2026 IndyCar Milwaukee | Practice 1 results

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The 2026 IndyCar double-header weekend got underway with Practice 1 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Drivers headed out onto the one-mile oval for their first laps of the weekend, with teams looking to establish a baseline setup and build confidence early in the session. After the drama of Washington, attention quickly shifted to short-oval rhythm, tyre behaviour and traffic management as the field began preparing for the rest of the weekend.

The green light came on for opening practice at the Milwaukee Mile, and the field headed out to get a feel for the one-mile oval.

Alex Palou set the early pace as drivers began building up speed, with Louis Foster second and Kyffin Simpson third in the opening stages. Teams focused on finding stability and confidence while the track continued to evolve at the start of the session.

Five entries receive Milwaukee grid penalties

INDYCAR Officiating handed nine-position starting grid penalties to five entries ahead of the Milwaukee Mile race weekend.

The No. 3 Team Penske entry, No. 12 Team Penske entry, No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, and Nos. 76 and 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing entries received penalties for unapproved engine changes after the Washington race.

Rule 16.1.2.3.2 states that a fifth engine can count as an approved change if a full-season entrant has completed the required mileage with its first four engines. If not, INDYCAR considers a fifth or further engine an unapproved change-out.

Rule 16.1.6.1.2 applies a six-place starting grid penalty at road and street courses and a nine-place penalty at oval events. As Milwaukee is an oval, the five entries will serve their penalties at the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250.

Kirkwood has early moment in practice

Kyle Kirkwood completed one flying lap before returning to the pits, appearing unsettled by the car through Turns 3 and 4.

The Andretti driver had a noticeable correction in the middle of the corner, suggesting the rear stepped out as he built up speed early in the session. After his strong recent form, including victory in Washington, it was an early warning that the Milwaukee Mile would require careful setup work.

Early caution interrupts practice

A yellow flag quickly interrupted the session and brought opening practice under caution.

Nolan Siegel endured a disappointing start to the weekend after his promising run in Washington, where he finished sixth and scored by far his best result of the season. After carrying that momentum into Milwaukee, he faced an early setback just minutes into practice.

Palou leads after practice resumes

After crews recovered Siegel’s car and Race Control resumed the 2026 IndyCar Practice 1 session in Milwaukee, Palou remained at the top of the speed chart with a 158.889 mph lap.

Simpson sat second on 157.430 mph, ahead of Christian Rasmussen, Scott Dixon and Will Power. Felix Rosenqvist, Graham Rahal, Alexander Rossi, Kirkwood and Sting Ray Robb completed the top ten with just under 54 minutes remaining in opening practice.

Foster ran 18th at that stage as drivers continued to build speed around the Milwaukee Mile.

Newgarden and VeeKay had a brief scare as they ran close together during practice.

The two made light contact, but both escaped without visible damage and continued their runs with no major consequences.

Palou remains fastest past halfway

With just over 25 minutes remaining in opening practice, Palou continued to lead the timing screens with the best speed of 158.889 mph.

Rossi moved up to second ahead of Kirkwood, while O’Ward held fourth as the session settled into a cleaner rhythm. After the earlier caution and light contact between Newgarden and VeeKay, practice continued without any major incidents.

Kirkwood and Rasmussen clash brings out caution

A caution interrupted the 2026 IndyCar Practice 1 session in Milwaukee practice after Kirkwood and Rasmussen made contact in an unnecessary moment between the two drivers.

Kirkwood ran low on the inside, while Rasmussen held the outside as the pair went side by side. Rasmussen then reached the point where he wanted to turn in, but Kirkwood stayed in the second lane rather than dropping fully to the bottom.

The contact sent Rasmussen up towards the wall, creating a tense moment from the onboard view. Both drivers continued, but the clash brought out another yellow and disrupted the session.

Newgarden leads late qualifying simulations

With just under ten minutes of the 2026 IndyCar Practice 1 session in Milwaukee remaining, teams moved into qualifying simulations as the pace increased in opening practice.

Newgarden jumped to the top of the speed chart with a 159.429 mph lap, moving ahead of Palou and Malukas. Rossi sat fourth, with Kirkwood fifth and O’Ward sixth.

Robb, Simpson, Rasmussen and Grosjean completed the top ten at that stage, while several drivers remained further down the order as they continued working through their Milwaukee programmes.