By: Spencer Neff
March 6, 2026

Practice 1 Results Qualifying Order

As he did in last month”s Open Test, David Malukas would lead the way in Friday morning’s opening practice for tomorrow’s Good Ranchers 250 att Phoenix Raceway. Team Penske’s newest driver notched a best lap of 175.605 mph on the 1.022-mile Avondale, Arizona oval. Malukas was the lone driver in the 25-car field to run a lap at over 175 mph.

Placing second, .135 of a second off Malukas’ best lap was Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. Malukas’ teammate Josef Newgarden, the most recent winner at Phoenix (2018) was third. Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen filled out a 1-2-3-4 sweep for Chevrolet-powered cars.

Andretti Global’s Will Power was best among the Hondas in fifth. Making his oval debut this weekend, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher placed 11th in the hour-long practice, best among the rookies. Schumacher did not complete a lap in Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg following an early crash.

Defending series champion and last week’s winner Alex Palou was 18th on the lap chart this morning. Palou his one of 20 drivers contesting their first INDYCAR race at Phoenix.

Just over 20 minutes into practice, Felix Rosenqvist crashed in Turn 3 after the Meyer Shank Racing driver’s car snapped loose in the middle of the corner. He was released from the infield care center soon after his crash and practice was completed without further incident.

Up Next

Here is the remaining on-track schedule for the weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Stay with IndyCar1909.com for the latest on the Good Ranchers 250 and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

At-track schedule (All Times Local/Mountain Time):
Friday, March 6

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)

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR