INDYCAR heads to Milwaukee and Nashville for a pivotal late-season stretch, taking on two very different ovals with plenty still to settle on the 2025 championship run.
Two very different ovals, one shared goal
As the season narrows to its final two races, teams shift focus to Milwaukee’s Milwaukee Mile and the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway. Milwaukee is a relatively flat asphalt oval at Wisconsin Fair Park, while Nashville offers a moderately banked concrete surface that presents a distinct challenge. Milwaukee is hosting a single race this year after last year’s doubleheader, with a 250-mile sprint on the 1.015-mile oval on Sunday. A full Saturday program will give teams a chance to tune and rubber in the lower groove and finalize setups, with practice on FS1, qualifying on FS1, and a final practice on FS2 before the race on FOX.
A track with a rich history
The Milwaukee Mile has long been a staple of INDYCAR competition. The first race at the track in 1939 was won by Babe Stapp, and the venue has hosted 115 INDYCAR races to date. The current field includes four former Milwaukee winners: last year’s victors Pato O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin, and veterans Scott Dixon and Will Power who have previously tasted victory there.
Close battles in the standings
Even though the championship was decided at the Portland event, there is still plenty to race for in Milwaukee and Nashville. Christian Lundgaard sits within reach of the top three, and Kyle Kirkwood is just a handful of points behind Lundgaard for fourth. The tight battle for the middle of the field continues as Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist, Colton Herta and Marcus Armstrong are split by a few dozen points in the middle portion of the standings. The fight for 10th place features Scott McLaughlin, David Malukas and Rinus VeeKay, with additional surges possible from Christian Rasmussen and Santino Ferrucci as the year wraps up.
Rivalry on the radar
Christian Rasmussen and Conor Daly aren’t likely to be sharing kind words on race weekend after their clash in Portland. Daly indicated on his Speed Street podcast that the incident was an “unsavory move” and felt Rasmussen should have been penalized. Rasmussen defended the sequence, acknowledging some earlier contact but sticking to his view that the on-track call was correct and that race control agreed. If the two are near each other on track in Milwaukee, expect a tense if not cautious dynamic.
Power’s future questions
Will Power’s plans for next year remain with Team Penske? Power’s Portland victory this season was the organization’s first win of the year, a momentum booster as he contemplates next steps. He suggested his decision might not be clear until after the Nashville finale, underscoring the ongoing discussions about his future in INDYCAR.
Rahal carries momentum into Milwaukee
Graham Rahal arrives at Milwaukee with a positive outlook, fresh off a fourth-place result at Portland. He emphasized confidence in his team’s ability on road and street courses, with the belief that momentum can translate into solid results on the ovals as offseason plans begin to take shape.
Palou’s pursuit of history
Alex Palou comes into Milwaukee with a storied season in progress. He has two prior starts at Milwaukee with finishes of fifth and 19th (the latter affected by an engine issue), and he could join an elite club by tying the INDYCAR win record with victories in Milwaukee and Nashville this year. Palou has already delivered an historic season with eight wins, including the Indy 500, and he remains the benchmark that others are chasing.
What to watch this weekend
– Effects of the two very different ovals on setup and tire strategy.
– The potential for late-season changes and how teams balance short-term gains with long-term plans.
– The Rasmussen-Daly subplot and whether their on-track history shapes how aggressively they race each other.
– Power’s decision future and how any resolution might ripple through the team and the paddock.
– Palou’s bid to add more wins and push toward a historic season.
Summary
As INDYCAR heads to Milwaukee and Nashville, fans can expect a blend of rich history, intense on-track rivalries, and a high-stakes sprint to finish the year. Milwaukee’s one-mile oval, steeped in INDYCAR lore, combined with Nashville’s speed and character, creates a compelling contrast that should ramp up the drama in the season’s final chapters. With championship conversations settled but plenty of personal milestones and team plans on the line, the weekend promises competitive racing, strategic intrigue, and a hopeful spectacle for fans as the season nears its end.