Compact IndyCar Milwaukee schedule tests everyone

Bourdais on the Milwaukee Mile

Verizon IndyCar Series drivers will practice, qualify and race on the same day in the ABC Supply Co. Inc. Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest presented by the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers.

"It means you have to get it right quickly," said defending race winner and reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power of the non-stop action July 11-12 at The Milwaukee Mile.

Activity kicks off July 11 with a 75-minute Verizon IndyCar Series practice session at 6 p.m. (ET) along with practice and qualifications for the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. On July 12, a 45-minute morning Verizon IndyCar Series practice at 10:15 a.m. (ET) will be followed 2½ hours later by single-car qualifications to set the starting lineup for the 250-lap race that will take the green flag at 5:35 p.m. (ET). The Indy Lights race precedes the feature.

Team owner A.J. Foyt, who made 45 starts at The Milwaukee Mile, prefers the compact schedule. The ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 will mark the 113th Indy car race at The Milwaukee Mile.

"I'm glad to see it that way because it's cheaper on the car owners and makes things easier in some ways," said Foyt, whose accomplishments at Milwaukee include a pole while driving a upright dirt Indy car against a field of low-slung rear-engine Indy cars in 1965. "You save a lot of money, and the wear and tear on the car and on the crew. Also, you save on your tire bill because you don't use as many tires.

"I'd like to see them get back to that way. It separates the men from the boys. Instead of just sitting there for two days looking at the computer and the mistakes you're making, and the engineers trying to figure out what they can do to make you run faster. You've got to have a lot more talent to run it all in one day. That's the way it was in the old days and I'd like to see it go back to that."