INDYCAR returns to Phoenix Raceway’s 1-mile oval as Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon and rising stars battle in the Desert Double weekend.

INDYCAR racing roars back to Phoenix Raceway this weekend, and the return to the historic 1-mile oval has the potential to shake up the early 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship race. The Good Ranchers 250 marks the second race of the season and the first oval event on the calendar, bringing a completely different challenge compared to the street circuit opener in St. Petersburg.

Phoenix also delivers a rare motorsports crossover.

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

The event is part of the “Desert Double,” a shared weekend with NASCAR’s Cup Series, creating a packed schedule and a high-energy atmosphere at the Arizona track. For INDYCAR drivers, however, the focus is simple: survive the speed and master the rhythm of oval racing.

And if history is any guide, Josef Newgarden is the driver everyone else will be chasing.

Newgarden captured the last INDYCAR race held at Phoenix in 2018 and has become the modern king of oval racing in the series. Since the start of the 2022 season, Newgarden has won nine of the last 22 oval races, a remarkable stretch of dominance that includes multiple wins on short ovals like Phoenix.

But the field chasing him is stacked with experienced oval specialists.

Scott Dixon, a six-time series champion, remains the active leader with 25 career oval victories and already has a Phoenix win on his resume from 2016. Fellow Team Penske driver Will Power has also shown speed here, recording second- and third-place finishes in previous starts at the track.

Meanwhile, drivers like Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, and Scott McLaughlin have proven capable of stealing wins when strategy and late-race chaos come into play.

One of the most intriguing storylines entering the weekend revolves around David Malukas.

Now driving the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet, Malukas enters the race with a reputation as one of the series’ most promising oval racers. Although he has yet to win an INDYCAR race, his performances suggest that could change soon. Malukas finished second at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2022 and added another runner-up finish in the 2024 Indianapolis 500, proving he thrives on high-speed ovals.

READ MORE: USF Basketball Clinches AAC Title Share Behind Wes Enis & Izaiyah Nelson Dominance

Phoenix also presents a steep learning curve for the rookie class.

Drivers like Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet, and Mick Schumacher are facing their first INDYCAR oval test after gaining experience on road and street circuits. Managing tire wear, traffic, and the relentless pace of oval racing could be the ultimate challenge.

With speed, strategy, and razor-thin margins all in play, Phoenix could deliver the first true statement race of the INDYCAR season.