Josef Newgarden storms past Kyle Kirkwood late to win the INDYCAR race at Phoenix Raceway, earning his 33rd career victory and taking the early series lead.

Josef Newgarden delivered a classic INDYCAR finish at Phoenix Raceway, hunting down Kyle Kirkwood in the closing laps to capture the Good Ranchers 250 and jump to the top of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings. The Team Penske star powered to his 33rd career victory, giving the veteran driver an early-season statement just two races into the 2026 campaign.

For Newgarden, the win came much earlier than last season.

READ MORE: INDYCAR Returns to Phoenix Oval as Josef Newgarden Leads Desert Showdown

In 2025, the two-time INDYCAR champion needed 17 races to find victory lane. This time, he wasted no time, unleashing a perfectly timed late-race charge after a strategic tire change turned his No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet into the fastest car on the track.

With seven laps remaining, Newgarden erased the final gap to Kirkwood and executed the decisive move in Turn 4, taking control of the race and pulling away for a 1.79-second victory.

It was a comeback built on patience and strategy.

For much of the 250-lap event, the race seemed destined to go another direction. Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood controlled the lead late and looked poised to seal the win after a restart with fresh track position.

But the gamble to stay on older tires would prove costly.

When a late caution shuffled the strategy, Newgarden and several front-runners dove into pit lane for fresh Firestone Firehawk tires, choosing grip over track position. The decision proved decisive when the green flag returned.

Kirkwood briefly held the lead, but Newgarden’s tire advantage was obvious almost immediately. Within two laps, the Penske driver closed the gap and surged past for the race-winning move.

Kirkwood settled for second place, while pole sitter David Malukas completed the podium in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet — giving Team Penske two cars in the top three during its 60th anniversary season.

Pato O’Ward finished fourth for Arrow McLaren, while Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top five for Meyer Shank Racing.

The race itself was a wild one.

Phoenix’s return to the INDYCAR schedule produced constant action, including a staggering 565 on-track passes, setting a record for the historic one-mile oval.

Another major storyline involved championship favorite Alex Palou, whose race ended early after contact with Rinus VeeKay sent his car into the SAFER Barrier. The four-time champion finished 24th, dramatically shaking up the early championship standings.

READ MORE: Alex Palou Dominates St. Pete to Open 2026 IndyCar Season in Style

Two races into the season, Newgarden now leads the INDYCAR championship with 78 points, just ahead of Kirkwood.

The next stop on the calendar could add another twist.

The series heads to Texas for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, a brand-new street race circling AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field — a setting that promises speed, chaos, and another opportunity for Newgarden to build momentum.