No. 7: Christian Rasmussen Pulls Off Milwaukee Stunner

Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2025 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

Not many NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers outran Alex Palou in 2026, but Christian Rasmussen did in the late going at the historic Milwaukee Mile.

Rasmussen earned his first series victory in dramatic fashion, storming through the field on a couple of occasions in the second half of the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250. Most notably, Rasmussen charged from seventh to second in a nine-lap surge. On Lap 230 of 250, he had only Palou to pass, and he made that overtake look easy, too.

Until that moment, Palou and his car appeared invincible. He had led 199 laps and had a 2.011-second lead over Scott McLaughlin when light rain arrived briefly at the historic 1.015-mile oval on Lap 209, triggering the fifth and final caution of the race.

During that caution, Palou, McLaughlin and third-place Josef Newgarden elected to bypass pit road and keep their track position. Meanwhile, Rasmussen, Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward were among a handful of drivers to dive into the pits for a quick change to fresh Firestone Firehawk tires, knowing speed diminished quickly when tire wear ramped up during this race.

After the restart on Lap 222, it took Rossi and Rasmussen just one lap to climb to fourth and fifth, respectively. Rasmussen then passed Rossi and set his sights set on Newgarden in third. In short order, Rasmussen passed him, too, and then McLaughlin.

Fresh tire rubber helped Rasmussen gobble up rivals like he was shot out of a cannon. On Lap 230, he trailed only Palou by 1.321 seconds, but it was only a matter of time before he caught the four-time series champion and pounced. That moment arrived on Lap 235 when they went side by side in Turns 3 and 4, inches apart, with Rasmussen in the high lane. Soon after, he had the lead.

It was the first time Rasmussen led all day, a spot he wouldn’t surrender. The Dane held steady while navigating lapped traffic over the closing laps for his momentous first win, which maybe shouldn’t be considered a stunner considering he, Palou and O’Ward had been the only three drivers to finish in the top 10 in all five series oval races of the season.

Rasmussen, the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season champion, earned his breakthrough victory in his 30th series start and second season with Ed Carpenter Racing. He became the newest first-time series winner since fellow Danish driver Christian Lundgaard in July 2023 in Toronto, and it was the first victory for ECR since Rinus VeeKay triumphed in May 2021 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Rasmussen, who started ninth, beat Palou to the finish by 1.9463. Rossi finished fourth to complete ECR’s stellar day. Palou finished second.