– Penultimate IndyCar stop 2026: On the oval in Milwaukee, there will be a race of 250 laps each on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. It is the only double-header this season that the IndyCar series runs entirely on its own. Earlier in March, there was already a double-header on the one-mile oval in Phoenix, then with IndyCar and NASCAR.
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Apart from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Milwaukee is the track on the IndyCar calendar with the longest tradition. Racing has been held regularly on the one-mile oval in the US state of Wisconsin since 1939. Although Milwaukee has not appeared on the calendar every single year since then, it is enough to have hosted more IndyCar races than any other track except Indianapolis.
This year, the IndyCar champion could be crowned in Milwaukee. Because Alex Palou (Ganassi-Honda) leads the 2026 IndyCar standings by almost 100 points and the two races this weekend are races 16 and 17 of a total of 18 on the 2026 IndyCar calendar, the title decision is imminent.
After Palou already had a match point for the title last weekend on the street circuit in Washington but missed it with an unusually error-prone performance, the Milwaukee weekend now offers the next opportunity for the Spaniard to secure his fifth IndyCar title early.
Title decision likely in Milwaukee
With a 91-point lead that Alex Palou currently has over Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti-Honda), the situation for Saturday’s race in Milwaukee is clear.
If Palou manages to increase his cushion to 108 points in the first of the two races this weekend, he would not have to participate in either the Sunday race or the season finale (Laguna Seca on September 6) to win his fifth title.
Third in the standings, Christian Lundgaard (McLaren-Chevrolet), is already a hefty 110 points behind Palou. Lundgaard must therefore make up points in Saturday’s race to remain mathematically in the title fight on Sunday.
This means: For Alex Palou not to become champion early this weekend in Milwaukee, he would need to have at least one, almost two, similarly poor performances as last weekend in Washington. This is not impossible, but unlikely.
Will Mick Schumacher continue strong oval performance?
For Mick Schumacher (Rahal-Honda), this year is not about the IndyCar title, but certainly about becoming the highest-scoring rookie of the year. Currently, the rookie standings are led by Dennis Hauger (Coyne-Honda). Caio Collet (Foyt-Chevrolet) is 24 points behind, Schumacher is 34 points behind. Both the Brazilian and the German still have the Norwegian within reach with three races remaining in the season.
For Schumacher, the double-header in Milwaukee will be his penultimate race weekend in the service of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It is now certain that he will leave the RLL team at the end of the season. The announcement of Schumacher’s move to Meyer Shank Racing is only a matter of time. It will happen unless there are unforeseeable last-minute changes in the transfer market.
After Schumacher achieved his best IndyCar result so far with P8 on the oval in Nashville a few weeks ago, this weekend could on paper offer him two chances for a top-10 finish. Schumacher has already tested in Milwaukee. In early July, there was a joint test day there with all 25 regular IndyCar drivers.
The big difference to Nashville, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Phoenix, however, is that Milwaukee is the oval on the calendar with the most severe bumps. And bumps—regardless of track type—are traditionally not RLL’s strong suit.
A look at Rahal team’s Milwaukee history shows that the really strong results date back more than two decades. In the 2001 CART season, it was Kenny Bräck who won for the team on the traditional one-mile oval. In 2003, Michel Jourdain Jr. secured another victory.
In the era of the current IndyCar series, P3 by Graham Rahal in 2015 was the best RLL result in Milwaukee. However, since the reunification in US open-wheel racing (2008), races have only been held on this oval in eight years. There was already a double-header like this year in 2024. But back then, as in 2025, the Rahal team had no chance of winning.
Schedule IndyCar Milwaukee 2026 (CEST)
For local time, subtract seven hours.
Saturday, August 29
00:00 – 01:30: Free Practice
17:00 – 18:00: Qualifying
20:50: Race 1 start
Sunday, August 30
16:15 – 16:30: Warm-up
19:20: Race 2 start
Livestream and TV broadcast IndyCar 2026
TV rights in Germany for the 2026 IndyCar season are split, but the series is not available on free TV: As usual, the pay-TV channel Sky in Germany broadcasts all IndyCar races—again on Sky Sport F1, the channel primarily covering Formula 1. (IndyCar 2026 on TV and livestream: All details)
Photo gallery: Mick Schumacher’s results in the 2026 IndyCar season
Motorvision is another pay-TV channel that has been broadcasting IndyCar races live since 2025. The coverage is streamed via Motorvision+ and is available not only in Germany but also in Austria and Switzerland.
Additionally, there is a paid offering from IndyCar with livestreams of all sessions on the official website Indycarlive.com. These can also be watched “on demand” at any time.
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Saturday, August 29
00:00 – 01:30: Free Practice
17:00 – 18:00: Qualifying (Sky)
20:30 – 23:00: Race 1 live (Sky/Motorvision+)
Sunday, August 30
16:15 – 16:30: Warm-up
19:00 – 21:30: Race 2 live (Sky/Motorvision+)
Monday, August 31
12:00 – 14:00: Replay Race 1 (Sky)
14:00 – 16:00: Replay Race 2 (Sky)
Entry list IndyCar Milwaukee 2026
In the 2026 IndyCar series, 25 drivers from ten different teams are registered. All 25 cars have a so-called charter, which entitles them to start all races but also obliges them to do so. Guest starters in the form of additional entries are still allowed at all races until the end of the 2026 season, from 2027 only at the Indy 500.
All rookies’ cars in the IndyCar series are marked with a yellow marking on the rear so that those behind know they are dealing with an inexperienced driver. (Overview: Mick Schumacher and his 24 opponents in detail)
#2 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#3 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#4 – Caio Collet – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet (Rookie)
#5 – Patricio “Pato” O’Ward – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#6 – Nolan Siegel – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#7 – Christian Lundgaard – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#8 – Kyffin Simpson – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#9 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#10 – Alex Palou – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#12 – David Malukas – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#14 – Santino Ferrucci – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet
#15 – Graham Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#18 – Romain Grosjean – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda
#19 – Dennis Hauger – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#20 – Alexander Rossi – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#21 – Christian Rasmussen – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#26 – Will Power – Andretti Global – Honda
#27 – Kyle Kirkwood – Andretti Global – Honda
#28 – Marcus Ericsson – Andretti Global – Honda
#45 – Louis Foster – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#47 – Mick Schumacher – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#60 – Felix Rosenqvist – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#66 – Marcus Armstrong – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#76 – Rinus “VeeKay” van Kalmthout – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
#77 – Sting Ray Robb – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
Data on the Milwaukee Mile
Type: Short Oval
Location: West Allis (Wisconsin)
Length: 1.015 miles (1.633 kilometers)
Banking: 9 degrees, 25 minutes (Turns 1-4), 2 degrees, 5 minutes (Straights)
On calendar since: 1939 (with interruptions)
Race title (Saturday): Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250
Race title (Sunday): Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250
Race distance: 250 laps each
Lap record: 21.185 seconds – 172.477 mph (277.515 km/h) *
Lap record holder: Helio Castroneves (2006) *
* CART measured the track slightly differently – lap record at that time not considered here
Most poles: A.J. Foyt (7)
Most wins: Rodger Ward (7)
All IndyCar winners in Milwaukee
2025 (IndyCar): Christian Rasmussen
2024 (IndyCar): Patricio O’Ward / Scott McLaughlin
2016 to 2023 not on calendar
2015 (IndyCar): Sebastien Bourdais
2014 (IndyCar): Will Power
2013 (IndyCar): Ryan Hunter-Reay
2012 (IndyCar): Ryan Hunter-Reay
2011 (IndyCar): Dario Franchitti
2010 not on calendar
2009 (IndyCar): Scott Dixon
2008 (IndyCar): Ryan Briscoe
2007 (IRL): Tony Kanaan
2006 (ChampCar / IRL): Sebastien Bourdais / Tony Kanaan
2005 (ChampCar / IRL): Paul Tracy / Sam Hornish Jr.
2004 (ChampCar / IRL): Ryan Hunter-Reay / Dario Franchitti
2003 (CART): Michel Jourdain Jr.
2002 (CART): Paul Tracy
2001 (CART): Kenny Bräck
2000 (CART): Juan Pablo Montoya
1999 (CART): Paul Tracy
1998 (CART): Jimmy Vasser
1997 (CART): Greg Moore
1996 (CART): Michael Andretti
1995 (CART): Paul Tracy
1994 (CART): Al Unser Jr.
1993 (CART): Nigel Mansell
1992 (CART): Michael Andretti
1991 (CART): Michael Andretti
1990 (CART): Al Unser Jr.
1989 (CART): Rick Mears
1988 (CART): Rick Mears
1987 (CART): Michael Andretti
1986 (CART): Michael Andretti
1985 (CART): Mario Andretti
1984 (CART): Tom Sneva
1983 (CART): Tom Sneva
1982 (CART): Gordon Johncock / Tom Sneva
1981 (CART): Mike Mosley / Tom Sneva
1980 (CART): Bobby Unser / Johnny Rutherford
1979 (USAC): A.J. Foyt / Roger McCluskey
1978 (USAC): Rick Mears / Danny Ongais
1977 (USAC): Johnny Rutherford / Johnny Rutherford
1976 (USAC): Mike Mosley / Al Unser
1975 (USAC): A.J. Foyt / Mike Mosley
1974 (USAC): Johnny Rutherford / Gordon Johncock
1973 (USAC): Bobby Unser / Wally Dallenbach
1972 (USAC): Bobby Unser / Joe Leonard
1971 (USAC): Al Unser / Bobby Unser
1970 (USAC): Joe Leonard / Al Unser
1969 (USAC): Art Pollard / Al Unser
1968 (USAC): Lloyd Ruby / Lloyd Ruby
1967 (USAC): Gordon Johncock / Mario Andretti
1966 (USAC): Mario Andretti / Mario Andretti
1965 (USAC): Parnelli Jones / Joe Leonard / Gordon Johncock
1964 (USAC): A.J. Foyt / Parnelli Jones
1963 (USAC): Rodger Ward / Jim Clark
1962 (USAC): A.J. Foyt / Rodger Ward
1961 (USAC): Rodger Ward / Lloyd Ruby
1960 (USAC): Rodger Ward / Len Sutton
1959 (USAC): Johnny Thomson / Rodger Ward
1958 (USAC): Art Bisch / Rodger Ward
1957 (USAC): Rodger Ward / Jim Rathmann
1956 (USAC): Pat Flaherty / Jimmy Bryan
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1955 (AAA): Johnny Thomson / Pat Flaherty
1954 (AAA): Chuck Stevenson / Manny Ayulo
1953 (AAA): Jack McGrath / Chuck Stevenson
1952 (AAA): Mike Nazaruk / Chuck Stevenson
1951 (AAA): Tony Bettenhausen / Walt Faulkner
1950 (AAA): Tony Bettenhausen / Walt Faulkner
1949 (AAA): Myron Fohr / Johnnie Parsons
1948 (AAA): Emil Andres / Johnny Mantz / Myron Fohr
1947 (AAA): Ted Horn
1946 (AAA): Rex Mays
1942 to 1945 not on calendar
1941 (AAA): Rex Mays
1940 not on calendar
1939 (AAA): Babe Stapp
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