This weekend’s Good Ranchers 250 will be the first INDYCAR SERIES event conducted at Phoenix Raceway since 2018 and the 65th INDYCAR SERIES race held on the 1-mile oval since it opened in 1964.
Drivers will race 250 laps/250miles on the 1-mile oval which gets underway at 1:20pm Saturday 7 March 2026 (local time).
The Good Ranchers 250 is the first of six oval races on the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Other oval events scheduled are: the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (May 24), Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (June 7), Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway (July 19) and a doubleheader at the Snap-on INDYCAR Weekend at Milwaukee Mile (Aug. 29-30).
Palou continues historic title chase at Phoenix: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou claimed the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the second consecutive season. The driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is scheduled to make his 100th series start in Saturday’s Good Ranchers 250. With 20 career wins, Palou is already assured of winning at least 20 percent of his first 100 races, something no other active driver has accomplished. Palou has led the NTT INDYCAR SERIES point standings after every race since Laguna Seca in June 2024 – a span of 28 straight races.
Phoenix familiar to a few: While most of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field will compete at Phoenix Raceway for the first time, five drivers in the field have raced at the 1-mile oval previously, and two of the three most recent winners are entered – Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden. Dixon won the series’ last return race to Phoenix Raceway in 2016 while Newgarden won the most recent race at the track in 2018. Alexander Rossi, Graham Rahal and Will Power also have raced at Phoenix Raceway from 2016-18.
“Desert Double” with NASCAR: This weekend’s event at Phoenix is one of three Saturday races on the 2026 schedule, as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is competing on a rare doubleheader with the NASCAR Cup Series on the same weekend in a “Desert Double.” NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series also races Saturday at Phoenix.
Five drivers have previously raced INDYCAR SERIES cars at Phoenix Raceway: Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi. Al Unser has the most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver at the track (six). Dixon (2016) and Newgarden (2018) are the only past Phoenix winners entered in this year’s race.
Eleven drivers have won the Phoenix race from the pole: Helio Castroneves (2002), Arie Luyendyk (1996), Rick Mears (1982, 1989, 1990), Al Unser (1969, 1985), Tom Sneva (1984), Teo Fabi (1983), Johnny Rutherford (1977), Gordon Johncock (1973), Bobby Unser (1968, 1972), Lloyd Ruby (1967) and Mario Andretti (1966).
Drivers who have won at Phoenix have gone on to win the INDYCAR SERIES championship nine times: A.J. Foyt (1964, first race; 1975, second race), Mario Andretti (1966, second race), Bobby Unser (1968, first race), Al Unser (1970, first race; 1985), Rick Mears (1982, first race), Bobby Rahal (1992), Buddy Lazier (2000), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001) and Tony Kanaan (2004).
Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 421st INDYCAR SERIES start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record. Dixon has made 357 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Alex Palou is expected to make his 100th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start…Josef Newgarden needs to lead 66 laps to pass Dario Franchitti for ninth on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time laps led list…Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will make their first INDYCAR SERIES oval start this weekend at Phoenix.
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