Alex palou eyes history and a record-tying title at milwaukee mile

History is right there for Alex Palou this weekend at Milwaukee Mile. The four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion can clinch a record-tying fourth consecutive Astor Challenge Cup during the doubleheader weekend, needing to finish 108 points ahead in the standings after Saturday's Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250, or 54 points clear following Sunday's Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250. Only Sebastien Bourdais, who dominated from 2004-07, has ever pulled off four straight titles.

That road took a sudden, brutal hit on Friday. Palou's No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda required an unapproved engine change following the Washington round, pushing him over the season allotment and handing him a nine-spot grid penalty for Saturday. Five cars total caught the same penalty, including David Malukas, Scott McLaughlin, Rinus VeeKay, and Sting Ray Robb. But Palou isn't blinking. "We got here by trying to win races, not by just trying to score points," Palou said. He sits on a 91-point lead over second-place Kyle Kirkwood, having taken six wins from 15 races this year, and was third fastest in Friday's opening practice.

Behind the leader, the scrap for second place is absolute chaos. Kirkwood holds a 19-point gap over Christian Lundgaard, with Malukas 51 points back and Pato O'Ward 63 points adrift. Kirkwood enters with momentum after winning last Sunday at Washington for Andretti Global, but his Friday was a disaster. His No. 27 Sam's Club Honda was heavily smashed in a practice crash with Christian Rasmussen. Malukas, meanwhile, has been a beast on ovals this season, racking up a series-high 152 points across four races. "It's the battle for second now," Malukas said. "We're not going to be focusing on that (a championship). I mean, it's done."

Defending race winner Christian Rasmussen returns to the site of his breakthrough maiden NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, where he led the final 16 laps last year. The Dane pilots the No. 21 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet for ECR, though his crew also faced a long night after that practice collision with Kirkwood. Rasmussen already proved his oval pace earlier this season at Phoenix Raceway, charging from 18th to second before hitting the wall while fighting Will Power for the lead.