Christian Rasmussen Wins First IndyCar Race at Milwaukee Mile

Christian Rasmussen captured his first-ever NTT IndyCar Series victory at the Milwaukee Mile, overtaking Alex Palou with 15 laps remaining in a dramatic final sprint influenced by a late sun shower. Despite Palou's dominant performance throughout the race and his pursuit of tying the record for most wins in a season, Rasmussen's bold strategy to pit for fresh tires during the caution gave him a key advantage. Rasmussen, driving for Ed Carpenter Racing, skillfully navigated a loose car and heavy lap traffic, displaying aggressive driving and resilience that paid off in the last 28 laps. His teammate Alexander Rossi also contributed to the team's success with a fourth-place finish, marking a strong day for Ed Carpenter Racing. The race featured a pivotal moment when a brief rain shower caused a caution, prompting Rasmussen and his team to gamble on new tires over track position, which ultimately led to his surge past top competitors including Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. Rasmussen's win ended Ed Carpenter Racing's victory drought since 2021 and denied Palou a chance to extend his winning streak heading into the final races of the season.