2026 IndyCar standings after Phoenix

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Round 2 of the 2026 IndyCar season has been completed at Phoenix, view the full championship standings here.

Palou has shock DNF

There was a big shock on Saturday afternoon as championship leader and runaway favourite Alex Palou crashed out of the race. Contact with Rinus VeeKay who was trying to pass him saw the Spaniard end up in the fence. It leaves him 19 points off the lead heading to Arlington.

For most of the day, victory looked like it would be going to Christian Rasmussen. He stormed through the pack from 18th on the grid and had the fastest race car by some distance. However, he was P2 following the last round of stops.

As he tried to make a pass on Will Power for the lead, he ended up in the wall as well. While he managed to continue, there was significant damage to his car. It told in the closing stages as he dropped from P1 to P14.

New 2026 IndyCar championship standings leader after Phoenix

Step forward Josef Newgraden. Having taken fresh tyres on the last caution, he came through from the bottom end of the top 10 to overhaul Kyle Kirkwood and take his second victory in the last three races. The modern oval master took glory once again. Thanks to his victory, the two-time champion now leads the 2026 IndyCar championship standings after Phoenix.

A second straight top five finish for Kyle Kirkwood sees the Andretti driver move into second in points, displacing Scott McLaughlin who had a very quiet run to 8th. Pato O’Ward moved up one spot thanks to a solid 4th.

David Malukas, who bagged his first pole in the series on Friday, led the most laps but had to settle for P3 in the end. Nonetheless, he valued up to sixth in points. Team Penske have all three drivers in the top 6 in the 2026 IndyCar championship standings following Phoenix.

Scott Dixon moved up to 13th, while Will Power’s heartbreak leaves him 22nd at present.