The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns this week following a brief vacation of sorts, and it’s fitting that the action resumes at one of the Midwest’s great summer destinations.

Road America is regarded as “America’s National Park of Speed,” and the setting in Wisconsin’s central valley is rolling and picturesque. Scores of campers will settle in for a weekend of motorsports thrills, culminating with Sunday’s XPEL Grand Prix of Road America (2 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

SEE: Road America Event Details

The 55-lap main event also kickstarts the second half of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Nine races have been completed; nine more are on tap. The prestigious Astor Challenge Cup is at stake.

Alex Palou

The field has been chasing four-time series champion Alex Palou for some time now, generally as well as specifically. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has won three of the past five Road America races, including last year’s (photo, above), and he brings a 49-point lead into this weekend’s event.

Since last season began, Palou has won 12 of the 26 races. He remains the prohibitive favorite to capture this series title because he has won a combined nine races at venues left on the schedule. Remember, two of the events still to come will be contested for the first time. So, yes, Palou surely likes his chances of becoming just the second driver in series history to win four consecutive season championships.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who is second in the standings, is best positioned to dethrone Palou, and Road America has been good to him. He finished fourth in last year’s race. Team Penske’s David Malukas stands third in points, 68 out of the series lead. He finished seventh in this event a year ago while driving for AJ Foyt Racing.

Five drivers have won races this season – Palou (four), Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden (two), Kirkwood (one), Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard (one) and Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian’s Felix Rosenqvist (one) – which means 20 drivers are still seeking their first win of the year. Andretti Global’s Will Power and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon are in that latter group, and they each have a pair of series wins at Road America. ECR’s Alexander Rossi is another Road America victor.

Last year, Dixon overcame a 25th-place starting position to lead a race-high 27 laps before finishing ninth. Drivers who start that far back at Road America have a difficult time winning. In the past 11 races, no winner has started deeper than ninth, and the winner’s average starting position is 3.8. In all of INDYCAR SERIES history at this track, 13th is the farthest any winner has traveled (Alex Tagliani in 2004).

Louis Foster

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster won the pole for last year’s event (photo, above), and he is one of five drivers in this field to have been the fastest qualifier on this 14-turn, 4.014-mile permanent road course. The others: Newgarden (three times), Power, Rossi and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.

Getting back to racing will be welcomed by the competitors. A break from five consecutive on-track weekends was needed by many, but going full speed is what they do and love.

The series will stage races on three of the next five weekends before prepping for a stirring stretch run featuring five races in August in advance of the season finale Sept. 6 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

For those chasing Palou, it’s time to make hay because if he gets to Laguna Seca with the points lead, it might be game over. He has won the past two races there and three of the past four. In other words, the vacation is over for title hopefuls.

Friday’s first practice is at 4 p.m. ET (FS2). Saturday’s action features the second practice at 11 a.m. (FS1) and qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2 p.m. (FS1). The pre-race warmup practice is Sunday at 11 a.m. (FS1).