By: Spencer Neff
March 6, 2026

Final Practice Combined Practice Results

In Friday afternoon’s practice, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden led the way in the final session before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES runs the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway tomorrow. The 2018 winner starts the 250-lap race from second on the 25-car grid after notching a best lap of 167.677 mph (21.4699 seconds) on the 1.022-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona.

Following Newgarden’s Chevrolet in second was the Meyer Shank Racing entry of Marcus Armstrong, who finished .0662 of a second back in the No. 66 Honda.

Armstrong starts 13th in tomorrow’s race. Placing third was the Arrow McLaren entry of Pato O’Ward qualified seventh.

Making his 100th start in the series this weekend, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was fourth as hr looks to start 2026 with consecutive victories, as he did a year ago.

Less than two hours after winning his first INDYCAR pole, Team Penske’s David Malukas was fifth in the final practice session.

Dennis Hauger of Dale Coyne Racing was 13th and starts his first INDYCAR oval from 22nd on the 25-car grid, while Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher was 17th in the session and rolls off fourth tomorrow. A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet was 19th and starts 23rd.

Before Friday afternoon’s 50-minute final practice, INDYCAR held a 30-minute “high-line” practice session to help aid the second groove for Saturday’s race. The session was split with each half of the grid receiving 15 minutes of running time.

In that session, Rossi was fastest, notching a best lap of 164.908 mph (21.8303 seconds). Following Rossi on the lap chart would be Palou, Hauger, Dixon and Rahal. The only drivers not to partake in the session were Grosjean, Power and Rosenqvist.

Power and Rosenqvist had crashes during earlier sessions, while Grosjean’s Dale Coyne Racing entry underwent changes to the hybrid unit, per the Fox Sports telecast.

All there made it on track for the last session, with Rosenqvist placing 18th as Grosjean and Power would end the day 22nd and 24th.

Up Next

Here is the on-track schedule for race day tomorrow . IndyCar1909 is on-site and credentialed this 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):

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