ELKHART LAKE – Greater than half the sphere for the Father’s Day at obtained a comparatively uncommon head begin for ’s throughout a take a look at June 9.
That meant yet another cease earlier than a break for crews after a grueling stretch through which they’ve had 5 straight weekends of competitors. Nevertheless it additionally gave newcomers similar to 9 days to kind out what they’d seen earlier than attacking the undulating 4.014-mile course for actual.
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Andretti World, Arrow McLaren and Rahal Letterman Lanigan labored with three automobiles and drivers apiece whereas A.J. Foyt Racing and Ed Carpenter fielded two apiece in preparation for the June 19-21 race weekend.
Over the lunch break, Andretti’s Will Energy (a two-time winner), Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel, RLL’s Schumacher, and ECR’s Christian Rasmussen (first-time Indy NXT winner on the observe in 2022) spoke with reporters.
Listed here are a number of nuggets.
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Rasmussen drives down the straightaway off Flip 3 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Rasmussen drives down the straightaway off Flip 3 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Santino Ferrucci drives towards Flip 3 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Mick Schumacher indicators an autograph through the lunch break at an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Lundgaard rounds Flip 6 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Will Energy drives off Flip 5 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Kyle Kirkwood scares up a robin whereas heading for Flip 13 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Alexander Rossi talks with members of his crew throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Graham Rahal crests the hill at Flip 6 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Rasmussen drives by means of Flip 7 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Marcus Ericsson takes off his helmet after a run throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Santino Ferrucci leaves the pits throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Will Energy exhibits his steering wheel to a younger fan throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Pato O’Ward drives by means of the Carousel throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Nolan Siegel navigates Flip 3 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Louis Foster talks with a member of his crew throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Will Energy exits the Carousel throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Caio Collet talks with a member of his crew throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Mick Schumacher sits in his automobile on pit street surrounded by crew members throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Marcus Ericsson exits Flip 12 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Nolan Siegel navigates Flip 3 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Will Energy waits in his automobile on pit lane between runs throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Alexander Rossi drives towards Flip 7 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Lundgaard talks with workforce members throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Kyle Kirkwood clips the curb in Flip 6 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Caio Collet drives towards Flip 7 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Christian Rasmussen exits the Kink throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Nolan Siegel walks by means of the paddock throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Louis Foster drives into Canada Nook throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
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IndyCar drivers take a look at at Highway America forward of June 21 XPEL Grand Prix
Mike Schumacher races down the straightaway towards Flip 5 throughout an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Highway America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
(Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Mick Schumacher struck by Highway America’s uniqueness
Given Schumacher’s background in Method One and sports activities automobiles, Highway America stands out as the closest factor to a well-known observe he’ll see in his rookie season. However the place some drivers coming into Indy automobiles from that profession path have put Highway America up alongside basic European tracks similar to Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Schumacher hesitated.
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“It’s a really distinctive observe,” he mentioned. “I believe it could be unfair to take an excessive amount of comparability to different tracks as a result of each observe is exclusive and really particular. So is that this one. It’s nice to expertise it.”
Schmacher got here to the take a look at with no actual preconceptions of Highway America.
He did get some perception into the observe and city from teammates Graham Rahal, who’s been coming to Highway America for many years, and Louis Foster, who gained the pole in 2025 as a rookie. Then his first few laps have been about studying the circuit and appreciating what it supplied.
“Clearly, the stint right here may be very quick right here in comparison with a few of the tracks we’ve been to to date this 12 months,” Schumacher mentioned. “Now we have to take advantage of out of each lap.”
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What did he discover most?
“I assume the undulation, like, how a lot goes up and down,” Schumacher mentioned. “It’s stunning driving by means of the woods, down on the again straight, going to Canada Nook. It’s very good surroundings to race right here.
“The observe’s getting higher, and it’ll be good to have this afternoon to hopefully have one thing representable of what the race is perhaps.”
Mick Schumacher, a veteran of Method One and worldwide sports activities automobile racing, indicators an autograph throughout his first go to to Highway America for an NTT IndyCar Sequence take a look at June 9.
Nolan Siegel feels for IndyCar crews
“They obtained to sleep for 2 hours, three hours earlier than they left St. Louis to come back right here [Monday] so I’m very appreciative of all of the women and men which might be right here,” mentioned Siegel, who . “It’s not straightforward, however all of us love doing it, and we love being on the racetrack. It’s the place we wish to be.”
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Siegel was the highest finisher (eighth) among the many McLaren drivers with Pato O’Ward seventeenth and Christian Lundgaard twenty fourth. Their three groups all had barely completely different assignments in getting ready to come back again.
“We don’t actually get to check [much] in IndyCar, so today are tremendous essential, very, very useful for us,” Siegel mentioned.
“Undoubtedly every automobile has its personal set of take a look at gadgets that we’re working by means of, and I believe that’s been fairly clean to date for all three automobiles. … So it’s a really organized, laid out take a look at plan, and if we will get by means of all of the gadgets on every listing for every automobile, then that’s an enormous quantity of information to have a look at earlier than the race.”
Two-time Highway America winner Will Energy waits in his automobile on pit lane on the observe throughout a take a look at June 9.
Will Energy obtained to check what’s past the observe’s edge
at Highway America in 2023 after he obtained off the sting of the observe within the Carousel in follow and crashed.
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The previous two offseasons, the , a perforated concrete by means of which grass can develop, in lots of areas the place drivers run extensive. The thought of the product is it prevents grime from getting pulled onto the observe and holes from being dug whereas nonetheless being a deterrent as a result of it seems like grass, not asphalt, and doesn’t present as a lot grip.
Energy checked out the Grasscrete in Flip 14 and gave it a double thumbs up.
“It’s how a lot it drops down is the issue, whether or not you utilize it or not,” Energy mentioned. “If it’s, like, raised up a bit you’d most likely use it extra. Nevertheless it’s higher than dropping into the grime.”
Christian Rasmussen drives down the straightaway off Highway America’s Flip 3 in testing June 9.
Christian Rasmussen is making an attempt to construct momentum
Rasmussen was barely a day and a half faraway from a third-place end at World Large Know-how Raceway, his third podium in 2 ½ seasons within the sequence and his finest end result since .
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“It was good to get again in a race automobile and really feel like you may make it do one thing, you already know?” mentioned Rasmussen, who additionally obtained a multiyear contract extension final week. “It was clearly a great way to show the 12 months spherical and momentum builder for going into the remainder of the 12 months.”
However Highway America’s about as completely different from a brief oval as tracks get. Carryover is nil. When the groups broke for lunch, Rasmussen’s workforce was to a point nonetheless determining the place it’d have the ability to make the largest beneficial properties at a observe the place a 12 months in the past.
the primary half of the day was about determining the place they could have the ability to make the largest beneficial properties within the second half.
“That’s what a day like in the present day is all about,” he mentioned. “Highway America is a spot that we actually struggled final 12 months, which is like why we selected this take a look at day to come back to and attempt to enhance our bundle. We’ll simply maintain working away after which hopefully find yourself with one thing fairly good right here later.”
