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Mastering Test Patterns at Milwaukee Mile: A Complete Guide
Highlights
- Three oval races remain, including doubleheader August 29-30 in Milwaukee.
- Scott McLaughlin led July 8 test with 161.189 mph lap speed.
- Andretti Global’s three drivers finished all in top seven lap times.
- Felix Rosenqvist placed fourth; Josef Newgarden ranked 23rd at test.
- Drivers averaged over 200 laps during test, nearing race distances.
- Alex Palou was 10th fastest, aiming for fourth consecutive championship.
With three oval races remaining, teams completed a July 8 Milwaukee Mile test to prepare for the August 29-30 doubleheader. Scott McLaughlin set the benchmark on the 1.015-mile oval.
The Team Penske driver last won 30 starts ago, in Milwaukee’s 2024 second race. He also took pole for that event and finished third in last season’s single race at the Mile.
McLaughlin topped the chart at 161.189 mph in the No. 3 Chevrolet, nearly 1 mph clear of Rinus VeeKay’s 160.271 mph for Juncos Hollinger in the No. 76.
Andretti Global displayed depth. Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, placed third at 160.067 mph in the No. 28 Honda, underlining the programme’s recent oval gains.
Will Power was fifth at 159.942 mph in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda, with teammate Kyle Kirkwood seventh at 159.563 mph in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda.
Scott McLaughlin led Milwaukee testing at 161.189 mph, nearly 1 mph clear of the field.
Meyer Shank Racing delivered, too. Felix Rosenqvist, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and future Arrow McLaren signing, was fourth at 160.032 mph. Marcus Armstrong secured sixth with 159.706 mph.
Test times were less representative for Josef Newgarden. The two-time 2026 oval winner ranked 23rd at 155.415 mph, likely prioritising long-run work over headline speed.
Even without Milwaukee success in INDYCAR, Newgarden remains the oval benchmark. He has won 13 of the last 30 oval races since 2021, a 36 percent strike rate.
Josef Newgarden has won 13 of the last 30 oval races since 2021, a 36% strike rate.
The manufacturer picture was finely balanced. Chevrolet locked out the top two, while Honda drivers filled positions three through eight. Pato O’Ward led the next Chevrolet in ninth at 159.148 mph.
Mileage was immense. Teams completed just over 4,800 laps, averaging more than 200 per driver. Power logged 266 laps as he acclimatises to Andretti’s 2026 package.
Drivers averaged more than 200 laps, approaching the combined race distance for Milwaukee’s doubleheader.
Championship leader Alex Palou completed 246 laps and ranked 10th at 159.039 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, sharpening his oval form as he chases a fourth consecutive title.
Andretti Global placed all three drivers inside the top seven on the Milwaukee timesheet.
The emphasis was on race trim. Traffic running, tyre degradation and restart behaviour dominated programmes, with the doubleheader format raising the premium on consistency and efficient pit execution.
This approach mirrors structured programmes seen at Road America and Mid-Ohio, where teams built robustness through long runs and systematic setup exploration.
Broader motorsport interest also intensifies, reflected in the build-up to the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, even as IndyCar’s oval narrative takes centre stage in Milwaukee.
Visual Summary
Turn 1
Turn 3
Front Stretch
Back Stretch
Turn 3
Front Stretch
Back Stretch
161.189
mph
Scott McLaughlin
#3 Team Penske
mph
Scott McLaughlin
#3 Team Penske
1
McLaughlin
Chevy
Chevy
2
VeeKay
Chevy
Chevy
3
Ericsson
Honda
Honda
4
Rosenqvist
5
Power
6
Armstrong
7
Kirkwood
Milwaukee Mile:
Scott McLaughlin breaks out at test with the fastest lap—chasing his first win in 30 races.
VeeKay, Andretti Global, and Meyer Shank keep Chevy-Honda rivalry aflame.
The oval grind peaks: Are we seeing a new favorite rise—or a champion hiding race-day secrets?
Scott McLaughlin breaks out at test with the fastest lap—chasing his first win in 30 races.
VeeKay, Andretti Global, and Meyer Shank keep Chevy-Honda rivalry aflame.
The oval grind peaks: Are we seeing a new favorite rise—or a champion hiding race-day secrets?
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
