AVONDALE, Ariz. — 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 standings after every race since WeatherTech Raceway in June 2024 — a span of 28 consecutive races.
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 one-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
This weekend’s event at Phoenix is one of three Saturday races on the 2026 schedule, as the 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.
• The Good Ranchers 250 will be the first IndyCar event conducted at Phoenix Raceway since 2018 and the 65th race held on the one-mile oval since it opened in 1964.
• The Good Ranchers 250 is the first of six oval races on the IndyCar 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).
• Five drivers have previously raced Indy cars at Phoenix Raceway: Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi. Al Unser has the most wins by an IndyCar 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 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).
