Alex Palou owned the Snap-on 250 at the Milwaukee Mile for all but the last 15 laps when Christian Rasmussen chased down the new IndyCar Series champion and ripped the lead \u2013 and a potential ninth win \u2013 from his hands to score his first victory.<\/p>\n
Rasmussen spent the afternoon firing past cars on the inside and outside, often with big oversteer moments to correct with the No. 21 Chevy and brought Ed Carpenter Racing back to Victory Lane in grand style.<\/p>\n
“Feels amazing,\u201d Rasmussen said. \u201cYou know, I think it’s just a testament on where this team is going. There’s so much work that’s going into this, all of this year, with rebuilding ECR as a great race team.\u00a0 I think this is a great way to end the season. We have one more, but, I mean, hopefully, we can do the same.<\/p>\n
“I thought that was the exact right choice to come in and get tires. I even said it on the radio before. It was kind of through code, but that was kind of what I meant.<\/p>\n
“We even talked about it before the race, that if there’s a late caution we need to go on new tires because it\u2019s such an advantage. Good day at the office.”<\/p>\n
Palou held on for second in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, finishing 1.9s in arrears, and behind him, Team Penske\u2019s Scott McLaughlin completed the podium with the No. 3 Chevy. ECR\u2019s Alexander Rossi took fourth for the team in the No. 20 Chevy with Arrow McLaren\u2019s Pato O\u2019Ward in fifth in the No. 5 Chevy and teammate Christian Lundgaard in sixth with the No. 7 Chevy.<\/p>\n
The pivotal moment of the race emerged during the final caution when light sprinkles triggered a yellow where the top three drivers had recently pitted and those behind chose to stop and have new tires to use when the restart eventually took place. Rasmussen was the big mover who charged past the leaders and drove off into the distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an amazing day for us,\u201d Palou said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t lead the lap that counted. They just did a little better than us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Front-row starter David Malukas passed Palou at one point and also settled into a strong second-place run but was felled during an early pit stop when a wheel gun issue led to an extended stay on pit lane and he went a lap down. As one of the lower-placed drivers to stop late for new tires, Malukas charged forward as well and reached eighth at the finish line.<\/p>\n
The hearty crowd at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds cheered as loud as any this season as Rasmussen completed his victory lap and launched into a series of donuts that filled the air with white tire smoke.<\/p>\n
A new IndyCar race winner, and a new winner who stormed to the lead with bravery and supreme car control. What a special day in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
As it happened<\/p>\n
Palou leads the field to green and holds the position for the first lap which goes yellow when Nolan Siegel gets low in Turn 4 and spins and crashes after dipping his left-side tires below the white line.<\/p>\n
Lap 10 restart and Palou streaks away from Malukas but the caution is out again, this time for a sideways moment for Graham Rahal, but no contact was made.<\/p>\n
Lap 16 restart and Malukas takes the lead around turn 2.<\/p>\n
Lap 25 and Malukas leads Palou by a big 1.9s and McLaughlin by 2.9s.<\/p>\n
Lap 35 and Malukas leads Palou by 0.7, McLaughlin by 2.0s, Daly by 3.2s, and O\u2019Ward by 4.0s.<\/p>\n
Lap 39 and the lapping has begun.<\/p>\n
Lap 41 and Palou retakes the lead. Malukas appears to be struggling.<\/p>\n
Lap 44 and Power takes P5 from O\u2019Ward.<\/p>\n
Lap 50 and Rossi pits.<\/p>\n
Lap 51 and Palou leads Malukas by 1.5s, McLaughlin by 3.5s, Daly by 4.3s, and O\u2019Ward, who retook P5 from Power, by 5.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 54 and Palou leads Malukas by 2.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 55 and Power pits.<\/p>\n
Lap 58 and O\u2019Ward and Daly and other leaders have pitted as Palou is slowing.<\/p>\n
Lap 59 and Palou pits as well as Malukas.<\/p>\n
Lap 64 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 2.4s and Malukas by 2.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 78 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 8.4s and Malukas by 8.7 and Rossi by 11.0s.<\/p>\n
Lap 83 and Power takes P4 from Rossi.<\/p>\n
Lap 90 and Palou laps Ferrucci, leads McLaughlin by 5.8s as he cuts through traffic.<\/p>\n
Lap 99 and VeeKay pits.<\/p>\n
Lap 100 and Palou\u2019s lead is down to 4.3s on McLaughlin as he\u2019s stuck trying to lap Abel.<\/p>\n
Lap 102 and Power and O\u2019Ward pit.<\/p>\n
Lap 103 and Rossi pits.<\/p>\n
Lap 104 and McLaughlin pits and Malukas pits and sits as a wheel gun issue causes a long delay. He ends up losing a lap.<\/p>\n
Lap 105 and Palou pits as Power gets up into the wall and the caution comes out.<\/p>\n
Lap 119 and it\u2019s green with Palou leading a lap-down Malukas and McLaughlin to the green.<\/p>\n
Lap 122 and Newgarden has shot to P4.<\/p>\n
Lap 124 and Newgarden takes P3 from O\u2019Ward.<\/p>\n
Lap 125 and Palou leads McLaughin by 3.8s and Newgarden by 7.1s.<\/p>\n
Lap 130 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 5.3s and Newgarden by 9.1s.<\/p>\n
Lap 141 and Ilott pits with a smoking engine.<\/p>\n
Lap 142 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 5.4s and Newgarden by 10.4s. Caution.<\/p>\n
Lap 145 and Palou and McLaughlin and Newgarden pit.<\/p>\n
Lap 154 restart and Palou tears into the lead ahead of McLaughlin and Newgarden.<\/p>\n
Lap 159 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 0.7s and Newgarden by 1.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 168 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 0.8s and Newgarden by 2.1.<\/p>\n
Lap 179 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 0.6s and Newgarden by 2.0s.<\/p>\n
Lap 185 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 1.1s and Newgarden by 3.6s.<\/p>\n
Lap 191 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 4.3s and Newgarden by 5.5s.<\/p>\n
Lap 192 and Rossi pits.Lap 196 and McLaughlin pits.<\/p>\n
Lap 197 and Palou and Newgarden pit.<\/p>\n
Lap 205 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 2.2s and Newgarden by 3.5s.<\/p>\n
Lap 205 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 2.2s and Newgarden by 3.5s.<\/p>\n
Lap 210 and caution for rain drops.<\/p>\n
Lap 223 and it\u2019s green.<\/p>\n
Lap 225 and Palou leads McLaughlin by 1.8s and Newgarden by 2.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 227 and Rasmussen takes P3 from Newgarden.<\/p>\n
Lap 230 and Rasmussen takes P2 from McLaughlin. Lord.<\/p>\n
Lap 231 and Palou leads Rasmussen by 1.5s.<\/p>\n
Lap 234 and Palou leads Rasmussen by 0.7s.<\/p>\n
Lap 236 and Rasmussen takes the lead!<\/p>\n
Lap 239 and Rasmussen leads Palou by 0.8s and McLaughlin by 9.4s.<\/p>\n
Lap 250 and Razz won\u2019t be denied. Welcome to the IndyCar winners\u2019 club, kid.<\/p>\n