Alex Palou moved to the top once again, dominating the Milwaukee Mile qualifying and pulling well clear of the field. The reigning champion’s speed was the headline, but the session also rearranged the starting grid due to penalties facing a few frontline contenders. Rinus VeeKay will still line up 11th after penalties to others bumped him up from a 12th-placed provisional result.
Qualifying on the oval followed the traditional order, with the last-placed in the standings going first and the early runners chasing the target times set by those ahead. The session opened with Jakob Abel setting a provisional benchmark of 156.599 mph. Devlin DeFrancesco, driving for Andretti Global, then moved the bar to 159.047 mph, with DeFrancesco’s time standing for a while as others chased faster laps. Nolan Siegel in the Arrow McLaren camp clocked 158.331 mph in the mix, while Marcus Ericsson in the Andretti Global lineup laid down 159.087 mph.
Conor Daly approached the top times with a solid run, and the Juncos Hollinger driver (Hollinger Racing) posted 160.181 mph as one of the early 160+ mph attempts. Josef Newgarden, for Penske, immediately responded with 160.330 mph, and Graham Rahal’s run showed strong consistency around the 160 mph mark. David Malukas (A.J. Foyt Racing) pushed hard, managing a notable 162.256 mph average despite a previous moment that unsettled him briefly.
Colton Herta, driver for Andretti Global, tried to chase down the pace but settled well back in the order, while Felix Rosenqvist exited the session with a more challenging result after contact with the wall. Rosenqvist’s incident underscored the treacherous balance on the Milwaukee oval, where late corrections can make or break a lap.
Scott McLaughlin (Penske) delivered an impressive dash, topping 161 mph, as the field shifted toward the final runs. The late flurry featured a standout from the current series champ, Alex Palou, who blazed a lap at 162.971 mph to take pole position for the Snap On Milwaukee Mile. Palou’s pole keeps his momentum intact heading into the race weekend.
The session then delivered a dramatic twist: both Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson, who had to undergo engine changes during a test week, receive nine-start-position penalties for the race. Louis Foster was also a victim of a mechanical issue during those tests. With these penalties applied, VeeKay moves up to 11th on the starting grid, and the provisional results reflect a reshuffled lineup behind Palou.
In the provisional standings, Dixon was initially shown high among the early results before the penalties, and O’Ward was the second-to-last qualifier with a 160.951 mph lap. The pole belongs to Palou, while Dixon, O’Ward and several others will need to navigate starting position penalties as the race day approaches.
What it means for the race
– Palou’s pole shows he remains a force on ovals and a strong favorite for Sunday, especially with the field shaken up by penalties.
– The nine-position penalty on Dixon and Simpson creates opportunities for others to capitalize, potentially leveling the racing line and offering a chance for a surprise run.
– VeeKay, starting 11th after climbing from 12th, will be in a position to mix it up early and capitalize on any opening laps.
Additional context and outlook
– Milwaukee’s short, high-speed oval rewards clean pit work, smart traffic management, and a driver’s ability to manage aero and tire wear. Palou’s pole suggests a strong window for a race-winning pace, but incidents or safety car timing could reshuffle the order quickly.
– Watch for pit strategy and how teams manage the first stint as the field tries to maintain optimal tire temperatures on the banked sections.
Summary
Alex Palou grabbed pole with a blistering 162.971 mph lap, while the rest of the field learned they’ll have to navigate a reshuffled grid thanks to penalties for Dixon, Simpson, and a mechanical issue affecting Louis Foster. Rinus VeeKay will start 11th, and the race is set to unfold with Palou again as a top contender but plenty of uncertainty behind him due to the penalties and the mix of strategies across the field.
If you’re looking for a hopeful takeaway, Palou’s continued speed on ovals keeps him as a consistent title contender, and the penalties open the door for a compelling, unpredictable race with potential new challengers rising to the occasion.