Andretti INDYCAR and INDY NXT Return to The Milwaukee Mile for the Season’s Penultimate Battle
Andretti INDYCAR and INDY NXT return to the historic Milwaukee Mile this weekend, set on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. Opened in 1903, the one-mile oval remains largely unchanged in layout, with its nine degrees of banking giving it the feel of a road course and delivering some of the most thrilling racing in the sport. Because drivers can’t run flat out, the track naturally creates overtaking opportunities through both the corners and the straights. With the 2025 season winding down, excitement is building as Andretti INDYCAR chases its second oval victory of the season and Dennis Hauger looks to clinch the INDY NXT Championship for the team.
Race Details
| INDYCAR Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 – The Milwaukee Mile |
| Round | 16/17 |
| Track Type | Oval |
| Turns | 4 |
| Laps | 250 Laps |
| Track Length | 1 Mile |
| INDY NXT by Firestone at The Milwaukee Mile- The Milwaukee Mile |
| Round | 13/14 |
| Track Type | Oval |
| Turns | 4 |
| Laps | 90 Laps |
| Track Length | 1 Mile |
Notes
INDYCAR
- The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to The Milwaukee Mile for the second consecutive season after the track was added back to the 2024 schedule following a nine-year hiatus. In the team’s 13 appearances at The Milwaukee Mile, Andretti INDYCAR has recorded five wins (Franchitti – 2004, Kanaan – 2006, 2007 and Hunter-Reay – 2012, 2013), two poles (Marco Andretti – 2008, 2013), 10 podiums, 29 top 10s and has led 827 laps.
Colton Herta
- Set to make his third start at The Milwaukee Mile this weekend, Colton Herta returns to the track where he earned his first career podium on an oval last season.
- During Race 1 of last year’s doubleheader weekend, Herta ran consistently in the top five throughout the majority of the race, even leading nine laps of the 250-lap race. Unfortunately, an issue in the pits saw the Gainbridge Honda lose the left front tire as Herta rejoined the field on track, causing a yellow flag on Lap 187. The California native was called back in for repairs while pits were closed, resulting in a penalty that sent him to the back. Race Control later issued a 30-second Stop-and-Hold penalty on Lap 206 for unsafe conduct related to the loose tire. Herta took the checkered flag four laps down.
- In Race 2, the 26 team deployed a five-stop strategy that helped Herta navigate his way up the field from his starting spot on the ninth row. Herta had taken control of the race before a shuffle of drivers during a yellow flag pit stop pushed the Gainbridge back to fourth. In the closing laps of the race, Herta was able to make up a spot to finish on the third step of the podium, marking his fifth podium of the 2024 season at the time.
Kyle Kirkwood
- Running the Siemens Honda colors for the first time since his maiden oval victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, Kyle Kirkwood will make his third appearance at The Milwaukee Mile this weekend.
- During Race 1 last year, Kirkwood ran as high as 11th, but was issued a drive-through penalty on Lap 98 after hitting a crew member during his pit stop. Despite going a lap down due to the incident, Kirkwood maintained his strategy and was able to salvage a top-12 result on the Milwaukee oval.
- Taking the start in the back of the field in the second race of last year’s doubleheader weekend, Kirkwood made 37 passes and gained 11 positions throughout the 250-lap race to finish eighth, securing his 12th top 10 of the season.
Marcus Ericsson
- Sporting the recently announced Browning Chapman livery this weekend, Marcus Ericsson returns to The Milwaukee Mile for the third time, looking to capture his second oval victory.
- In his first appearance on the Milwaukee oval last year, Ericsson ran consistently in the top 10 in the first half of the race, climbing as high as third. While battling for second, the Swede made contact in Turn 2 with the No. 2 on Lap 146, unfortunately ending his race early.
- In Race 2, the No. 28 maintained a steady pace and was able to stay solidly in the top 10 for the majority of the race. In the final stint, Ericsson made a pivotal pass that broke the No. 28 into the top five as the checkered flag waved, marking his sixth top-five oval finish.
| NTT INDYCAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS |
| Driver Championship Standings |
| Colton Herta | 333 points | 8th |
| Kyle Kirkwood | 387 points | 5th |
| Marcus Ericsson | 208 points | 20th |
INDY NXT
- Andretti INDY NXT will head to The Milwaukee Mile this weekend for the second time since 2015 for the 13th round of the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone Series. During the team’s 10 appearances on the oval, Andretti INDY NXT has collected two wins (Foster – 2024, Veach – 2014 and Camara – 2006), two poles (Foster – 2024 and Veach – 2014), 12 podiums, 18 top-10 finishes and led 248 laps.
- Last year’s race results saw the entire Andretti INDY NXT team finish inside the top 10, including a podium and victory from the pole position.
Lochie Hughes
- Lochie Hughes will make his Milwaukee Mile racing debut this weekend with the Andretti INDY NXT team. The Australian driver has already experienced oval success this year after taking home a victory at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR), where he made an impressive series of passes for the win and took the lead with only 13 laps remaining in the race.
- Hughes also performed well at the INDY NXT series-wide test at The Milwaukee Mile, where he finished the first day of testing with the third-fastest lap time of the session.
Salvador de Alba
- Salvador de Alba will return to The Milwaukee Mile this weekend for the second time in his career after last year’s race saw him lock in his second INDY NXT career podium.
- The Mexican driver also performed well at the Milwaukee test earlier this summer, wrapping up Session 1 in fourth, just behind teammate Hughes, and Session 2 in eighth.
Dennis Hauger
- Coming off a victory at the last race at Portland International Raceway, Dennis Hauger will make his Milwaukee Mile race debut this weekend. Hauger has done well on ovals so far this year, collecting a pole position (WWTR), a podium (Iowa Speedway) and a top-five finish (WWTR).
- At the Series test in Milwaukee earlier this season, Hauger recorded the second-fastest laps in both Sessions 1 and 2.
James Roe
- Like teammate de Alba, James Roe will also be making his second Milwaukee Mile race start this weekend.
- Roe’s INDY NXT career-best race results have been on an oval, where he earned the pole position and took home a podium finish at Iowa Speedway last year.
- In Session 1 of the INDY NXT Series test at The Milwaukee Mile this year, Roe finished the day in seventh.
Seb Murray
- Racing for the Andretti Cape team, Seb Murray will race for the first time at The Milwaukee Mile this weekend. Although he has never raced at this track before, he recorded lap times in the top 10 in both sessions of the Milwaukee test this year.
Michael d’Orlando
- Michael d’Orlando will join Seb Murray in representing the Andretti Cape team this weekend, as he also takes on The Milwaukee Mile for the first time. This, however, will not be the New Yorker’s first time racing on an oval, as he competed with the team last year at Nashville Superspeedway, where he put on an impressive performance to jump from 17th to sixth place by the time the checkered flag waved.
| INDY NXT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS |
| Andretti INDY NXT Driver Championship Standings |
| Lochie Hughes | 401 points | 3rd |
| Salvador de Alba | 321 points | 6th |
| Dennis Hauger | 523 points | 1st |
| James Roe | 193 points | 13th |
| Andretti Cape INDY NXT Driver Championship Standings |
| Seb Murray | 197 points | 12th |
| Michael d’Orlando | 26 points | 25th |
Team Quotes
Colton Herta
No. 26 Gainbridge Honda
“I love Milwaukee and the style of racing there. It’s a tough track to get a handle on at first, but once you do, it’s so much fun to race. I got my first oval podium there last year, so it’s a special place for me. With only one race this weekend, we need to take advantage of every practice and go after a strong result as we get closer to the end of the season.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 Siemens Honda
“I’m excited to be back in the Siemens Honda this weekend after getting my first oval win with them in St. Louis. Milwaukee was new for us last year, and we’re going from a doubleheader to just one race, so all the focus will be on making it count. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do with the No. 27 Siemens crew in Milwaukee.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 28 Browning Chapman Honda
“I really enjoyed Milwaukee last season. It’s a fun track to race, and we were strong as a team overall. This year, we want to be even better and go for the win with the No. 28 crew. With so many lanes to run, the track always produces great racing, and I can’t wait to get out there with our new partner Browning Chapman.”
Rob Edwards
Chief Operating Officer
“Our return to The Milwaukee Mile last year delivered two great examples of INDYCAR oval racing, and we’re looking forward to more of the same this year. The track is always a challenge for both the cars and drivers, and with last week’s flooding, it may take some time to rubber in. It’s hard to believe there are only two weeks left of the 2025 season. Let’s finish strong.”
Lochie Hughes
No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship Dallara
Andretti INDY NXT
“This is going to be my first time racing around Milwaukee. I think it’s a bit similar to WWTR and Iowa, but I won’t really know what it feels like to race on until I get out there. This is the second-to-last race of the season, so now’s the time to be taking some risks and pushing hard until the end. It should be a fun one.”
Salvador de Alba
No. 27 Grupo Indi Dallara
Andretti INDY NXT
“We’re going to the Milwaukee Mile, which was my second podium of the season last year. My mentor Michel Jourdain also won his first race here, so that’s something special for us. It’s difficult to run on the bottom section of the track, which makes it a different kind of oval than the others we race on, but I’m looking forward to racing there again.”
Dennis Hauger
No. 28 Rental Group Dallara
Andretti INDY NXT
“Milwaukee is a cool track to drive around. We just need to get up to speed in practice and execute in qualifying to set ourselves up for a strong race. This is an important weekend for the Championship, so we have to use everything we’ve learned so far this year to have a good weekend and get some points.”
James Roe
No. 29 Topcon Dallara
Andretti INDY NXT
“Milwaukee is a very fun short oval that requires a lot of technical racing from drivers. It’s a longer race and a lot can happen with multiple lanes opening up, so it’s important to stay clean and work with your spotter. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can come away with this weekend. Last year, we had a very strong car there, so I hope it’s the same this weekend.”
Seb Murray
No. 2 Dream Racing Dubai Dallara
Andretti Cape INDY NXT
“Full push ahead for Milwaukee. I feel like I’ve gotten more of the hang of oval racing, although missing Iowa isn’t ideal since that experience definitely would’ve helped me. Hopefully we can come out of this weekend with a good result.”
Michael d’Orlando
No. 3 Rising Star Racing/Priority Dallara
Andretti Cape INDY NXT
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the car in Milwaukee this weekend. It’s not a place I’ve been to before, but I like ovals and think I’ll enjoy it. I missed the test day with the team earlier this year, but it seems like we’ve got fast cars at this track, so I hope that will help me get up to speed quick. So, let’s see what happens, and hopefully we can get some great results in that No. 3 RSR and Priority Dallara machine.”
Don Lambert
Team Manager
“We are all looking forward to the race weekend at The Milwaukee Mile. It’s a unique track that produces some great racing. The team had a strong test there in June, so it’s good that the guys have some prior experience on this track. We expect to keep our momentum going through this weekend, executing all the way.”
