Team Penske driver, David Malukas, was fastest in Practice 1 in Phoenix for IndyCar’s first oval weekend in 2026. Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden finish out the Top 3 in second and third, respectively. Felix Rosenqvist hit the barrier, costing him time on track before qualifying.
IndyCar begins the second round of its opening triple-header in Phoenix. This weekend also kicks off the first oval race of the 2026 season. With the Desert Double, the NASCAR double header in Phoenix, Practice 1 is the only practice session before qualifying.
Green lights for Practice 1
With the green flag running, Nolan Siegel was the fastest with a 110.806 mph average speed. Alex Palou was in second with a 101.915, and then David Malukas with a 100.409. There was a brief lock-up with a brief yellow flag, with one minute of green flag waving.
After the first yellow flag, Graham Rahal, Rinus VeeKay, and Kyffin Simpson were the first drivers to get runs in. With 10 minutes of green flag running, VeeKay topped the charts with a 21.3394 second lap time. Next, Siegel was in second with a 21.3863 second lap time, then Simpson with a 21.7196 lap time.
Louis Foster slid into P4 with a 21.4856 lap time with 12 minutes of green flag running. Scott McLaughlin topped the sheets with a 20.8753, with Palou in second and Ferrucci in third. Soon after, Rahal took the top spot, then McLaughlin, then Palou. Will Power was on top after a DNF last week in St. Pete, setting a 20.8399-second lap time.
Rosenqvist hitting the barrier in Phoenix
Felix Rosenqvist crashed into the barrier after a 180-degree spin, causing the second yellow flag. Rosenqvist walked away from the crash, losing practice time before qualifying. After the yellow flag was waived for 13 minutes, IndyCar Practice 1 was back on track.
Mick Schumacher completed his best lap 21 minutes into green flag running, placing himself in P22 in his first oval racing weekend. The German driver entered the pits after noting his shift lights were not working on the radio.
With 24 minutes left, Pato O’Ward took the best lap of the session with an average speed of 173.422 and a lap time of 20.7586 seconds. Later, Malukas took P1 from O’Ward with a 20.5005-second lap time.
With 20 minutes left, Malukas was on top, O’Ward in second, then Power sliding into third with a 20.8399-second lap time. Schumacher was the fastest of the three rookies in P19 with a 21.2527-second lap time, then Dennis Hauger in P21, and Caio Collet in P23. Josef Newgarden slid into P3 with a 20.6829.
During the last five minutes of practice, drivers were simulating their qualifying runs. Christian Rasmussen went fourth fastest with a 20.6936-second lap time. Reigning champion, Palou, entered the pits 18th fastest, ending practice with a minute left. David Malukas ended Practice 1 fastest with a 20.5005-second lap time, followed by O’Ward in second and Newgarden in third ahead of qualifying in Phoenix for the first oval race in 2026.
