P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Just five days after the opening round of the 2026 IndyCar season, drivers and teams gathered at Phoenix Raceway for the first oval round of the year. 25 cars hit the track early Friday morning for the opening practice session, and the first 10 minutes were filled with drivers completing slow installation laps to check […]
Just five days after the 2026 IndyCar season’s opening round, drivers and teams gathered at Phoenix Raceway for the first oval race of the year with 25 cars hitting the track for practice.
David Malukas topped the timesheets with a lap of 20.5005 seconds at 175.605 MPH, with Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden following behind.
Chevy-powered drivers dominated the top 10 times, showing strength on short ovals, and teams adjusted setups for the new track conditions.
Felix Rosenqvist’s hard crash in Turns 3 and 4 resulted in significant damage, leaving his team with repair work before qualifying.
With drivers adjusting to faster speeds and new aerodynamics, finding the right car balance was crucial to prevent incidents.
Drivers will return for qualifying to set the grid for Saturday’s race, navigating the changes at Phoenix Raceway for the first time since 2018.
