By: Spencer Neff
March 5. 2026

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues a torrid start to 2026 with their second of three races in as many weeks to kick off the year.

For the first time in 2026, the series will tackle an oval.

After seven years off the schedule, Phoenix Raceway hosts the Good Ranchers 250 this weekend. Saturday’s 250-lap race will be the 65th event contested on the 1.022-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona.

INDYCAR will also be the second in four races between ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) and NASCAR O’Riley Auto Parts and Cup Series races.

Before on-track activities commence, here is a look at some of the major pre-race stories.

Headlines

On Sunday, Chip Ganassi Racing kicked off their bid for a sixth INDYCAR Championship in seven years. In repeating his victory at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Alex Palou continued to solidify his spot as the driver to beat, recording his 20th career victory.

Now, Palou will make his 100th INDYCAR start as he and 19 other drivers will make their first INDYCAR start act Phoenix.

Only Scott Dixon, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal have previously raced at Phoenix.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist raced here in 2016 as part of Indy Lights (now INDY NXT by Firestone). A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci also raced here in 2021 with NASCAR’s Xfinity Series (now O’Riley Auto Parts Series).

During the February 17-18 UNSER INDYCAR Open Test, Palou finished third or fifth in all three sessions.

Atop the leaderboard, its was Chevrolet who led all three sessions. Team Penske newcomer David Malukas led the opening session as he looks to build upon an oval career that boasts two runner-up finishes as he searches for that first victory.

On Day 2, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi led both sessions. Rossi finished third in the 2018 race here to Josef Newgarden.

While Newgarden and Dixon are the lone former Phoenix winners entered this weekend, no drivers on the entry list have won a pole at Phoenix. Additionally, Dixon will be the only driver to race on all three of Phoenix’s configurations.

Good Ranchers 250 Fast Facts

Spotter Guide Pit Assignments

Race weekend: Friday, March 6-Saturday, March 7 Track: Phoenix Raceway, a 1-mile oval Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 150 kilojoules (kj) per lap Firestone tire allotment: Ten sets primary to be used during the event weekend. One additional set is available for use during the group session on Friday. X: @phoenixraceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR Instagram: @phoenixraceway, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR Facebook: @PhoenixRaceway, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR TikTok: @IndyCar, #INDYCAR YouTube: @INDYCAR Event website: www.phoenixraceway.com INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com 2018 race winner: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet) 2018 pole winner: Sebastien Bourdais (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan Honda), 39.0285 seconds, 188.539 mph (two laps) Qualifying records:One lap: Helio Castroneves, 18.8701 seconds, 194.975 mph, April 28, 2017 Two lap: Helio Castroneves, 37.7538 seconds, 194.905 mph, April 28, 2017 FOX Sports telecasts: Practice 10 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live); Qualifying, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); High Line Session/Final Practice/Warmup Show, 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Race, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Jack Harvey, Georgia Henneberry and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. All FOX Sports telecasts also are available on FOX One and the FOX Sports app. INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Alex Hayden is the turn announcer. Alex Wollf, DJ Clark and Chris Wilner are the pit reporters. The Good Ranchers 250 race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. At-track schedule (All Times Local/Mountain Time): Friday, March 6 8-9 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, FS2 12:05-1:05 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (single car, two timed laps), FS2 2:30-3 p.m. –  NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), FS2 3:10-4 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, FS2 Saturday, March 7 12:30 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions 1 p.m. – FOX Sports on air 1:15 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines.” 1:20 p.m. – Good Ranchers 250 (250 laps / 250 miles), FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports App (Live)