The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Milwaukee Mile for the first time in nine years and with a flourish: A doubleheader race weekend that will kick off a stretch of three oval races to end the 2024 season.
With Nashville Superspeedway playing host to the Sept. 15 season finale, this will be the first time in 14 years that an IndyCar season has ended with three consecutive oval races.
And the 250-lap races Saturday (5:40 p.m. ET, exclusively streamed on Peacock) and Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, USA and Peacock) will mark the first time that IndyCar has raced at the Milwaukee Mile since 2015.
Among the 27 drivers entered in the race, there are five with previous IndyCar experience at the track: Scott Dixon (12 starts) Will Power (seven), Graham Rahal (seven), Josef Negarden (four) and Katherine Legge (two).
There are two active drivers with wins at Milwaukee: Dixon in 2009 and Power in 2014. Rahal and Newgarden also have top fives at the 1.015-mile oval.
Championship leader Alex Palou will make his Milwaukee debut with a 54-point lead over Power. Palou can clinch his third championship in four seasons if he’s ahead by 55 points after Sunday’s race, but Power enters with the momentum of a victory at Portland.
Legge will return in the No. 51 Dallara-Honda for Dale Coyne Racing this weekend, and Ed Carpenter has stepped out of the No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet for rookie Christian Rasmussen, who will make his IndyCar short oval debut at an historic track.
Milwaukee played host to its first auto race in 1903 and the first of 113 IndyCar races in 1939.
Power will be making his 300th IndyCar start, becoming only the 10th driver to reach the milestone.
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon will make his 400th career start, joining Mario Andretti (407) as the only drivers with at least 400. Dixon is on pace to break the record at next year’s Indy 500.
Here are the details for the IndyCar Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s race weekend (all times are ET):
INDYCAR MILWAUKEE START TIMES
TV: Saturday’s broadcast will begin at 5:40 p.m. ET and be streamed exclusively on Peacock. Sunday’s broadcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA and also streaming on Peacock.
Kevin Lee is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry and Dillon Welch are the pit reporters. Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying and Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on how to sign up for Peacock.)
INDYCAR RADIO NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy NXT races and all practices and qualifying sessions will air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.
COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 6:01 p.m. Saturday, 2:56 p.m. Sunday
GREEN FLAG: 6:05 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday
RACE DISTANCE: The races are 250 laps (253.75 miles) on a 1.015-mile oval in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: Thirteen sets for use during the event weekend. Indy NXT teams receive two new sets for the weekend with a carryover set from the Milwaukee test for the first practice.
HYBRID ENERGY DEPLOYMENT: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 135 kilojoules (kj) per lap
FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain at the green flag Saturday for Race 1. For Sunday, it’s expected to be 75 degrees with a 2% chance of rainit’s expected to be 75 degrees with a 2% chance of rain at the green flag for Race 2.
PRACTICE: Friday, 3:45 p.m (Peacock)
PRACTICE RESULTS: Click here for speeds from the Friday session
QUALIFYING: Saturday, 2:15 p.m. (Peacock)
STARTING LINEUP: Click here for the starting grids in both races
ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 27 cars entered at Milwaukee
INDY NXT RACE: Saturday, 3:55 p.m. (Peacock)
INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 18 cars entered in the Indy NXT race
INDYCAR HY-VEE MILWAUKEE MILE 250s WEEKEND SCHEDULE
(All times are ET)
Friday, Aug. 30
2:30-3:15 p.m.: Indy NXT practice
3:45-6 p.m.: IndyCar practice (Peacock)
Saturday, Aug. 31
1-1:45 p.m.: Indy NXT qualifying
2:15-3:15 p.m.: IndyCar qualifying (Peacock)
3:55 p.m.: Indy NXT race (Peacock)
6 p.m.: Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250 Race 1 (Peacock)
Sunday, Sept. 1
3 p.m.: Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250 Race 2 (USA, Peacock)
2024 SEASON RECAPS
ROUND 1: Josef Newgarden dominates in season opener l Results, points
$1 MILLION CHALLENGE: Alex Palou takes big payday l Results
ROUND 2: Scott Dixon sublimely saves fuel to win Long Beach l Results, points
ROUND 3: Scott McLaughlin wins from the pole at Barber l Results, points
ROUND 4: Alex Palou wins again on the Indy road course l Results, points
ROUND 5: Josef Newgarden repeat winner at Indy 500 l Results, points
ROUND 6: Scott Dixon wins another wild Detroit race l Results, points
ROUND 7: Will Power ends 34-race winless streak at Road America l Results, points
ROUND 8: Alex Palou takes championship lead with Laguna Seca win l Results, points
ROUND 9: Pato O’Ward outduels Alex Palou at Mid-Ohio l Results, points
ROUND 10: Scott McLaughlin is an IndyCar oval winner for the first time l Results, points
ROUND 11: Will Power earns first Iowa win; Robb OK after massive crash l Results, points
ROUND 12: Colton Herta snaps two-year winless skid with victory at Toronto l Results, points
ROUND 13: Penske stays perfect on ovals in 2024 with Newgarden win l Results, points
ROUND 14: Will Power dominates in Portland victory l Results, points
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