossi added to the Ed Carpenter Racing celebration by finishing a season-best fourth in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet _ giving ECR two cars in the top-five at the checkered flag for the first time this year.

Ed Carpenter and Christian Rasmussen – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Chris Owens

“I think we’ve been feeling it build all season,” said Carpenter, an oval-track specialist who vacated his seat in the No. 21 last season to allow Rasmussen to compete. “I mean, I think I was surprised as other people that I made the decision when I did. I just felt like it was the right thing to do, the best thing for the team, needed to give him an opportunity to continue to grow.

“Even though it took him from that point to win a race, I think I felt even more convicted in the decision with the job that he did, getting the car in a tough situation. Had an accident in practice here. Didn’t qualify great. I was confident with the decision back then. This obviously reaffirms that.

“We haven’t been as consistent as we want to be at times. A lot of weekends Christian will have a good day, Alex will have a bad day, or vice-versa. So today especially, really this weekend, was the best group effort we’ve had all year.”

Pato O’Ward – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Joe Skibinski

Pato O’Ward completed the top-five in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. “Fifth today here in Milwaukee, but the highlight of the day was that we secured second place in the championship,” said O’Ward, a 26-year-old native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas. “We’re locked-in and it’s the best championship result we’ve ever had up-to-date for myself and the team.

“I can’t wait for Nashville (and the season-ender) next week. We’re going to try to leave with a win, and we were quite close to that last year.”

Pole-sitter Palou, who led a massive 199 laps, saw a 2.011-second lead over McLaughlin evaporate when sprinkles around the Midwest oval were reported on Lap 209, triggering the fifth and final caution.

Alex Palou – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Chris Owens

During that caution, Palou, McLaughlin and third-place Josef Newgarden elected to stay out of the pits and keep their track position. Meanwhile, Rasmussen, Rossi and O’Ward were among a handful of drivers to dive into the pits for a quick change to fresh Firestone Firehawk tires, knowing speed diminished quickly when tire wear ramped-up.

After the restart on Lap 222, it took Rossi and Rasmussen just one lap to climb to fourth and fifth, respectively. Rasmussen then passed Rossi for fourth, with his sights set on Newgarden in third. Rasmussen dove under Newgarden’s No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet in Turn 3 on Lap 227 and was 0.6-seconds behind second-place McLaughlin and 2.2-seconds behind Palou.

Christian Lundgaard, Christian Rasmussen and Alex Palou – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Joe Skibinski

But the traction provided by the fresh Firestone tires _ Palou, McLaughlin and Newgarden each made their final stops on Laps 196 or 197, nearly 15 laps earlier than Rasmussen _ ultimately proved decisive.

Rasmussen was gaining time on every area of the track with fresh rubber and his aggressive style, driving around McLaughlin with a high-line move in Turn 2 on Lap 230. Palou was 1.321-seconds ahead in the lead, but it appeared to be only a matter of time until Rasmussen would catch the four-time series champion and pounce.

That moment arrived on Lap 235 when Palou and Rasmussen went side-by-side through Turns 3 and 4, inches apart, with Palou hugging the low line and Rasmussen in the high groove. Rasmussen edged ahead on the front straightaway, officially taking the lead for good at the start/finish line, and finally got around Palou for clear sailing in Turn 1 on Lap 236.

It was the first time Rasmussen led all day, a spot he would not surrender. The Dane held steady while navigating lapped traffic over the closing laps for his signature first win. That fact shouldn’t be a stunner, considering he, Palou and O’Ward are the only drivers to finish in the top-10 in all five series oval races contested so far this season.

“We were talking before the race that if there was a late caution, then we want to go on new tires because it is such an advantage,” Rasmussen said. “There were more people that did it than I thought there would in that last stint, but it was definitely the right choice.”

David Malukas – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Chris Owens

Meanwhile, David Malukas finished eighth for Waller, Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing. Malukas started second in his No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet and took the lead from pole-winner Palou on Lap 16. Malukas led through Lap 40, before Palou came storming back. Malukas made his first stop on Lap 58 and emerged third. However, his next stop on Lap 103 and its consequences set the stage for a remarkable comeback.

A tire-gun problem on the stop under green resulted in Malukas dropping to 18th and a lap down to Palou, as the caution came out for Will Power’s wall contact after Malukas’ stop. By the next round of stops, Malukas was back on the lead lap (16^th on Lap 145) due to a wave-around. Flawless stops and a determined drive saw him climb to eighth 105 laps later.

“Well, I’m not going to lie, we needed a few more yellows after our pit incident and maybe we actually could have been fighting for the win again,” said Malukas, a 23-year-old native of Chicago. “The car was just so fast. The guys built an incredible car underneath me. I mean, it was just me and Palou really out there when I think of pace-wise.

“We were just on another level; just a big shout-out to all these guys. Overall, a lot to be proud of. It’s been another weekend of ‘almost,’ but we keep building this team, we’re going to keep striving. We have one more chance to do it. We’re going to get a sticker. We’re going to get a podium. We’re going to get something. I know it.”

Santino Ferrucci – Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Chris Jones

Foyt teammate Santino Ferrucci, the Dallas resident who started 21^st in the No. 14 Phoenix Investors Chevrolet, soldiered through a very “up-and-down” day to finish a lead-lap 14th.

The mercurial Palou, 28, clinched his fourth NTT IndyCar Series championship on Aug. 10 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. Palou’s runner-up finish Sunday was his 12th top-three result in 16 starts this season, highlighted by a series-best eight victories.

But finishing second ended Palou’s bid to tie Houston native A.J. Foyt Jr. and fellow-legend Al Unser for the most victories in an INDYCAR season, 10, at the season-ending Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by Willscot on Sunday, Aug. 31, at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. (2 p.m. EDT, FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

As a favorite son of Indianapolis, Carpenter’s team has been pivotal in the development of Newgarden, VeeKay and now Rasmussen. Newgarden, of course, has since won two Indy 500s and two series championships with Team Penske.

“Just need to keep Christian home will be the key moving forward,” said Carpenter, 44, the stepson of Indy Racing League founder Tony George. “I mean, winning is fun. Christian impressed us a ton before he ever got in one of our cars, the way he finished off the INDY NXT championship that he won. The back half of that season, it was a tight battle, but he really took control of it at the end. That level of intensity, dedication and improvement that he showed from his two years in that championship is really what stood out to me.

“Then we put him in a car at Barber (Motorosports Park) against Oliver Askew. A bit of a showdown. He rose to that challenge, as well. When you put a car in front of him, especially when he’s got a tire advantage, it’s a scary thing.

“People talk about they don’t like everything he does. We haven’t asked him to change one thing. He’s attacking and being aggressive, not settling for anything. That’s the mentality we want to have as a team. Really proud of the effort and he way he finished today.”

Dennis Hauger and Salvador de Alba – INDY NXT by Firestone at the Milwaukee Mile – Photo by Joe Skibinski

Salvador de Alba and Dennis Hauger both achieved significant career firsts in a tour de force for Andretti Global in Sunday’s INDY NXT by Firestone at The Milwaukee Mile.

Series veteran de Alba earned his first career victory in INDYCAR’s developmental series in the No. 27 Grupo Indi machine, while rookie Hauger clinched his first series championship with a second-place finish in the No. 28 Nammo car. Rookie Lochie Hughes of Australia finished third in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship entry, giving Andretti Global its first podium sweep of the season and its first since September 2022 in the penultimate race on the 2025 schedule.

Salvador de Alba – INDY NXT by Firestone at the Milwaukee Mile – Photo by Paul Hurley

SEE: Race Results

Native Mexican de Alba, who started second, took the lead from pole-sitter Hauger with an outside move exiting Turn 2 on Lap 1 of the 90-lapper and led the rest of the way around the historic 1.015-mile oval in West Allis, Wis. His breakthrough win came in his 27th series start over the last two seasons.

“We knew we had the car yesterday to go a little bit wider than my teammate Dennis, so we had to try it,” de Alba, 25, said of his winning move. “It worked out. The car was on rails all race long, and we brought it here to Victory Lane. Super-happy about the 1-2-3 result, Dennis getting the championship today. It’s just a big day for all the Andretti team.

“I’m thankful to finally be here with all the years of preparation, to finally break through.”

Dennis Hauger – INDY NXT by Firestone at the Milwaukee Mile – Photo by Chris Jones

Hauger entered the race with a 55-point lead over Caio Collet _ a one-race edge in points _ and only needed to finish ahead of his rival to become the first Norwegian to claim the championship. Native Brazilian Collet finished seventh in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car.

It was the seventh INDY NXT championship for Andretti Global _ tying the series record set by Sam Schmidt Motorsports _ and second in a row, as Louis Foster of Great Britian claimed the crown last season before graduating to the NTT IndyCar Series this year. Hauger has bagged six wins and seven poles in 13 races this season.

“It’s been an incredible season as a rookie with Andretti,” said Hauger, 22. “Super-proud to be a part of them and part of this championship season. A few ups-and-downs but mostly ups. This is a big championship win for me.”

Callum Hedge of New Zealand placed fourth in the No. 17 Abel Motorsports car, while Bryce Aron completed the top-five after a spirited late-race charge in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing machine.

The only threat to de Alba’s lead came after the lone caution period, triggered on Lap 47 by Jack William Miller’s spin and contact with the wall exiting Turn 2 in the No. 40 Abel/Miller/Vinatieri Motorsports car.

On the restart on Lap 53, de Alba removed all suspense by rocketing into Turn 1 ahead of Hauger and the rest of the 18-car field. He pulled away to a 2.629-second lead with eight laps to go before cruising to the checkered flag 1.4693-seconds ahead of Hauger.

The season’s final INDY NXT by Firestone event is the Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 31, on the Nashville Superspeedway oval in Lebanon, Tenn.

Results of the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 NTT IndyCar Series event on the 1.015-mile Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis., with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1. (9) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   2. (1) Alex Palou, Honda, 250, Running
   3. (4) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   4. (12) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   5. (3) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   6. (17) Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   7. (7) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   8. (2) David Malukas, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   9. (14) Scott Dixon, Honda, 250, Running
   10. (16) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 250, Running
   11. (24) Colton Herta, Honda, 250, Running
   12. (6) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 250, Running
   13. (8) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   14. (21) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 250, Running
   15. (11) Rinus VeeKay, Honda, 250, Running
   16. (15) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 250, Running
   17. (27) Louis Foster, Honda, 249, Running
   18. (20) Robert Shwartzman, Chevrolet, 249, Running
   19. (13) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 249, Running
   20. (26) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 249, Running
   21. (22) Jacob Abel, Honda, 248, Running
   22. (25) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 248, Running
   23. (19) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 248, Running
   24. (10) Graham Rahal, Honda, 247, Running
   25. (23) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 137, Mechanical
   26. (5) Will Power, Chevrolet, 102, Contact
   27. (18) Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, 0, Contact

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 124.656 mph
Time of race: 02:02:08.1735
Margin of victory: 1.9463-seconds
Cautions: 5 for 49 laps
Lead changes: 10 among 6 drivers

Lap Leaders
Palou, Alex 1 – 15
Malukas, David 16 – 40
Palou, Alex 41 – 58
Foster, Louis 59
Palou, Alex 60 – 145
Armstrong, Marcus 146 – 153
Palou, Alex 154 – 196
Rosenqvist, Felix 197
Palou, Alex 198 – 234
Rasmussen, Christian 235 – 250

NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 670*; 2, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 505; 3, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 433; 4, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 426; 5, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 405; 6, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 352; 7, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 352; 8, Will Power, Team Penske, 347; 9, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 346; 10, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 320;

11, David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, 312; 12, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 308; 13, Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, 287; 14, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 276; 15, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 269; 16, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 265; 17, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 252; 18, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 250; 19, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 237; 20, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 219;

21, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 203; 22, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 200; 23, Callum Ilott, PREMA Racing, 196; 24, Robert Shwartzman, PREMA Racing, 195; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 167; 26, Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 159; 27, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, 116; 28, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 36; 29, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 20; 30, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 16;

31, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 12; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 10; 33, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren with Henrick Motorsports, 6; 34, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian, 5.

Note _ *Clinched 2025 Driver’s Championship

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES BROADCAST COVERAGE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (Will Power, Team Penske)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (2:30 p.m.)

NOTE _ All times Eastern. Dates and times subject to change.