WEST ALLIS, Wis.– IndyCar racers test-drive at the Milwaukee Mile ahead of the August doubleheader.

The IndyCar Series has back-to-back races at the track on August 29 and August 30.

Racers had the rare opportunity to practice laps in West Allis on Wednesday, July 8.

“It’s ​a tough place; it’s a very tough course,” said four-time IndyCar series champion Álex Palou. “I ​feel ​like ​every ​time ​I ​come ​here, ​the car and ​the driving feels very different.”

Palou currently leads the 2026 IndyCar Series in points and will race the Milwaukee Mile next month.

“It ​just makes everything super close, especially ​being ​the ​second ​to ​last ​event ​of ​the ​year ​and ​having ​two ​races ” said Palou. “If you ​have a ​good ​weekend, ​it’s ​great, but ​if you don’t, you can be crying after it.”

The IndyCar Series consists of 18 races across the United States and Canada.

Milwaukee is the only doubleheader race on the schedule, making the event worth double the points and potentially swinging the series championship leaderboard.

“It’s one of those tracks that you need a car that gives ​you ​a ​lot ​of ​confidence, ​but you need to have confidence in this place as well.”

IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden is eager to get back on the Milwaukee Mile.

“It’s ​the most historic racetrack that you’ll find in North America, and ​it’s very historic when you think of IndyCar,” said Newgarden. “​I’ve ​always ​wanted ​to ​be ​back ​here.”

According to the Wisconsin State Fair website, the Milwaukee Mile is the oldest operating motor speedway in the world.

The first automobile race was held there in 1903 on a dirt track. Cars similar to IndyCars first competed on the West Allis track in 1933.

“I ​love ​this ​market,” said Newgarden. “​I think Milwaukee’s a great place to race and we’ve got a good fan base here.”

The IndyCar Series raced at the Milwaukee Mile annually from 2004 to 2015. The track did not host the series from 2016 through 2023. IndyCar returned in 2024 and has raced there each year since.

The Milwaukee Mile will host the IndyCar Series for the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 on Saturday, August 29, and the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on Sunday, August 30.

Milwaukee has officially joined the Global Swimmable Cities Alliance, aligning with other Great Lakes communities like Sheboygan and Ottawa in a growing movement to make urban waterways safer for recreation.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper Cheryl Nenn joined WTMJ’s Jeff Sherman on The Upswing to discuss what that means for the city. With a background in environmental science and experience working with both the City of New York and the U.S. Forest Service, Nenn says joining the alliance builds on years of water quality progress – while also creating accountability through a clear action plan.

Efforts are already underway to improve both safety and accessibility. Nenn says Milwaukee Riverkeeper is pursuing grants to install more safety ladders along lower piers throughout the river system, ensuring that anyone who ends up in the water has a way to get out. At the same time, the organization is working with the city and local businesses to green riverfront areas, creating healthier habitats for wildlife and improving the overall ecosystem.

Nenn emphasized that becoming a swimmable city is a community effort. Residents can play a role by picking up trash along beaches and rivers, keeping streets and storm drains clean, and reducing plastic use.

The Upswing is presented by Horicon Bank.

MILWAUKEE — Bastille Days and Festa Italiana are filling downtown Milwaukee with live music, food and large crowds this weekend.

For many, events like these are a summer tradition.

“The festivals for the summertime-they’re something to do like almost every single day and almost most definitely every single week,” Natara Riley said.

But some festivalgoers say outside of these big events, downtown’s entertainment scene isn’t what it used to be.

“I grew up partying on Water Street. I won’t go there no more at all,” Leandra Wohner said.

“I think it’s the city is not upkeeping the entertainment that people need to have fun. So when something does happen, like Bastille Days or other festivals, a lot of people tend to go to it because there’s not a lot of room for like activities for people,” Riley said.

Watch: Festivalgoers say Milwaukee’s summer events fill a gap in downtown entertainment

It’s a weekend of festivals in downtown Milwaukee

Festivalgoers say events like these give people a chance to enjoy live music, support local vendors, and try new foods — all in an environment they feel is well organized.

“I feel like it’s safe. They block off the roads, especially where there’s a lot of people walking around, and you know, parking wasn’t hard to find either. So it’s very-I want to say-I feel like it’s very well put together,” Dana Garcia said.

For those who may be hesitant about coming downtown, Emma Maertz offered this encouragement.

“If you never give it a chance, you never discover all the wonderful little vibrant things out here on the streets, and so I’d say give it a chance. You know, come down, see what it’s like, walk around, try out a street festival, park a few blocks away, and explore a new area,” Maertz said.

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