Rahal Optomistic After Practice 1 for the Snap-On INDYCAR Weekend Doubleheader in Milwaukee; Schumacher and Foster 21st and 23rd

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Snap-On INDYCAR Race Weekend – The Milwaukee Mile
NTT INDYCAR SERIES – Rounds 16 & 17 of 18
PRACTICE NOTES / QUOTES – Friday, August 28, 2026

RAHAL OPTOMISTIC AFTER SETTING 17TH FASTEST TIME IN PRACTICE 1 FOR THE SNAP-ON INDYCAR WEEKEND AT THE MILWAUKEE MILE; SCHUMACHER AND FOSTER 21ST AND 23RD

1)         Josef Newgarden     22.9191 / 159.430 mph
17)       Graham Rahal          23.4724 / 155.672 mph
21)       Mick Schumacher    23.6658 / 154.400 mph
23)       Louis Foster             23.7845 / 153.629 mph

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Luther Automotive Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I think we had decent pace to start. We got a clean new tire run, on the second tire run, but didn’t really go very fast but we kept working on the car after that and I think we got it a lot better. I feel decently racy. I think my long run pace is good and got to follow Mick and Louis there for a little bit just to see what the turbulence would be like and it felt pretty good. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

• FAST FACTS: This will mark Graham’s 11th race here. He has earned two front row starts and four top-10 finishes including two podiums (2nd – 2011; 3rd – 2015) in his 10 races. He narrowly missed winning his first pole here in 2008 by 2/10th of a second over a four-lap average and started a career best second to Marco Andretti with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) in what was the first Andretti/Rahal front row since 1992 in Loudon, NH. In the first of his two podium race in 2011, he qualified 12th and finished second with Service Central/Chip Ganassi Racing (SCCGR). In 2015 with RLL, he qualified sixth, led five laps, and finished third to depart the event third in points with four races to go. Last year, he started 11th and dropped to 14th at the start. When a caution came out at the end of the first lap for Seigel, who crashed, Rahal reported he had no rear grip. When the field went back to green, he lost traction and completed a three-quarter spin which led to the series bringing out another caution. The race resumed and he continued to struggle and ultimately took the checkered flag in 24th place in his 10th race here. Other recaps are available upon request.  Rahal is 14th in the point standings with a total of 276.

LOUIS FOSTER, No. 45 Desnuda Organic Tequila Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “The car felt good. I was happy with the balance and everything, but we’re just generally a bit slow right now which is the main issue. So, we’re trying to figure out why.”

• FAST FACTS: Foster will make his second INDYCAR start at the Milwaukee Mile. Last year he only ran approx. 1/2 of a lap in the morning practice session before being called into the pits due to data from the engine monitoring systems, which ultimately resulted in his engine being changed. When he made his qualifying run, it was the first full lap he completed at speed. He was given a 9-position grid penalty for an unapproved engine change and started 27th (last in the field) after qualifying 22nd^.and steadily moved up in the field to ultimately finish 17th. His top oval start and finish is 12th place and he is hoping to better that mark. He is 20th in series point standings with 212 points.

MICK SCHUMACHER, No. 47 ENVE Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “The session wasn’t great for us. It took us a long time to get into any window so it didn’t feel like we really accomplished what we were looking for. Graham’s looks great out there, so hopefully we’ll be able to feed off of him a bit. Result wise, it’s probably a bit shaded by some people using maybe three (sets of) tires. We don’t know but we’ve got some work to be done.”

• FAST FACTS: The doubleheader will mark Schumacher’s fifth and sixth oval races of his career. His experience and comfort has steadily increased each time he is on track. With a best start of fourth place in his oval debut in Phoenix and best finish of 8th place at the previous oval race in Nashville, he is optimistic of continuing the trajectory. He is 24th in series point standings with 170 points. 

RLL AT MILWAUKEE: The team WON here twice (Kenny Brack 2001 & Michel Jourdain Jr. 2003), started from POLE three times (Bobby Rahal 1992, Kenny Brack 2001, Vitor Meira 2004), made four FRONT ROW STARTS (2nd – Jourdain Jr. 2003) and earned FOUR PODIUMS (2nd: Rahal 2004, Rice 2004; G. Rahal 2015).  The team has earned 11 top five finishes and 21 top-10’s at the track.

NEXT UP: Qualifying will take place tomorrow at 10:05 a.m. CT and the Snap-On INDYCAR Weekend doubleheaders will be televised live on Saturday, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. ET.