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Rasmussen Claims First IndyCar Win as ECR Shines in Milwaukee Breakthrough

Christian Rasmussen’s breakthrough win at the Milwaukee Mile was more than just a personal milestone—it was a moment of triumph for Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) and a rare shared celebration with teammate Alexander Rossi. As Rasmussen climbed out of his No. 21 Chevrolet to mark his first-ever NTT IndyCar Series victory, Rossi was the first to congratulate him.

Published

6 months ago

August 26, 2025

Adelaide Kuudzerema

“Your first-career win is a moment you’ll obviously never forget,” Rossi said. “It’s huge for your career, and he’s been so good on the ovals this year.”

The win was a bright spot in a season that’s been full of ups and downs for ECR. Rossi acknowledged the significance of the moment not just for Rasmussen, but for the entire team: “It’s been a long time coming for ECR as well. It’s been a tough couple years for them. … It’s never an easy road and there’s a lot of work still in front of us. But it’s just an amazing accomplishment for the organization today.”

ECR entered 2025 with tempered expectations. The team had brought in Rossi—winner of the 2016 Indianapolis 500 and runner-up in the 2018 championship—to replace Rinus VeeKay. Despite his pedigree, Rossi had only one win in the previous five seasons and was joining a team that had managed just one podium in the last three years.

Back in January, Rossi told IndyCar.com he didn’t expect instant success: “not going to go from the results that have existed the past couple of years to all of a sudden winning every race,” but he believed there was “potential to surprise a lot of people at points.”

That potential came to life in Milwaukee. ECR executed a bold strategy that placed both cars in the top four, with Rasmussen stunning the field to claim his first win. Initially brought on in 2024 to race only on road and street circuits, Rasmussen wasn’t expected to compete on ovals—those were still Ed Carpenter’s domain. But after Carpenter stepped aside from oval duties in August 2024, Rasmussen quickly proved himself as a rising star on short ovals.

During Sunday’s race, Rossi led the ECR charge early, climbing from 12th to the top five by short-pitting the field. A brief rain shower late in the race allowed both drivers to pit for fresh tires with 28 laps to go. Rasmussen capitalized, vaulting from sixth to first. Rossi, meanwhile, couldn’t match the pace in the final stint and finished fourth, 11.45 seconds behind.

“We saved tires through practice for that scenario,” Rossi explained. “I just wish we were able to be a little bit stronger on that restart. Got caught up fighting Pato (O’Ward) a little bit.
“It is what it is. I mean, it still was the right call, obviously. It won the race.”

Despite missing out on the win himself, Rossi was visibly pleased with the team’s performance. Both drivers have had flashes of brilliance this season—Rossi started strong with three top 10s in four races and now has back-to-back top fives, while Rasmussen had already earned a podium at World Wide Technology Raceway and three top 10s in five starts before Milwaukee.

Until now, ECR hadn’t seen both drivers shine on the same weekend. Milwaukee changed that. It was the first time in 2025 that both finished in the top five—or even the top 10.

With just one race left in the season, the result gives ECR a much-needed boost and a shared achievement to build on after a year marked by isolated successes.

“There was a lot of missed opportunities this year,” Rossi admitted. “… There’s been some really good moments and really disappointing moments, but ultimately I think we knew that, especially on the ovals, the pace was in the car. We showed that today.”

Related Topics:Alexander Rossi Chevrolet Christian Rasmussen Ed Carpenter Racing Milwaukee Mile

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Football

Arsenal Beat Chelsea to Reach Carabao Cup Final

Arsenal secured their place in the Carabao Cup final after defeating Chelsea 1–0 in the second leg of the semi-final at the Emirates Stadium. The victory sealed a 4–2 aggregate win for the Gunners, booking their first domestic cup final appearance since 2020.

Published

1 week ago

February 3, 2026

Adelaide Kuudzerema

The reigning Premier League leaders will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United in the final, scheduled for March 22, 2026, at Wembley Stadium.

Arsenal’s disciplined performance ensured they held off Chelsea’s late pressure, with the decisive goal in the 97th minute by Kai Havertz proving enough to send Mikel Arteta’s side through to a much-anticipated showdown at Wembley.

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Don’t tarnish the dignity of our profession, AIPS warns Moroccan Journalists

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has condemned the conduct of some Moroccan journalists during the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 on Sunday.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 20, 2026

Adelaide Kuudzerema

Midfielder Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute, after Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a last-gasp penalty in normal time following a 14-minute delay. The match itself was marred by controversy when Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw ordered his players off the pitch in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco.

After the final whistle, tensions spilled into the media area. Videos showed Moroccan journalists walking out as Thiaw entered the post-match press conference holding his daughter’s hand. Arguments and scuffles then broke out between Moroccan and Senegalese reporters, forcing Thiaw to leave the room.

In response, AIPS issued a statement condemning the incident: “The AIPS Executive Committee strongly condemns the behaviour of colleagues who prevented the post-match press conference of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat from proceeding smoothly on Sunday.”

The organisation added: “Our Association cannot accept that certain colleagues could tarnish the dignity of our profession, hence we have asked our colleagues at AIPS Africa for a detailed report on the incident.”

Football

When Moroccan Journalists Walked Out… A Sad Day for AFCON and Media Ethics

On Sunday night, Senegal etched their name into African football history by clinching their second AFCON trophy in a decade. Led by captain Sadio Mané, the Lions of Teranga defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a dramatic final that will be remembered for both its footballing brilliance and its controversies.

Published

3 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

Adelaide Kuudzerema

On Sunday night, Senegal etched their name into African football history by clinching their second AFCON trophy in less than five years, having won the previous one in 2021. Led by Sadio Mané, the Lions of Teranga defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a dramatic final that will be remembered for both its footballing brilliance and its controversies.

By Tongai Mwenje

The decisive moment came in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye struck the winning goal, sending Senegalese fans into wild celebrations. Just minutes earlier, the match had been overshadowed by a contentious penalty awarded to Morocco while the score was still goalless.

In protest against the decision, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and his players, except captain Mané, walked off the pitch, halting the game for nearly fifteen minutes. Eventually, they returned to allow Morocco to take the spot kick. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz stepped up to face Senegal’s goalkeeper, former Chelsea man Édouard Mendy. Attempting a Panenka, Díaz saw his effort easily saved, setting the stage for Gueye’s late strike that sealed Senegal’s triumph.

The drama did not end on the pitch. When the victorious coach Thiaw arrived for his post-match press conference, smiling, holding a young girl, and waving to foreign journalists who applauded him, the local Moroccan press staged a walkout. Packing up their equipment, they exited the room, leaving behind a scene of confusion and disappointment. The press conference was ultimately cancelled.

This act of protest by Moroccan journalists blurred the line between professional reporting and activism. Journalism is guided by ethics, truth, fairness, independence, and accountability. Walking out rather than questioning the coach directly undermined these principles. If concerns existed, they should have been raised through dialogue, not through symbolic gestures that silenced the exchange of information.

By abandoning their role as impartial observers, the journalists acted more like activists than professionals. Their behaviour cast a shadow over what should have been a celebration of African football and highlighted the importance of media ethics in safeguarding the integrity of the profession.

It was, indeed, a sad day for the beautiful game.