By: Spencer Neff
February 16, 2026

During the following two days, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will have their final sessions of testing on-track before the 2026 season opener on March 1, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

IndyCar1909.com will be on-site and credentialed for all on-track sessions of this week’s Unser INDYCAR Open Test in Avondale, Arizona.

Before all 25 cars (PREMA Racing’s status for 2026 is still up in the air) get to the 1.022-mile Phoenix Raceway oval, here is a look at some of the major headlines to keep an eye on.

Old Faces, New(ish) places

Will Power will begin his first season with Andretti Global, moving to the No. 26 following Colton Herta’s departure to F2. Taking his place following the 17-year stint at Penske is David Malukas. Rinus VeeKay also moves on to Juncos Hollinger Racing with Sting Ray Robb.

VeeKay’s 2025 ride, the No. 18 at Dale Coyne Racing, will be occupied by Roman Grosjean, who returns to DCR following two seasons with Andretti, one with JHR and a stint as reserve driver with PREMA Racing last year.

Three rookies will occupy the grid for 2026. Last year’s INDY NXT by Firestone champion Dennis Hauger of Norway (Dale Coyne Racing No. 19) and runner-up Caio Collet of Brazil (A.J. Foyt Racing No. 4) move to INDYCAR and are joined by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher (No. 47). This will be the first time all three will test on an oval will a full-field.

Palou’s Follow-up

2025 saw Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou continue to rewrite the history books.

En route to his third championship in a row and fourth in five years, the Spaniard won eight races and six poles and clinched the Championship with two races to go.

This year, Palou could join Sebastien Bourdais (2004-2007 ChampCar) as the only drivers with four consecutive season championships.

Palou would also join teammate Scott Dixon (six) and the legendary A.J. Foyt (7) as the only drivers with five or more championships.

He is also one victory away from becoming the 24th driver to earn 20 or more victories.

Phoenix headlines four new tracks in 2026

In addition to an offseason filled with reshuffling of drivers and teams on the grid, Phoenix Raceway returns to the schedule for the first time since 2018.

Of the 23 drivers who participated in that last race, only five still run full-time in the series: Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi and Graham Rahal. Dixon and Newgarden (2016 and 2018) are the only former Phoenix race winners in the field.

Phoenix is the first of three new venues to occupy a space on the 2026 calendar. Following the March 7 Good Ranchers 250, the series heads to the street course in Arlington, Texas for the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington.

On August 16, Toronto’s Honda Indy moves to the streets of Markham, Ontario as part of a new long-term deal for the event. A week later, the streets of Washington, D.C. hosts the Freedom 250, celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial.

In addition to being the lone new oval for 2026, Phoenix will also host the first oval race of 2026.

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR