Hello and welcome to the live comments for the Milwaukee 225, race 8 of 18 on the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule.

• Venue: Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin, United States Distance: 225 laps (225 miles) Configuration: 1 mile oval

The oval road course. The flat, minimal banking is a unique characteristic compared to the rest of the schedule (with the possible exception of the returning New Hampshire) and so it drives completely differently to any other oval, in that it doesn't drive like an oval at all. This is like a road course which happens to be very short. This means the driver is in control and can really make a difference. They have to get the elbows out and hustle the car. The Milwaukee Mile has been open since 1903, that's six years earlier than Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it is an essential part of IndyCar racing. It is sad that it wasn't on the schedule last season and that it faces the continual threat of closure from the current owners. I hope attendance is high this weekend. We don't want to lose this one. Traffic-management is key here. With about 25 cars in such a limited space the way the leaders work through slower cars is crucial. The other thing to watch out for are the bumps, notably in pit lane. The race gets under way at 9pm UK (GMT+1) which is 3pm US Central (local time). All the information you need is on www.indycar.com. The race is live in the UK on Sky Sports and in the US on ABC.