'Excited to be coming back': INDYCAR champion, rookie conducts tire test at Milwaukee Mile

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Less than a month after INDYCAR announced the series' 2024 return to The Milwaukee Mile, it's first visit to the track since 2015, cars were on-track conducting a tire test for Firestone in preparation of the Labor Day Weekend doubleheader.

"I think it's good for Firestone to understand what they need for a tire," said Team Penske's Will Power, a two-time series champion, Indy 500 winner and the 2014 race winner at the Mile. "I don't think much has changed. The car's a little heavier; pretty similar though."

Power was on track testing the new Hybrid engine that INDYCAR will incorporate in 2024. He was joined by Chip Ganassi Racing's Linus Lundqvist, a series rookie, who was making his first laps in Milwaukee as a part of Wednesday's tire test.

"It's pretty bumpy, it's pretty fast. It is really a short oval," Lundqvist said. "I'm happy that an oval is back and then, that it happened to be Milwaukee with so much history and legacy, I think it just adds to the excitement."

Wednesday's tire test was meant to help Firestone set a baseline for what type of tire compound will be needed to bring for the races on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2024. INDYCAR has plans to return for an open test in the spring that will allow more teams and drivers the chance to experience the tire and track before Labor Day weekend.

"We're going to make sure the racing Saturday is great and double down and make sure it's even better on Sunday," said Dave Furst, INDYCAR'S vice president of communications.

The INDYCAR Doubleheader will be just one week after the NASCAR Truck Series returns to the Mile for the second year in a row, making for eight busy days of action at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Both Power and Lundqvist expect fans will be thrilled with the on-track action.

"Excited to be coming back. It'll be a big part of the championship, these two races, so it should be fun," Power said. "This series is so tough and competitive now, tougher than it was when we last raced here, so I think the fans will be in for a real treat."

"We always look forward to going to Road America, one because the track is awesome but also it's always a very big turnout. The fans are very, very passionate," Lundqvist added. "It's good to see that here in Wisconsin and hope we can see it here in Milwaukee as well."

Tickets for INDYCAR'S return to the Milwaukee Mile are expected to go on sale in January, here.