Will Power leads the field at the green in the ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at the Milwaukee Mile. [Mark Walczak Photo]
When Babe Stapp won the initial Championship car race at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt track in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1939, he couldn’t have guessed that 76 years later the Verizon IndyCar Series would bring Indy cars to the now paved oval for the 113th time to contest the ABC Supply Co. Wisconsin 250.
Billed as the “oldest operating speedway in the world,” the track presented its first event in 1903, and other than war years, has held at least one event every year since.
The Verizon series rolls into Wisconsin after presenting perhaps the most exciting and controversial Indy car event in recent memory at California’s two-mile Auto Club Speedway; a race which featured high-downforce pack racing for most of its 500 miles and saw Ryan Briscoe survive a wild crash.
Contrast that with the tight, almost flat Milwaukee Mile and drivers will face an entirely different challenge on Sunday.
“Milwaukee might be the only track that’s older than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Nothing has changed over those hundred-plus years it’s been in existence,” noted 2009 MM winner Scott Dixon. “It has a lot of character and is definitely the toughest short track we go to-maybe even one of the toughest tracks we’ve ever been to as a series.”
And things may get even tougher this year as most track activity for the Indy cars will take place on Sunday, with just one 75-minute practice scheduled for Saturday. Thus, final practice, qualifying and a 4:30 P.M. (local time) green flag will be shoe-horned into Sunday’s tight format.
But four-time Milwaukee winner and current car owner A.J. Foyt sees some benefit in the shortened weekend. “I’m glad to see it that way because it’s cheaper on the car owners…you save a lot of money and wear-and-tear on the car and crew,” the Texan explained. “Also, you save on your tire bill. I’d like to see them (IndyCar) get back to that way (a compact weekend); it separates the men from the boys. You’ve got to have a lot more talent to run it all in one day.”
The schedule is tighter this year because for the first time the 21st Annual Millers at Milwaukee Vintage Indy car event will share space with the current Verizon series to make for a busy three days of paddock and track activity.
Juan Pablo Montoya (407 points) continues to lead the fight for the series’ crown followed by 2014 Milwaukee winner Will Power (-40), Dixon (-49), Graham Rahal (-73) whose Fontana win moved him up to fourth and Helio Castroneves (-77) who dropped to fifth.
The entry list for the Mile counts 24 as Justin Wilson has rejoined Andretti Autosport for the remaining five events while Pippa Mann and Tristan Vautier continue at Dale Coyne for another week.
Wilson’s entry gives Andretti Autosport four cars in the field as the 36-year-old Brit will run for his 10th time in Milwaukee. “It’s not going to be easy jumping in toward the end of the year; everyone’s worked out what they’re looking for from the car and aero kits,” explained Wilson who also ran for AA in both May races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.” But I think it puts us in good shape for learning things and trying to progress and hopefully set something up towards next year.”
Previous Milwaukee winners in the field include Montoya, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Sebastien Bourdais, Tony Kanaan, Briscoe, Dixon and Power.
Team Penske has won here eight times while the late Roger Ward took the checkered flag seven times in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Since 2008 the teams of Chip Ganassi, Michael Andretti and Roger Penske have each won two times on the circuit known as a “driver’s track”, and will likely fight for podium spots again late Sunday afternoon.
MILWAUKEE MILE NOTES:
- The future of Indy car events at the Mile may hinge on the financial success of Sunday’s race. Elkhart Lake’s Road America appears ready to return to the series’ schedule and could replace Milwaukee’s oval if race dates and event sponsors can be worked out.
- The fairgrounds dirt track opened in 1903 and was paved in 1954, becoming the first of the old dirt circuits to go “modern.” Indy car events at the Mile have been sanctioned by AAA (1939-1955), USAC (’56-’80), CART (’80-2003) and IRL/IndyCar (’04-present).
- Three Indy car races were run at the track in1965 including two in one week during the State Fair.
- TV: NBC Sports Network-Sunday, 5:00 P.M. (ET). Radio: Sirius 212 and XM 209. Local radio-WOKY-920 A.M.
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