IndyCar News: Newgarden uses new tires to win in Phoenix

In a dramatic return to Phoenix Raceway  after an eight-year hiatus, two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden showcased his oval mastery, using a strategic late pit stop for fresh tires to surge through the field and claim victory in the Good Ranchers 250. The Hendersonville, Tennessee native, driving the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet, passed Kyle Kirkwood with just seven laps remaining, pulling away to win by 1.7937 seconds in a race that lasted 1 hour, 51 minutes, and 14.466 seconds.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This marks Newgarden’s 33rd career IndyCar win and his first of the 2026 season, coming in only the second race after a challenging 2025 campaign where he secured just one victory—at Nashville—amid multiple DNFs and missed opportunities. The triumph also highlighted Team Penske’s 60th anniversary season, with two drivers on the podium and a strong showing overall. Newgarden, who started second, now takes over the championship lead, while defending champion Alex Palou slipped to fifth in the standings after an early exit.

“Momentum is a big deal,” Newgarden told FOX in his victory lane interview. “I don’t know. It’s very difficult to understand how things work. Sometimes, things go against us. Sometimes they go for us.”

Kirkwood, in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Andretti Global Honda, led much of the late stages but couldn’t hold off Newgarden’s fresher rubber, which provided a significant tire advantage during the final 31-lap stint. Kirkwood finished second, 1.7937 seconds behind, marking his best result of the young season.

Polesitter David Malukas, earning his first career NTT P1 Award with a two-lap average of 175.383 mph, delivered a solid performance in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, finishing third just 2.8412 seconds off the pace. This was a breakthrough for Malukas, who had come close to poles multiple times in previous seasons.

Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward took fourth, 3.9318 seconds back, continuing his consistent start to 2026. Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top five, 6.4815 seconds behind, in a race that saw a mix of strategy and on-track chaos.

Key Race Incidents and Drama

The 250-lap event on the 1-mile oval wasn’t short on action. Championship leader entering the weekend, Alex Palou, saw his day end prematurely on Lap 22 when his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda sustained heavy damage after contact with Rinus VeeKay’s No. 76 Juncos Racing Chevrolet, sending him into the wall.

Rookie Christian Rasmussen in the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet was a focal point of controversy, involved in multiple incidents. He brushed the wall several times and made contact with others, including early race leader Will Power. Power, in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda, picked up debris from Rasmussen’s damaged wing, suffering a cut tire that dropped him a lap down, ultimately finishing 16th.

Other notable moments included a late brush with the wall by Rasmussen himself, which allowed Newgarden to close in during the final stint. Christian Lundgaard and Marcus Ericsson also ran strong but finished outside the top five.

The race featured strategic pit stops under caution, with the final yellow flag setting up the decisive 31-lap dash to the finish. Newgarden’s team opted for fresh Firestone tires, enabling his charge from mid-pack to the front.

Championship Implications

With this win, Newgarden vaults to the top of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series standings after two races. Kirkwood moves into strong contention, while Palou’s DNF drops him to fifth. Full updated standings were not immediately available post-race, but the shakeup sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.

The series last raced at Phoenix in 2018, where Newgarden also won, adding a layer of nostalgia to his repeat performance.

More updates, including additional driver reactions and analysis, to follow as the series heads to the Grand Prix of Arlington next week.

Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Results