Newgarden Leads Milwaukee Practice

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Josef Newgarden had the fastest lap in the only practice session for the Milwaukee double header. Newgarden was a tenth of a second faster than Scott Dixon.

The 90 minute session ran uninterrupted until Christian Rasmussen spun and hit the wall in turn 3 with six minutes left.

Newgarden said in the post practice media conference that the track feels different because the cars are heavier, but he thinks the track is the same.

The top half of the field:

The track and fairgrounds look very nice, much nicer than I remember from 2015. I had forgotten how flat the turns are here.

Thata will do it for me for today. I’ll be back in the morning with a preview of a very packed Saturday.

 INDYCAR Announces Milwaukee Mile Grid Penalties 

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From Indycar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Aug. 30, 2024) – INDYCAR officials have announced a nine-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 2 Team Penske, No. 6 Arrow McLaren, No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing and Nos. 30 and 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for unapproved engine changes following the Sunday, Aug. 25 race at Portland International Raceway.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.

Return to the Mile

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Today’s Schedule (Central Time)

1:30 pm Indy NXT practice Indycar Live

2:45 pm Indycar High line practice (2 groups, 15 minutes each)

3:30 pm Indycar all car practice (90 minutes) Peacock; Indycar Radio

Indycar fans’ loud clamoring for a return to to the Milwaukee Mile is just hours away from being realized. It may be a case of be careful what you wish for. How many of the fans who screamed the loudest for the series to return to the oldest track in the US will come to watch either or both of the 250 lap races Saturday and Sunday? How will the racing be?

I’m not sure there will be anything resembling a sellout. The racing could go either way. We could see the parade that was Iowa, or we could see a competitive event similar what we saw at WWTR two weeks ago.

No matter the size of the crowd or the quality of the racing, I will celebrate the return of arguably the second most historic venue on the Indycar circuit. This weekend should have lots of intrigue. The championship is up for grabs, and I am anxious to see what Race Control this week about will starts and restarts.

Nathan Brown of the Indy Star reported on a meeting between drivers and race control to clarify restart procedures. The drivers want a line painted on the track to define the end of the restart zone. They also want a penalty for a driver who does not maintain a constant speed. I assume we will find out today what will be done about it.

Both races are scheduled for 250 laps. I think that the races of a doubleheader should be different lengths. Saturday’s race should be 275 laps and Sunday’s 225 circuits. I don’t enjoy seeing the same event two days in a row.

How Much Will Experience Matter?

Only five drivers in the field- Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, and Katherine Legge- have raced at Milwaukee. Power and Dixon have won here, and Newgarden earned his first career pole at The Mile.

Experience may play a small part in success this weekend, but the stronger teams will still be up front. Team Penske drivers have won all the oval races in 2024, and I believe someone on the team will win one of the races.

Points Chase

After Sunday, I expect Alex Palou’s lead in the championship to be even smaller than the 49 point advantage he h now has. I am assuming Will Power will win one of the races. Palou has yet to win on an oval, and I do not believe that strek gets broken Saturday or Sunday. If it does, the title is his.

While I believe Power will win one of the races, the Penske streak ends with Scott Dixon winning the other race.

Rasmussen to Compete in Final Three Oval Races for ECR

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From Ed Carpenter Racing:

 Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that Christian Rasmussen will finish the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season behind the wheel of the No. 20 GuyCare Chevrolet.
The 24-year-old Danish rookie will compete in this weekend’s doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile and the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. 
While team owner Ed Carpenter was scheduled to drive in the remaining events this year, he found importance in providing an opportunity to Rasmussen.
“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. “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.”
Rasmussen’s final race of 2024 was set to be last weekend’s road course event at Portland International Raceway, but he will now compete in the last three races of the season. Rasmussen, the 2023 INDY NXT champion, won both short oval races on his way to the title last year. In addition to his duties this season as road and street course driver of the No. 20, he also competed in ECR’s third Indianapolis 500 entry. He earned the distinction of being the highest finishing rookie in the field, driving from 24th to 12th over the course of the 500-mile race. 
Rasmussen is grateful to Carpenter, his teammate and team owner.
 “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!”
Though the Milwaukee Mile will be Rasmussen’s first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on a short oval, he recently completed a test day at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Rasmussen’s full-time teammate, Rinus VeeKay, will also be making his Milwaukee Mile debut as the track returns to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar for the first time since 2015. Nashville Superspeedway will also be a new venue for both as the 1.33-mile oval has not been on the schedule since 2008. 
On-track activity at the Milwaukee Mile will begin with over two hours of practice this coming Friday, August 30. Saturday, August 31 will begin with qualifying for both races with Lap 1 setting the starting field for Race 1 and Lap 2 determining the grid for Race 2. The first race of the Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s will begin at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday and will stream exclusively on Peacock. The second race of the doubleheader will take place on Sunday, September 1 at 1:30 p.m. CT with coverage on USA Network. About Ed Carpenter RacingEd Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). The team’s 2024 driver lineup has included a combination of Carpenter, rookie Christian Rasmussen and fifth-year veteran Rinus VeeKay. More information on Ed Carpenter Racing may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/. Custom 2019 ECR Logo.png
    

An IMS Legend is Gone

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Chuck Lynn, a fixture n Pagoda Plaza and Gasoline Alley, died today. Chuck sold the Indianapolis Star for many years at the Speedway. He was part of the place, and his absence will be felt next May. I occasionally bought a paper from Chuck, because that’s what you do.

I did not know Chuck well but seeing him upon arriving in the plaza gave me comfort. I knew I was in the right place. How odd it will seem next spring to not hear the call of “Paper!” as i walk by his bike.

It’s fitting that Chuck passed away three years and a day after his good friend Robin Miller. The two had a special bond. Tony Kanaan also had a great relationship with Chuck.

IMS will feel a little emptier in May 2025. It seems the regulars are leaving too quickly the last few years, losing the race none of us will win. Say Hi to Robin for me, Chuck.

Power Surge in Portland

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Top photo by Kyle McInnes

Will Power beat pole sitter Santino Ferrucci to the first turn and dominated the Grand Prix of Portland, leading 101 laps on his way to his third victory of the season. Points leader Alex Palou finished second and lost just 12 points to Power in the championship.

“Every win I get now is so special,” Power said in the post race press conference. He said that the series is so competitive now that each win is “a big deal.”

The race itself was static. Besides Ferrucci slipping to eighth at the end, few drivers improved their positions. Scott McLaughlin finished seventh after starting 20th, Pato O’Ward moved from 23rd to 15th, and Alexander Rossi improved go 12th from 18th.

For the first time in recent memory, the field got through turn 1 cleanly, but Scott Dixon was squeezed by Kyle Kirkwood, and then Pietro Fittipaldi hit him, sending Dixon into the Armco and out of the race.. It was the only caution of the afternoon.

Power used pit strategy to extend his lead, only losing the top spot during his stops.

Romain Grosjean spun in turn 1 and took some time to refire his engine. He then turned the car in the right direction right into the path of Christian Rasmussen. Both cars continued, but pitted as they came around.

Notes

Scott Dixon has finished last at two road races this year, yet he sill has an outside chance at the title. Dixon will probably be eliminated after the first race in Milwaukee next Saturday.

Power has led more than 100 laps in the last two races.

Can Alex Palou finally get an oval win in one of the final three races? Should he get the victory, it would pretty much seal his third title. He indicated in the media availability that it is a goal.

The championship is realistically down to just four- Palou, Power, Herta, and McLaughlin. While eight are still mathematically eligible, several will probably be out of the running after next weekend.

I will have some more thoughts tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend.

Portland Race Day; Lineup and Tire Selections

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Today’s Schedule:

9:30 AM Gates Open
10:20 AM – 11:15 AMINDY NXTRace (35 Laps or 55 mins)
11:40 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIESDriver Introductions
12:30 PM BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland – NTT INDYCAR SERIESRace (110 Laps)

The Indycar race is on USA Network. Indy NXT and Indycar races are on Peacock.

Good morning from Portland. Today is expected to be the best weather day of the weekend, with a temperature of 70 degrees at the green flag and about 75 degrees when when checkered flag waves.

If Will Power beats Santino Ferrucci to turn 1, he should come away with the win. If not, mit could be anybody’s race. Several fast cars are startiing in the second half of the grid, including Alexander Rossi, Scott McLaughlin, and Pato O’Ward.

Alex Palou attempts to at least maintain his current 59 point lead from third. Power is the only contender starting ahead of him, and he is 66 points behind.in fourth place. The top six are separated by just 98 points, but it would take two bad races by Palou for him to be in trouble. I think Race 1 at Iowa was his bad race for the year.

The official lineup, with penalty assessments, and the starting tire for each driver:

I’ll be back after the race with a quick wrapup.