RACE REPORT: Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250
Race Notes
- Following a dominant finish to the weekend for the team’s Andretti INDY NXT outfit complete with a podium sweep and Dennis Hauger securing the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship, the Andretti INDYCAR team took on 250 laps at The Milwaukee Mile this afternoon.
- The Andretti INDYCAR team saw mixed results in Milwaukee with Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood recording top-12 finishes and Marcus Ericsson finishing 19th.
- The Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 saw five caution periods, totaling 49 laps.
- The break is short as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads into the season finale next weekend at the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway on August 31.
Race Results
Colton Herta
No. 26 Gainbridge Honda
P11
| Started | P24 |
| Standings | 6th (352 points) |
- Starting today’s race in the back of the field, Colton Herta quickly climbed his way up nine positions after the green flag waved. By Lap 22, the California native had gained 11 total positions up to 13th.
- Herta navigated the Gainbridge Honda into the top five by Lap 104 before making his second stop. He was able to stay in the top eight as the race continued.
- During his final pit stop under yellow, traffic in pit lane cost Herta positions, and he ultimately took the checkered just outside the top 10 in 11th.
- In addition to his P11 finish, Herta earned the Josten’s Biggest Mover Award on the Milwaukee oval.
“This was a pretty up-and-down day. We didn’t really do too much. I think the race was pretty stagnant once you got done with the restarts. So, it’s unfortunate. Hopefully, we can do a little bit better next year.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 Siemens Honda
P12
| Started | P6 |
| Standings | 5th (405 points) |
- Making his 21st oval start this afternoon, Kyle Kirkwood rolled off the grid looking to capture his second career INDYCAR oval victory in the Siemens Honda.
- Kirkwood quickly moved the Siemens Honda into the top five at the start. Despite losing some positions as the race continued, Kirkwood remained in the top 10 for much of the race.
- Unfortunately, untimely yellows and overall pace shuffled Kirkwood back, ultimately finishing today’s race in 12th.
“I started sixth and ran as high as fifth for a bit of the first stint, and then trickled back from there. We ran our race, but unfortunately, the yellows didn’t really follow in our direction. I think we are really good on longer stints, but we just didn’t have any longer stints today. We were good in pit lane, we just need to work on a couple of things for outright pace, honestly. I had the potential to finish in the top five, we just didn’t play cards right.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 28 Browning Chapman Honda
P19
| Started | P13 |
| Standings | 20th (219 points) |
- Taking the green from 13th, Marcus Ericsson came into this afternoon’s race determined to deliver a strong result in his third appearance at The Milwaukee Mile.
- Ericsson held his starting position for most of the race. Unfortunately, he was caught out by a yellow after his second stop on Lap 104, dropping the Swede to 20th and a lap down.
- Utilizing a four-stop strategy, the Swede stayed focused in his fight to get back on the lead lap. Unfortunately, Ericsson remained a lap down, taking the checkered flag in 19th.
“It was quite a tough day in the No. 28 Browning Chapman Honda. I think we had decent pace for a top-10 finish. I think that’s what was on the table, but we got unlucky there with the yellow. We had just pitted, and then the yellow came and dropped us a lap down. So, from then on, it was sort of a fight trying to get back up. It looked like we were getting back at times, but it just didn’t work out for us in the end. It was a frustrating afternoon.”
Rob Edwards
Chief Operating Officer
“It was an up-and-down day at times. It looked like the No. 26 was going to finish better than they did at one point, but got overcut on the second stop, and lost a couple of places. Then, when everyone came in on the last yellow, pit lane was fairly tight, and Colton got boxed in a little bit. Kyle had a trouble-free day, but got caught out with the pit sequence a little bit, and also probably didn’t quite have the pace of the lead cars. The 28 seemed to struggle a little bit. We need to work through that because they certainly did not have the pace of the other two cars. All we can do is look ahead to finish up in Nashville next weekend.”
