Christian Rasmussen secured his first IndyCar win on Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, delivering Ed Carpenter Racing its best performance to date. Despite a dominant showing by Alex Palou, the 2025 IndyCar Champion, Rasmussen’s strategic choice on tire strategy during the final laps propelled him to victory, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Race Strategy Hinged on Late Caution and Tire Advantage
The Danish driver and his team identified tire condition as the key factor if a late caution appeared. Opting to pit early for fresh tires while others stayed out, Rasmussen restarted seventh but positioned himself for a strong finish.
“We were talking about it before the race. If there were a late caution, we wanted to go with new tires because there was such an advantage,”
Rasmussen explained.
Just as planned, a brief caution was triggered by light rain on the track, setting up a 28-lap sprint to the finish where fresh tires would play a pivotal role.
Agnostic Battle Through the Pack and Overtakes On Key Rivals
After the restart, Rasmussen quickly advanced through the field, overtaking teammate Alexander Rossi and then challenging Josef Newgarden, a driver known for his strong oval performance. Rasmussen passed Newgarden on the highside, with Rossi close behind, although contact occurred without causing a spin. Soon after, Rasmussen edged past Scott McLaughlin to claim second place.
Facing a 1.6-second deficit to leader Palou with a lapped car between them, Rasmussen navigated past the slower Prema car despite his spotter’s advice to stay patient. Demonstrating clear tire advantage and aggressive driving, he aligned with Palou by mid-restart and took the lead as they crossed the start/finish line with 15 laps remaining.
Dominating Finish and Podium Results
Rasmussen steadily increased his lead over Palou, eventually crossing the line nearly two seconds ahead. This victory made him the first new winner in the 2024 IndyCar season since fellow Dane Christian Lundgaard’s breakthrough in Toronto last year. The podium was completed by McLaughlin in third, with Rossi finishing fourth and Pato O’Ward taking fifth.
Lundgaard ended the race in sixth ahead of Newgarden and David Malukas, the latter recovering from a pit lane error to contend late in the race. Rounding out the top ten were Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong.
The Importance of Rasmussen’s Victory and Future Outlook
Christian Rasmussen’s first IndyCar win is a notable achievement in a competitive season dominated by experienced drivers and champions such as Palou and Rossi. His team’s bold tire strategy and his aggressive execution during the final laps demonstrate his growing confidence and potential to challenge for more victories as the season progresses. Ed Carpenter Racing’s standout performance at Milwaukee Mile will likely boost their momentum heading into upcoming rounds and intensify the championship battle.
