Rasmussen takes first IndyCar career win over Palou in Milwaukee

Written by Hope Van Beek, edited by Dan Jones

Credit: Paul Hurley

Ed Carpenter Racing's Christian Rasmussen took his first IndyCar career win as he came out on top over Álex Palou and Scott McLaughlin in IndyCar's Milwaukee Mile 250.

Throughout qualifying, it looked as if David Malukas was on track to capture his first career pole. But Palou, the final driver to roll out in the 27-car field, spoiled the party. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver secured his sixth pole position of the 2025 season, edging out Malukas and Pato O’Ward.

How it happened

Palou controlled the start, holding his advantage into Turn 1 with Malukas and McLaughlin giving chase. O’Ward slipped back at the launch, losing a spot immediately. Further back, McLaren’s young driver Nolan Siegel went too low in Turn 4 and lost control, crashing out to bring out the opening caution of the day.

Before the yellow, Conor Daly had already fought through four positions to sit in fourth, while Colton Herta, recovering from a qualifying spin that left him at the back, had already gained 11 places by Lap 20.

The race resumed on Lap 9 but didn’t last long under green. Graham Rahal spun on cold tyres saving the car from major damage but triggering the second caution. On the Lap 15 restart, Malukas pounced, overtaking Palou on Lap 16 to grab the lead. Palou stayed patient, reclaiming first place on Lap 41 as the leaders threaded through lapped traffic.

Meanwhile, O’Ward continued to struggle, battling front-wing damage as Will Power overtook him on Lap 44 to move into fifth.

After the first round of pit stops, Palou held the lead over McLaughlin, Malukas, Alexander Rossi, and Power. McLaughlin narrowly avoided a penalty for an unsafe release, while both Power and Rahal made minor contact on Lap 88, continuing without major damage. Herta’s charge persisted, running fourth by Lap 103 after his climb from the back.

On Lap 104, Power’s race came undone when he drifted high into the marbles, spun, and hit the wall to bring out the third caution of the day.

The Lap 118 restart saw Palou continue to lead with McLaughlin, O’Ward, Rossi, and Christian Lundgaard close behind. Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen scrapped hard for position on Lap 129, though Kirkwood ultimately held his ground. Another caution followed on Lap 143 when Callum Ilott’s car began smoking, forcing him out of the race.

Credit: Chris Owens

During the pit cycle, Marcus Armstrong gambled by staying out under yellow, taking the restart lead on Lap 153. The strategy unraveled quickly, as Palou and Josef Newgarden surged past immediately. Armstrong plummeted to 17th by Lap 158 and ultimately pitted on Lap 187 to abandon the gamble, rejoining 24th.

At the front, Palou made minor contact with Marcus Ericsson while lapping him on Lap 181, but both cars continued without issue. David Malukas also began his recovery drive after a pit stop problem had dropped him earlier in the race.

Palou eventually relinquished the lead on Lap 196 for his final pit stop, handing track position to McLaughlin and Newgarden.

Rain began to fall at Milwaukee with 41 laps to go, bringing out the caution. When the pit lane opened, most of the field dove in for fresh tyres, including O’Ward and Rossi. But the leaders of, Palou, McLaughlin, and Newgarden, elected to stay out.

The green flag returned with 29 laps to go. Rossi immediately overtook O’Ward for fourth, while further back Rasmussen began fighting his way toward the front on fresh tyres. The Danish driver overtook O’Ward in a fight for fifth, then set his sights on the podium.

With 23 laps remaining, Newgarden made contact with Rossi, dropping the Penske driver to sixth. Rasmussen kept pressing, overtaking McLaughlin for second with 21 to go before setting off after Palou. The charge paid off. With 15 laps left, Rasmussen swept past Palou to seize the lead and never looked back.

Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen scored his first career IndyCar victory, edging out Alex Palou in a dramatic late charge. McLaughlin completed the podium in third. Rossi, O’Ward, and Lundgaard rounded out the top six, followed by Newgarden, Malukas, Scott Dixon, and Armstrong to complete the top 10.