Josef Newgarden Dominates Exciting Opening Practice in Milwaukee

Josef Newgarden sets the benchmark in Friday’s opening practice at the Milwaukee Mile, heading the Snap-on INDYCAR Weekend and the season’s only doubleheader with a 159.430 mph lap.

The No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet looks hooked up on short ovals, aligning with Newgarden’s 14 career victories on similar tracks and two short-oval wins already banked this season.

Rookie Dennis Hauger delivers 159.378 mph for Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 19 Honda, a stark improvement after Phoenix, where he managed 15th in race trim and 22nd in qualifying.

Alex Palou is third at 158.890 mph in Ganassi’s No. 10 DHL Honda, yet his weekend complicates with a nine-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change after Washington, D.C.

Palou still leads the standings by 91 points over Kyle Kirkwood, chasing a fifth overall, and fourth consecutive, series title. The pace underlines Ganassi’s efficient baseline around Milwaukee’s unique surface.

David Malukas posts 158.665 mph in Team Penske’s No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, but he also incurs a nine-place drop for an engine change, despite leading this season’s oval points.

Rinus VeeKay is fifth at 158.648 mph for Juncos Hollinger, and he faces the same nine-place sanction. Those penalties will likely distort qualifying value and elevate race-day execution.

The session turns with 24 minutes left as Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen collide entering Turn 3 after running side by side from Turn 2. Both hit the SAFER Barrier.

Neither driver is injured. Kirkwood blames an early turn-in from Rasmussen, while Rasmussen contends Kirkwood hesitated at corner entry. Officials report significant damage for both cars.

Nolan Siegel also spins into the Turn 2 barrier after 16 minutes. Arrow McLaren’s No. 6 sustains moderate damage, though Siegel is cleared.

Workloads spike for Andretti Global, ECR, and Arrow McLaren, which must repair or roll out backups before qualifying. With no Saturday practice, setup refinement faces intense time pressure.

Milwaukee’s doubleheader begins with the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, followed by Sunday’s Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 at 1 p.m. ET.

Both races air live on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. Track position and tire life should dictate margins across long green-flag runs.

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Brian Thompson

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.