It’s been less than a week since IndyCar’s last race, and we’re getting ready to do it all over again this week. The series makes its return to the Phoenix Raceway for the first time since 2018 for the Good Ranchers 250 race. Here’s everything you need to know before the cars hit the track on Friday
Last week, in the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, the series defending champion Álex Palou continued his winning ways with a dominant victory over pole sitter Scott McLaughlin.
In his 100th IndyCar race this weekend, Palou is eager to boost his career wins to 21. The question remains: will he conquer the oval, or will the inexperience of both him and the majority of the grid on this track lead to a different winner?
The Good Rachers 250
The 250 lap race slated for Saturday as part of a double-header weekend with NASCAR marks the first oval of the season, and what a way to start.
Located in Avondale, Arizona, the Phoenix Raceway is a unique one-mile tri-oval. The desert heat and uniqueness of the track, highlighted by the different banking and the kink, commonly referred to as the “dogleg”, spark exciting passing and challenge both the teams and the drivers.
IndyCar drivers had a taste of driving in Phoenix before the season during a two-day open test. Team Penske driver David Malukas was very vocal about the speed of the track and the challenges the banking has on getting the setup right each lap.
“Phoenix is very fast.” “When you are going through (Turns) One and Two, we are on the limit. We are always trying to figure out the difference between One and Two versus Three and Four. You have a short time frame; once you come out of your Turn Two, it’s very high speed. Three and Four, you’re having a bigger lift going through that section, so it’s a completely different car set because you’re at such a lower speed.”
What to Expect
Phoenix is one of the most historically significant tracks in IndyCar series history. There have been 64 series races there since the facility opened in 1964. The winner’s list includes icons such as A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Michael Andretti, and Bobby Rahal.
Five drivers on the 2026 grid have raced at Phoenix. Dixon is at the forefront as a six-time starter, achieving four top-five finishes. Will Power, Graham Rahal, Alexander Rossi, and Josef Newgarden have all made three starts at this track. Power finished second in 2017 and third in Newgarden’s 2018 win. Rahal’s best result was ninth.
Their experience might not be all that helpful. Both the cars and track have changed a lot in the last eight years. This levels out the playing field, and it may open doors to some unexpected contenders.
In open testing, Rossi and Ed Carpenter Racing teammate Christian Rasmussen were 1-2, followed by Palou.
Rookie Dennis Hauger, who impressed in St. Pete, qualifying 3rd and finishing 10th in his debut, spoke about his feelings toward his first IndyCar oval race.
“I think I feel pretty comfortable going into it for qualifying. As long as we just work and practice on qualifying on balance and stuff, hopefully we can find something good.” “It’s about learning as well this weekend. It’s a new type of racing again for the ovals for me as a rookie, and it’s just about gaining experience, and hopefully we can do something good again for the team.”
Over the last two years, there hasn’t been an oval race scheduled before the Indy 500. This Phoenix event will serve as a valuable lesson for teams and drivers like Hauger ahead of the year’s biggest race.
Schedule
The IndyCar in Phoenix action will be shortened weekend with the race on Saturday. It begins with three Friday sessions airing on FS2.
First practice begins at 16:00 CET/10:00 a.m.ET Followed by qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 20:00 CET/2 p.m. ET. The final practice and High Line session is scheduled for 22:30 CET/4:30 p.m. ET.
The green flag is set to wave at 21:00 CET/3 p.m.
A speedy new track for the majority of the grid levels out the playing field; will we see drivers take advantage and have a different winner, or will Palou continue his dominance and earn his second oval victory?