By: Spencer Neff
March 7, 2026

2026 Good Ranchers 250 Results

Eight years have past since the last visit to Phoenix Raceway for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES but the end result was the same as 2018. Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden took advantage of pit strategy and fresher tires on top of trouble for a handful of contenders, winning Saturday’s Good Ranchers 250 at the 1.022-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona.

Newgarden, who started on the outside of the front row in second, led twice for eight laps, including the final seven laps, en route to his 33rd career victory in the series across 234 starts. He is one win short of tying Al Unser Jr. for ninth all-time and has won in each of the last 11 seasons, dating back to 2015. 19 of his victories have been on ovals, including his last 10.

Team Penske now has their 247th INDYCAR victory after earning their 310th pole in the series on Friday.

Newgarden held off Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood by 1.7937 seconds. The drivers are now separated in the standings by six points following two of 18 races win the 2026 season.

A day after earning his first INDYCAR pole, Newgarden’s teammate David Malukas finishes third. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong finished off the Top Five.

Following early race issues, Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger finished best among the rookies in 15th. He also lied twice for three laps, the first of his career.

After qualifying fourth, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Miick Schumacher was 18th, followed in 19th by A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet- all three made tether INDYCAR oval debut.

Today’s race is the first oval for 2026 and the only prior to May 24th’s 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Recap

As Malukas sped out to an early lead, trouble broke out for Dale Coyne Racing. Before pace laps began, Romain Grosjean had clutch trouble and would fall out before completing a lap. Dennis Hauger found trouble early when he spun after nearly making contact with Rasmussen on Lap 11.

Two laps after the restart on Lap 20, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou would fall out after making contact with Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay on the front straightaway.

VeeKay continued on but lost five laps and finished 23rd, while Palou’s day ended in 24th. Following Palou’s first DNF (Did Not Finish) since Detroit in 2025, he fell out of the points lead for the first time since Road America 2024, 27 races ago. Palou is current

The race would settle into a green flag run and Malukas had the lead until his first stop on Lap 73. The lead would cycle through Rasmussen, Marcus Armstrong and Scott Dixon until the latter’s stop on Lap 96. O’Ward led for ten laps until Rasmussen charged past and took command of the race.

On Lap 127, the leaders made their second round of green flag stops, with Rasmussen and Newgarden leading the way. The green flag run would end on Lap 141 when Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster smacked the outside wall on the front straightaway.

Andretti Global would cycle to the front ahead of the restart on Lap 155, with Kirkwood leading Power. As the final round of green flag stops unfolded, Rasmussen and Power found themselves battling foot the win. During that fight, they would collide on the back straightaway, prompting the fourth caution of the afternoon.

Power would finish 16th, the first car one lap down. He led 10 laps but was penalized for making his ensuing stop with the pit lane still closed.

Rasmussen held the lead until Lap 242, when Kirkwood chased him down. Following an exciting run that included 67 laps in the lead, the Ed Carpenter Racing driver finished 14th.

Three laps later, Newgarden took the lead and held on for his first victory of 2026. Four cautions over 41 laps would slow the race down to a 134.842 mph average speed. The lead change hands 18 times between 11 drivers, both records at Phoenix Raceway. 565 on-track passes would also set a series record at Phoenix, with 323 being for position, 145 in the Top 10 and 60 in the Top Five.

Up Next

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to its first of three brand new temporary street course venues in 2026 next weekend at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington in Arlington, Texas.

Opening practice on the 2.3-mile, 14-turn circuit is set for 4:00 p.m. ET, Friday March 13 on FS2. Second practice will be on Saturday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. ET on FS1, with three-round, knockout-style qualifying at 2:30 p.m. on FS2.

The final practice/morning warmup is scheduled for Sunday, March 15 at 10 a.m. ET on FS1, with the 70-lap race broadcasted on FOX at 12:30 p.m. and the green flag scheduled for 1:07 p.m. Stick with IndyCar1909.com for the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR