Tackling the Chicane
Episode 180 Recap: Brentford vs Leeds, Hull City's Hot Start, and Malukas's Milwaukee Meltdown
A soggy IndyCar doubleheader in Milwaukee, a title already wrapped up, and one very frustrated driver set the tone before the crew even got to the pitch. Then it was straight into a jam-packed weekend of Premier League and Scottish Premiership action, headlined by a tightly contested Brentford vs Leeds match report that ended honors even at Elland Road. Add in Hull City extending their winning run, Chelsea's chaotic goal-fest, and a Celtic side quietly reloading on transfer deadline day, and Episode 180 covers a lot of ground.
This recap walks through everything discussed on the show: how Alex Palou wrapped up his fourth-straight IndyCar championship almost as an afterthought, why David Malukas is starting to feel cursed after another engine failure cost him a shot at his first career win, what to expect from Formula 1's return to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, and a full breakdown of the weekend's biggest soccer storylines on both sides of the border.
If you're searching for who won the IndyCar Milwaukee doubleheader, what happened in the Brentford vs Leeds draw, or whether anyone can realistically challenge Celtic in Scotland this season, you're in the right place.
Alex Palou Wraps Up the IndyCar Title — But Malukas Steals the Headlines
The big Milwaukee storyline should have been Alex Palou locking up his fourth consecutive IndyCar championship, confirmed after the first of two Sunday races. It's a stat that deserves more attention than it gets — winning four titles in a row in a spec series, where the equipment gap between teams is minimal, is a genuinely rare feat. Pato O'Ward swept both Milwaukee races, cementing his status as the lone McLaren holdover for 2027, while Christian Lundgaard — banished from McLaren in favor of Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist — somehow found a podium on an oval he reportedly struggles with.
But the real story of the weekend was David Malukas. Leading race one with 30 laps to go and looking like a lock for his first career IndyCar win, his Chevrolet-powered machine suffered a plenum fire on a restart — the same type of issue that plagued Chevy at Indy a couple years back. Pato O'Ward cruised past, and Malukas was left with his sixth career runner-up finish and still zero wins.
What made this one stick was the aftermath. Malukas didn't hide his frustration in the post-race interview, pointing blame at Chevy, then walked it back on social media the next day — almost certainly after a phone call from Roger Penske's camp. It's a very human moment: a driver who trains relentlessly, only to be undone by a mechanical failure, getting understandably heated in the moment. Compare that to a company man like Josef Newgarden, who would never say a word publicly, and you get a sense of where Malukas still is in his career. He'll finish top of the Penske trio in points with nothing to show for it — a brutal encapsulation of his season.
Italian Grand Prix Preview: F1 Returns to Monza
Before flipping to soccer, the crew previewed this weekend's Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia at Monza — the oldest circuit still on the F1 calendar, dating back to 1950. It's 5.793 kilometers, 53 laps, 306 kilometers total, with practice starting Friday, September 4th, qualifying Saturday, and a 9:00 AM ET race Sunday that doubles as a nice breakfast-and-racing combo for East Coast viewers. Lando Norris set the fastest lap here last year, and with McLaren carrying momentum into the back half of the season, Monza could bring more championship fireworks. IndyCar also has one race left — Laguna Seca — closing out a season that's been defined by Palou's quiet dominance and Malukas's rotten luck.
Hull City's Winning Streak and a Wild Premier League Matchday 2
Over in England, matchday 2 delivered plenty of talking points. Manchester City handled Crystal Palace 4-1 behind two Erling Haaland goals, while Liverpool's new Andoni Iraola era continued to stumble with a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest despite an Alexander Isak goal. Chelsea, under Xabi Alonso, look like appointment viewing — they beat Brighton 4-3 to move to 2-0, scoring goals in bunches while conceding just as many. That sets up a genuine heavyweight clash against Arsenal this coming Sunday, which the show will cover next episode.
But the feel-good story belongs to Hull City. The newly promoted Tigers made it two wins in a row, edging fellow promoted side Coventry City 1-0 to sit third in the table — a stunning early return after their statement 2-0 win over Manchester United. One odd wrinkle: Coventry's crowd had roughly 1,400 empty seats for a Premier League fixture, a rare and somewhat embarrassing look for a newly promoted club that should be riding a wave of enthusiasm. Elsewhere, Manchester United thumped Ipswich 5-2 behind a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick, and Tottenham remain rooted to the bottom with zero goals scored and zero points after two matches — a genuinely confusing start for a squad that spent big over the summer.
Brentford vs Leeds Match Report: Spoils Shared at Elland Road
The featured Premier League match of the week was Brentford vs Leeds, and it lived up to the billing of two ambitious sides testing each other early in the season. Brentford — tipped by TV pundits as a potential surprise package for a European spot — took the lead in the 41st minute through Kevin Schade, teeing up Igor Thiago... actually credited as Potter to Schade in the buildup, making it 1-0 at the break. Leeds, playing their customary counter-attacking style under Daniel Farke despite holding 47% possession at home, equalized in the 79th minute through Dominic Calvert-Lewin to make it 1-1, and that's how it finished.
The underlying numbers backed up the scoreline — Leeds posted 1.46 expected goals to Brentford's 1.67 — making this about as fair a draw as you'll find. Igor Thiago, Brentford's talisman striker who's racked up 26 goals in 51 appearances since joining last season, continues to look like the focal point of anything they create going forward. For Leeds, surviving their return to the Premier League last season and picking up a point against a fancied Brentford side is a solid marker early in year two.
Aberdeen vs Rangers, Celtic's Signings, and Scotland's Growing Gap
North of the border, the headline match was Aberdeen vs Rangers, with Rangers grinding out a 1-0 win via a 69th-minute Lawrence Shankland penalty. It was hardly a classic — an Aberdeen equalizer late on was controversially ruled out for a foul in the buildup — and neither team looked especially convincing. That win moves Rangers to fifth, but the show didn't hold back on how far off the pace this Rangers side looks compared to recent years.
Celtic, meanwhile, cruised past Aberdeen 3-0 by halftime the same day and top the table with four wins from four. New signing Camilo Durán has already made an instant impact with 6 goals and 2 assists in all competitions, and Celtic added six more signings on deadline day, including a farewell to Hatate. St. Mirren sit just behind Celtic and were a 94th-minute Motherwell equalizer away from being level on points at the top after a wild 3-3 draw that saw five goals in the first half alone. Celtic's first real test comes Saturday away at St. Mirren — a fixture where they've dropped points before, including last season's League Cup final.
Key Takeaways
- Alex Palou is your 2026 IndyCar champion — his fourth straight title, clinched with a race still to spare, and arguably still underappreciated given how dominant it's been.
- David Malukas remains snakebitten — a plenum fire cost him a likely first career win in Milwaukee, and his post-race comments about Chevy quickly got walked back.
- Hull City are the Premier League's early feel-good story, sitting third after back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Coventry City.
- Brentford vs Leeds ended 1-1, a fair result backed by near-identical expected goals numbers, with Igor Thiago and Dominic Calvert-Lewin the key names involved.
- Tottenham are a mess — zero points, zero goals, and no clear explanation for a squad that should be competing for Europe.
- Celtic are pulling away in Scotland again, bolstered by transfer deadline day activity and a red-hot Camilo Durán, while Rangers look further off the pace than in recent seasons.
- St. Mirren are the sneaky team to watch in the Scottish Premiership after their wild 3-3 draw with Motherwell.
Want the full breakdown with all the back-and-forth, stats, and opinions? Hit play on Episode 180 of Tackling the Chicane and subscribe so you don't miss the Chelsea vs Arsenal reaction or the Laguna Seca IndyCar finale coming up next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Brentford vs Leeds match?
The game finished 1-1. Brentford took a 41st-minute lead before Leeds equalized through Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 79th minute, resulting in a fair, evenly matched draw at Elland Road.
What happened to David Malukas in the IndyCar Milwaukee race?
Malukas was leading with 30 laps remaining when his Chevrolet-powered car suffered a plenum fire on a restart, a brief engine issue that cost him the race. He finished second — his sixth career runner-up finish without a win — and later apologized for comments criticizing Chevy after the race.
Who won the IndyCar championship in 2026?
Alex Palou clinched his fourth consecutive IndyCar title during the Milwaukee doubleheader, confirmed after the first of the two Sunday races even though Pato O'Ward won both races on the day.
How did Hull City do against Coventry City?
Hull City won 1-0 on the road against fellow newly promoted side Coventry City, making it back-to-back Premier League wins and lifting them to third in the early table.
Who won Aberdeen vs Rangers in the Scottish Premiership?
Rangers won 1-0 thanks to a Lawrence Shankland penalty in the 69th minute. Aberdeen had a late equalizer disallowed for a foul in the buildup, and the result moved Rangers up to fifth place.
Can anyone challenge Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season?
Based on the early season, it looks unlikely. Celtic sit top with four wins from four, have reinforced their squad with transfer deadline day signings including in-form striker Camilo Durán, and look significantly sharper than Rangers. St. Mirren, who nearly matched Celtic's points total after a 3-3 draw with Motherwell, look like the more credible dark horse.
Final Word
Episode 180 covers a genuinely stacked slate — a title wrapped up almost quietly in IndyCar, a driver in David Malukas who can't seem to catch a break, a Brentford vs Leeds match report that lived up to its billing as an even contest between two ambitious sides, and a Scottish Premiership picture that's starting to look very familiar with Celtic out in front. Throw in Hull City's surprising start and Tottenham's baffling collapse, and there's no shortage of storylines to track heading into the next round of fixtures.
Catch the full conversation, including all the back-and-forth on Malukas's Twitter apology and whether Rangers have any hope of closing the gap, by listening to the complete episode below.
Listen to the Episode
Catch the full conversation on Episode 180 of Tackling the Chicane, where the guys break down the Milwaukee IndyCar doubleheader, preview the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and dig into every major Premier League and Scottish Premiership storyline from the weekend. Listen here.