Paddock Buzz: Drivers Brace for Long, Strategic Sunday at Milwaukee

The Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 reached Lap 90 on Saturday before rain halted action.

The 16th race of the 18-race season was delayed by rain before the start, then another round of precipitation before the midway point forced NTT INDYCAR SERIES officials to postpone the remainder until Sunday morning.

The series initially was going to try to do a dash to the finish before sunset, but the 1.015-mile oval wasn’t drying quickly enough.

“I think it was the right decision,” Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson said. “It’s a shame for everyone that came out. I feel bad for all the fans that stuck around for so long, and then we get nothing to show for it.

“That feels bad, but I think for the series and all of us, it’s the right decision because it would have been a shame to just do a 10-minute dash. That’s not the right way to do a race. It’s still as many points in this race as the Indy 500 or as any race. So, just to rush like that instead of trying to get it in, I don’t think is the right way for us as a series. So, good call there.”

Race 1 will resume at 9 a.m. ET and run until 10:25 a.m. ET or Lap 250, whichever comes first. The race airs on FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

Race 2, the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday and airs on FOX, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

Ericsson (photo, top) restarts 11th in the No. 28 InPwr Honda for Andretti Global.

“Tomorrow will be tough,” Ericsson said. “For crews and drivers, it’s going to be a long day and very physical, mentally draining. It is what it is. We’re going to make the most of it.”

Race 1 Strategy Plays Could Spice Up Show

A caution flag came out on Lap 63 for light rain. Six laps later, several drivers, including points leader Alex Palou, David Malukas, Scott Dixon, Christian Rasmussen, Mick Schumacher, Scott McLaughlin and Santino Ferrucci, pitted for four Firestone Firehawk tires and fuel.

That strategy play could prove beneficial. Teams can work on cars before the race resumes, but fuel levels and tires must remain the same as when the race was halted.

Graham Rahal (photo, above) pitted on Lap 80 under caution.

“This place isn’t super physical, but it may be a long day,” Rahal said. “We just pitted when it was going to go back green, cost us a few positions, so I’m kind of pumped about that. I’d rather it go the distance than do a 30-lap deal tonight.”

Rahal was 25th at the red flag in the No. 15 Luther Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Pato O’Ward leads Felix Rosenqvist, Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden, Christian Lundgaard, Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood, Louis Foster, Kyffin Simpson and Rinus VeeKay among those who didn’t pit.

Kirkwood, Rasmussen Compete in Rebuilt Cars

Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen crashed together in Turn 3 during Friday’s practice at Milwaukee Mile, badly damaging both cars.

ECR elected to use the backup car for Rasmussen’s No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet. The Dane stayed at the track while the crew repaired the car, a helpless feeling because he said there wasn’t much he could do to help.

Rasmussen qualified 18th for the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 and 17th for the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250.

“The car feels the same as yesterday,” Rasmussen said. “Which is all you can ask for out of a backup car. I think they did a great job of getting a car ready for me, and I’m super appreciative of that.”

Rasmussen admitted the team went conservative with the car’s balance, compromising speed but giving him a car capable of completing laps.

“The biggest thing was that we had a car that made both laps, and we have a lot of laps to make up in the race,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen resumes the first race in 16th.

Kirkwood’s Andretti Global team elected to repair the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda.

That decision cost him in qualifying. He started 22nd of 25 cars for Race 1 and starts 24th for Race 2.

“It’s not the same,” Kirkwood said of his rebuilt car. “It’s just extremely loose, which happens when you change almost every aerodynamic piece on the car.”

The time between qualifying and Saturday’s race allowed Kirkwood and his team to dig into what was still wrong. Before the race, Kirkwood said the team found the issue, giving him confidence to charge through the field and salvage his championship hopes. He is second in points, 91 behind Palou.

Kirkwood is seventh at the red flag after going off strategy and pitting on Lap 42, among the first of the 25 drivers to enter pit lane.

Johnson Growing Beard To Look Older

Nikita Johnson enters Sunday’s INDY NXT by Firestone race second in the series standings, trailing HMD Motorsports driver Enzo Fittipaldi by one point.

Johnson (photo, above) starts 15th Sunday in the 90-lap race (11 a.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

Johnson, a rookie for Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR, has been rumored as a candidate for some of the open 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES rides. He’s not downplaying that possibility, so much so that the 18-year-old is growing a full beard.

“I’ve heard people saying that I should just come back to INDY NXT for a second year or go do IMSA for a year and then come in, but I’m ready for INDYCAR SERIES,” Johnson said. “Last time I grew out my facial hair, I had a mustache and ended up winning 11 races. Kind of had a little bit of luck the last few races, so I grew it out for fun.”

Johnson has two victories in 14 starts this season, one in the season opener at St. Petersburg and the other in Race 1 at Barber Motorsports Park.

The Florida native is also the only driver to complete all 501 laps in INDY NXT competition this season and has finished in the top 10 in all 14 races.