This weekend’s oval doubleheader between the NASCAR Cup Series and the NTT IndyCar Series might have been a first between the two organizations, but one thing didn’t change. Josef Newgarden proved that ovals are still his domain by winning the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway Saturday (March 7).
Newgarden wasn’t the best car on the day; that belonged to Christian Rasmussen, who was making breathless passes throughout the 250 laps. He dominated and had a car that got better over longer runs, which no other competitor, including Newgarden, was able to challenge. But during an on-track battle with Will Power with less than 50 laps to go, he hit the wall and damaged his No. 21’s suspension.
“I’m just very surprised,” Newgarden said. “It’s only been a race since we haven’t won, so it’s not like it’s been a while. In the middle of the race, I don’t think I was fully believing we had the capability to win. We just kept working through it, and if we get another opportunity, we are going to be on the offense. We took tires, and the thing was like a rocket ship when it needed to be at the end of the race.”
This continues a strong start to the season for the Team Penske driver, who climbed to seventh at the opener at St. Petersburg after not making it out of the first round in qualifying. It’s the first time he has two top 10s to start a year since 2020.
While Newgarden celebrated in victory lane, Rasmussen was left wondering what could have been. The 2025 Milwaukee Mile winner performed just as well over the one-mile Phoenix Raceway, hanging his loose car on the outside repeatedly to overtake other competitors. No other car was able to match that line over the full stint on the degrading Firestone tires, or had the mix of handling and speed.
A Cruel Day in Phoenix for Will Power & Christian Rasmussen
However, the young Dane put himself in a risky maneuver to pass Power, who had jumped to the front during the last run of green flag stops. Having dispatched two other cars to get to second, Rasmussen had his hands full with the veteran Andretti Global ace, who put his car in the best spots to disrupt the air flow behind him.
On lap 208, Rasmussen’s run took him to the outside, but he and Power washed up into the wall. While he was able to continue, the car’s handling suffered over the final stint. With fresher tires, he was a sitting duck, as Kyle Kirkwood passed him with nine to go. He finished 14th after leading 69 laps.
“It’s very clear what happened,” Rasmussen said. “We were the class of the field today. Best car out there and I was so happy with the car. You just can’t run people into the wall. (Power) ran me straight into the wall and I had damage.”
Rasmussen’s misfortune worked out for Newgarden whose team took advantage of the late yellow from Power’s slowing car due to a cut tire. Race Strategist Jonathan Diuguid brought the Xpel Chevy down for new tires. After the ensuing restart, he drove up through the field, gaining the lead with seven laps to go to win his 33rd career victory.
Kirkwood earned his second straight top five, with a runner-up. David Malukas got his first podium with Team Penske after winning his first career pole on Friday. Pato O’Ward and Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top five.
Four-time champion Alex Palou wrecked early in the event after Rinus VeeKay tried a pass on the outside, which led to contact and the Spaniard into the wall. He finished 24th and lost the championship point lead to Newgarden heading to next weekend’s inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington.
2026 IndyCar Phoenix Results
The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15, with coverage on FOX.
Has there ever been worse announcing, everyone laughs after everything Joey Logano says and he’s not funny and why is he announcing a Indycar race? Clint Bowyer in the 2 seater was every bit as goofy as expected.