The 2025 NTT IndyCar Collection title was already locked in heading into Sunday’s race on the Milwaukee Mile, however that didn’t imply there weren’t issues to race for.
Dominant champion Alex Palou was chasing historic greatness. Others have been desirous to convey residence a breakthrough win, enhance their championship standing, rating a constructive end result to construct on as the tip of the season attracts close to – or just remind their groups what they’re price.
Ultimately, some proved extra as much as the duty of mastering the tough 1.015-mile oval than others. Listed below are the winners and losers from the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250.
Winner: Mom Nature turns good day nice for ECR
There have been moments of particular person triumphs for teammates Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen this 12 months, however shared success has been tough to return by.
Fortunately for ECR, Sunday supplied a uncommon weekend with each drivers excelling. Rossi short-pitted the opening stint to achieve observe place and held that place to the end. Rasmussen had just a few shut calls, however saved his automotive clear and joined his teammate within the high 10 heading into the ultimate stint.
Then got here a little bit rain bathe – and, out of the blue, a win for Rasmussen, who marched ahead on contemporary tires to safe his maiden victory in stunning style. Rossi adopted in fourth to cap off a unbelievable day for ECR. It’s the primary time all 12 months that each the Nos. 20 and 21 completed within the high 10 (and high 5) in the identical race.
Loser: Dominance undone late for Alex Palou
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Picture by: Geoff Miller / Lumen through Getty Pictures
Trustworthy admission: I’d already written Winner: Alex Palou does it once more, roughly 50 laps into Sunday’s race. The Spaniard had began on pole, seemed untouchable in visitors and was main comfortably. He then proceeded to catch a well timed yellow in the course of the second pit sequence and confronted no competitors via the ultimate spherical of stops.
However, one dusting of rain was all it took to ship Palou’s day awry. His No. 10 crew opted for observe place over contemporary rubber and it price him a ninth victory on the 12 months.
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Picture by: Penske Leisure
Make no mistake, this can be a minor setback. Palou already has the title locked up and he completed second at day’s finish. However the loss means he’ll fall in need of tying A.J. Foyt and Al Unser Sr. for probably the most wins in a single IndyCar season.
Between this race and the late mistake that price him a win in opposition to teammate Scott Dixon at Mid-Ohio, Palou will in all probability really feel like he let historical past slip away this 12 months. There are tiny margins separating the best runs of all time.
Winner: Scott McLaughlin returns to the rostrum
Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, Scott McLaughlin, Staff Penske
Picture by: Perry Nelson / Lumen through Getty Pictures
Scott McLaughlin and Penske’s No. 3 crew entered 2025 with lofty expectations. McLaughlin isn’t only a happy-go-lucky Supercars transplant nowadays – he’s a proficient, skilled IndyCar competitor able to greatness. So, going nicely over three months and not using a podium isn’t the type of stretch the 32-year-old expects from a season.
However that’s what occurred to McLaughlin this 12 months. He entered the penultimate race having gone and not using a single podium since Barber Motorsports Park: a race that predates the Month of Might in Indianapolis. However McLaughlin and his squad returned to kind in Wisconsin, qualifying fourth and spending the vast majority of Sunday’s race in second earlier than settling for third when he was on the incorrect finish of the late tire technique.
Loser: David Malukas’ day undone by tire gun hassle
David Malukas, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Picture by: Penske Leisure
What was primed to be a robust day for David Malukas was undone in a single journey to pit street. He led early and was operating third when a pit gun failure slowed his second cease so considerably that the 23-year-old misplaced a lap to Palou.
A well timed warning allowed Malukas to rejoin the lead lap for the ultimate 96 laps, however he might solely rally to eighth earlier than the checkered flag flew. One would think about he appears like Rasmussen’s glory ought to have been his personal.
Winner: Arrow McLaren closes in on higher finishes
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Picture by: Penske Leisure
It was a quiet day for Pato O’Ward and fellow Arrow McLaren star Christian Lundgaard, however that doesn’t imply it was a nasty weekend for the pair. They spent the majority of Sunday’s race battling within the high 10 and got here residence with finishes of fifth and sixth when the checkered flag flew.
For O’Ward, the end result all-but ensures he’ll finish the season second to Alex Palou within the championship standings. Lundgaard isn’t assured his spot, however he’ll have a decent battle with the veteran Dixon for third within the season-ending standings.
Loser: Will Energy loses considered one of his last Penske alternatives
Sitting within the sizzling seat and unsure of his future, Will Energy received final day out in Portland. However the Australian discovered himself on the reverse finish of the grid on Sunday.
Energy narrowly prevented catastrophe earlier within the race and was battling for a top-five in Milwaukee when he ended up within the marbles whereas attempting to go Kyffin Simpson with contemporary tires on lap 105. The veteran ended up sliding into the Flip 2 wall, hitting the barrier once more in Flip 3 and spinning round. His day was over from there in twenty sixth.
Winner: Milwaukee reveals out
Josef Newgarden, Staff Penske
Picture by: Geoff Miller / Lumen through Getty Pictures
There have been instances when the way forward for racing seemed murky for the Milwaukee Mile. The observe is historic, having held races in what turned IndyCar since 1939. But it surely’s had years with little-to-no motion.
Final 12 months, IndyCar returned to the observe for the primary time since 2015. The return introduced an excellent crowd, however there was all the time the chance that it might be a one-year blip constructed on pleasure over the return. Fortunately, an excellent crowd confirmed up once more to look at Rasmussen ring in his first win with a burnout in 12 months two.
Loser: Nolan Siegel makes an early exit
It’s been a difficult first full 12 months for Nolan Siegel with Arrow McLaren – and Milwaukee did little to assist. After qualifying a pedestrian 18th, Siegel was looking for pace on the low lane in the course of the opening lap when he misplaced management of his No 6 Chevrolet and backed into the skin wall.
“I attempted to go low, the grip was low, I bought a little bit grasping on energy and spun. … I simply really feel like an fool, to be trustworthy,” Siegel informed FOX Sports activities.
The end result was his third DNF in his previous 5 begins and continued a poor run of kind on ovals. Siegel’s solely seen the end in a single oval race this 12 months, a Nineteenth-place run at World Large Know-how Raceway.
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