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Josef Newgarden Dominates Exciting Milwaukee Opening Practice
Highlights
- Josef Newgarden led Milwaukee practice with fastest lap at 159.430 mph.
- Dennis Hauger impressed with second place, showing oval race improvement.
- Alex Palou qualified third, facing nine-spot grid penalty for engine change.
- Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen collided, both drivers unharmed.
- Qualifying starts Saturday morning, no practice sessions before races.
- Three drivers to repair cars ahead of qualifying at Milwaukee event.
Josef Newgarden tops opening practice for the Snap-on INDYCAR Weekend at the Milwaukee Mile, clocking 159.430 mph in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet to open the 2026 doubleheader.
Penske’s short-oval strength endures. Newgarden has won two of three this year and owns 14 of 34 career victories on ovals, after a momentum-building warmup in Washington, D.C..
Newgarden sets the practice benchmark at 159.430 mph to underline Penske’s oval edge.
Rookie points leader Dennis Hauger signals a step forward, taking second at 159.378 mph for Dale Coyne’s No. 19. The 2025 INDY NXT champion had struggled on ovals.
Alex Palou is third at 158.890 mph for Chip Ganassi Racing, extending consistent baseline pace. He leads Kyle Kirkwood by 91 points, with rivals targeting Milwaukee to stall his run.
Regulatory headwinds complicate Saturday. Palou takes a nine-spot grid penalty for an unapproved engine change after Washington, reducing margin for error on the tight, rhythm-dependent short oval.
Palou faces a nine-place grid drop for an unapproved engine change, reshaping the championship arithmetic.
David Malukas continues his oval form with fourth at 158.665 mph for Penske, still chasing a short-oval win. He and Rinus VeeKay, fifth at 158.648 mph, also carry nine-place drops.
The session turns with 24 minutes left. Title contender Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen clash entering Turn 3, both striking the SAFER Barrier after side-by-side contact through Turn 2.
Both drivers are uninjured but perplexed. Kirkwood says he left room; Rasmussen believes Kirkwood never completed the turn-in. Damage appears extensive for both crews.
Heavy Kirkwood–Rasmussen contact forces significant rebuilds before qualifying.
Earlier, Nolan Siegel spins his Arrow McLaren entry at Turn 2, contacting the wall. He escapes unhurt, yet the car takes moderate damage that requires rapid attention.
Repairs compress already tight timelines. With no Saturday practice in this doubleheader, teams must finalize setups overnight, then qualify Saturday morning before launching straight into race one.
No Saturday practice raises jeopardy: qualifying becomes the weekend’s key performance differentiator.
Penalties will reorder the grid and place emphasis on tyre longevity, traffic management, and in-laps. Newgarden’s baseline looks strong, but track position could swing momentum across two races.
Expect an intense qualifying hour and packed grandstands, aided by a special delivery for Milwaukee fans. The weekend promises hard strategy calls and scarce margin for error.
Visual Summary
159.43mph
#2 Newgarden
Fastest on the Mile
1st
Josef Newgarden
159.430 mph
Short oval king 👑
2nd
Dennis Hauger
159.378 mph
Rookie surges! 🚀
3rd
Alex Palou
158.890 mph
Points leader 🏆
Kirkwood & Rasmussen CRASH!
No injuries – both drivers confused by clash in Turn 3
⬇️ Palou, Malukas, VeeKay
grid penalty (engine)
grid penalty (engine)
Doubleheader drama just getting started 🇺🇸
Qualifying next—will Palou defend his title, or will a rookie shake things up?
👑 Newgarden dominates
🚀 Rookie Hauger’s best oval
⬇️ Grid penalties shift the story
🚀 Rookie Hauger’s best oval
⬇️ Grid penalties shift the story
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.
