Christian Rasmussen took his first IndyCar victory and the Ed Carpenter Racing team’s first since 2021 with a standing ovation and cheering fans at Milwaukee after a spectacular performance.
It’s been somewhat on the cards for Rasmussen who had the third-best average finish on ovals this season entering the penultimate race of the season at the Milwaukee Mile. He becomes the first new winner in the series since Christian Lundgaard in the middle of the 2023 season.
Rasmussen started ninth and spent most of the race in his usual outrageously aggressive style making overtakes and running in the top 10, before a late caution with just over 40 laps to go for rain gave him a great chance.
The top three at that point, Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden, had little choice but to stay out and hold track position under the caution whereas the rest behind gambled on pitting for fresh tyres which were extremely effective in this race.
Rasmussen restarted in sixth after the caution, cleared his team-mate Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward, before working his way past the top three on his fresh rubber.
A sensational around-the-outside move on Palou sealed it, even though Palou had nothing to lose having already been crowned series champion and gave Rasmussen very little room.
OH MY GOODNESS CHRISTIAN RASMUSSEN TO THE LEAD AT MILWAUKEE! pic.twitter.com/lXqa0vNQh1
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) August 24, 2025
A series of frantic messages from Rasmussen’s spotter followed as he continued to risk everything with wild moves on backmarkers to put cars between him and Palou, and luckily he held on to the finish.
The 2023 Indy NXT champion is in his second year and first full season in the series after a road and street course schedule last year, which got upgraded when team owner Ed Carpenter handed his car to Rasmussen as the best chance to make sure the team made the Leaders’ Circle which awards a significant payout.
The Race understands Rasmussen is likely to remain at ECR next year although an official announcement has not been made on next season.
Palou remained second, while fifth for O’Ward sealed second in the championship.
Also at Milwaukee this weekend, former Red Bull Formula 1 junior Dennis Hauger sealed the Indy NXT title for Andretti and looks set to race in IndyCar next year, although his destination is still to be decided.
Rasmussen the 'walking highlight reel'
Last month we highlighted the big impression Rasmussen was making in 2025 so far with this feature on his season:
From sprawling saves that make commentators shout “Holy cow!” and call him a “walking highlight reel” to delivering his team’s best results this year, IndyCar has a new oval star in the making.
And, he comes from Denmark!
HE SAVES IT!