INDYCAR Announces Single-Car Qualifying in Firestone Fast Six for Java House Grand Prix of Arlington

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Big news from IndyCar on the heels of an amazing race Saturday.

From earlier:https://thepitwindow.blog/2026/03/08/a-desert-classic-phoenix-recap/

 INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, March 8, 2026) – INDYCAR has announced an update to the race qualifying format for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on Friday-Sunday, March 13-15 on the streets of Arlington, Texas.
For NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying, while the “knockout” format of Segments 1 and 2 will remain unchanged, the Firestone Fast Six segment will be adjusted to single-car, single-lap qualifying beginning with the sixth-fastest qualifier from Segment 2 and working toward the fastest from the previous round.
During the Firestone Fast Six at Arlington, drivers will leave pit lane and get an opportunity for one lap – starting and ending at the alternate start/finish line. Once the car enters pit lane following that driver’s attempt, the next car will be released for its attempt. Tire allotments and tire rules will remain unchanged throughout the event.
With the update for the Streets of Arlington event, FOX Sports has agreed to expand its coverage of qualifying to a robust, two-hour window.
The move is designed to create a greater opportunity to spotlight and translate the challenge and expertise required by INDYCAR SERIES teams and drivers competing for the top positions on the starting grid.
“I am excited about this opportunity to put more focus on individual teams and drivers and appreciate FOX Sports providing INDYCAR with an expanded broadcast window to accommodate this change,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “This format will allow the competitors and sponsors who earned spots in the Firestone Fast Six the full attention of the broadcast during its qualifying attempt. It also allows for viewers at home to see just what makes qualifying in INDYCAR so competitive and the perfection that it takes to sit atop the grid and earn the right to lead the field to the green flag on race day.”
Added FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks: “We continue to search for new, unique and innovative ways to tell the stories of the remarkable competition in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and appreciate INDYCAR’s willingness and partnership to do the same. This updated qualifying format will be an exciting way to showcase the stars of the series and dig deeper into what it truly takes to drive on the razor’s edge. I cannot wait to see how it plays out.”
If the Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying segment is impacted by weather or conditions that cause significant track surface change from one attempt to another, INDYCAR will have the following options:
Revert to standard Firestone Fast Six qualifying procedures, which features all competitors vying for the NTT P1 Award in the standard timed window.
Use the results from Segment 2 to set the starting lineup for the race.
Following the Arlington event, INDYCAR will evaluate the updated qualifying format to determine its possible use and implementation at future street and road course events.
Coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying from Arlington is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, March 14 on FS2, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls. Coverage of Sunday’s Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, round three of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship, begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls. 

A Desert Classic- Phoenix Recap

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Photo- Josef Newgarden leads Christian Rasmussen and David Malukas- by Jos Skibinski, Penske entertainment.

Adjectives fail me. I can’t think pf which ones would do yesterday’s race at Phoenix Raceway justice. In one of the best races I have ever seen, Josef Newgarden used a late pit stop for fresh tires to take the lead with just eight laps to go to win the Good Ranchers 250.

IndyCar and Firestone came up with the exact package needed to make the Phoenix track as racy as possible, and they got it right. Passing was plentiful, contenders came and went, cautions were few enough to allow for a flow, drama abounded, and a late yellow provided the intrigue to create a wild finish.

Here are some random musings:

Dennis Hauger provided an early thrill when he spun on lap 11 then rolled backwards down the backstretch, turned the car around and kept going. he finished 15th on the lead lap. At first, I though a scene from the new F1 movie was being filmed. I have never seen anyone do that before.

Whose Fault?

I can’t assign blame in the Alex Palou/Rinus VeeKay incident which took out the points leader. it was simply a racing incident, although I wonder why the spotters didn’t give their drivers any advice. Palou had led the points since June 23, 2024.

Will Power was definitely at fault in the incident involving race leader Christian Rasmussen. Power was having a very good race after crashing in qualifying on Friday, and at one point was in the top three. Rasmussen was running away with the race at that point, but Power was mot allowing the ECR driver to get by him. Rasmussen tried to go outside, but Power slid up the track. both cars suffered damage.

Power finished 16th, a lap down. after coming in to change a cut tire. Rasmussen kept his wounded car on track, fading from a sure win to 14th.

Rasmussen started 18th after a poor qualifying effort, but he first took the lead on lap 73. It was obvious that Rasmussen had the fastest car in the field.

A visibly upset Rasmussen told FOX’s Georgia Henneberry after the race, “We were the class of the field today – best car out there,” Rasmussen said. “It’s so frustrating because we should have won the race today.”

Rising from the Ashes

IndyCar first began racing at Phoenix in 1964. The track was a one groove ribbon in those days, and the racing wasn’t great. When IndyCar returned in2016 for a three year run, the racing was even less than not great, and virtually nobody came to watch.

On Saturday, it was hard to believe this was the same track. Everything came together to produce a fantastic show. I have heard that IndyCar will return in2027. I certainly hope so. I hope this race opens the door to more short ovals, although I think the shared nascar weekends neeed to be limited to two per season.

FOX Fumbles

If there was any downside to the IndyCar program at Phoenix, it was the FOX broadcasts on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday I heard way too much NASCAR talk on the practice and qualifying shows. The practice show began, but we didn’t see a car on track for seven minutes.

On Saturday they had a NASCAR driver in the booth, and while he actually did fine, I found it offensive.

For the race, there was no lap counter or scoring pylon except during commercials. The lap wasn’t even displayed until lap 25. I didn’t like the split screens with NASCAR interviews and other features while FOX could have been showing racing on full screen.

I did notice one interesting thing. After about 50 laps, when everyone realized what a fantastic race was brewing, the NASCAR talk seemed to stop.

FOX owns one third of the series, and it is a travesty that they treated a property they have a stake in with a poor broadcast like this weekend’s effort.

I have enjoyed the broadcasts up until now. There was a bit of a rough start as they began covering the races last year, but since they smoothed things out, they have been fine. Will Buxton called perhaps his best race Saturday, and Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe did their usual fine job. The problem was with production and directing.

There is no time to relax. the series goes halfway back across the country to Texas for the inaugural Arlington street race.

Results

Race Day at Phoenix

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Just a few quick pre-race notes. I assume Felix Rosenqvist and Will Power were gridded by entrant points. I thought Power would get the 24th spot since he made a qualifying attempt.

I will be interested in the attendance today as a gauge as to whether this type of shared weekend will work. I would be fine with no more than two a year.

Several drivers need to have a good result today. Will Power, Nolan Siegel, Scott Dixon, Christian Rasmussen all need a 12th place or better to keep their season hopes alive.

Starting Lineup

Malukas Takes First Pole; Schumacher Grabs the Headlines

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Some thoughts on qualifying:

Imagine winning your first IndyCar pole yet being only the second biggest story of the day. David Malukas won the pole for the race at Phoenix this afternoon. It is a huge accomplishment for him in only his second race at Team Penske replacing the legend, Will Power. I’m sure the pole takes some pressure off of him.

A first career pole for anyone is a great story, but today, a bigger story took place. Mick Schumacher, driving in competition for the first time on an oval qualified fourth- yes 4th. Schumacher held the provisional pole through seven challenges, and he was only bested by Malukas, Josef Newgarden, and his teammate Graham Rahal.

Mick Schumacher

Will Power is off to a difficult start at Andretti Global. He crashed twice last weekend at St. Pete, and today he crashed during qualifying on his second lap. Power complained of pain in his knees after the crash, He will start in the last row tomorrow with Félix Rosenqvist, whose car did not get repaired in time to make a qualifying run.

I did not expect things to be so rough for Power. I knew it would take time to adjust to a new team, but this is beyond what anyone anticipated.

Graham Rahal had his best qualifying effort on an oval since IndyCar raced at Richmond. RLL locked out the second row with Rahal and Schumacher. RLL appears to be much improved on ovals in2026. I hope this carries over to the Indianapolis 500, where they have str4uggled lately.

Six teams qualified cars in the top 10. In addition to Penske and Rahal, McLaren place two cars near the front with Pato O’Ward seventh and Nolan Siegel ninth, Alexander Rossi placed ECR in sixth, Rinus VeeKay qualified eighth for Juncos Hollinger racing, and Alex Palou will start 10th for Ganassi.

FOXSports continues tgo treat IndyCar as a sideshow this weekend. As Malukas, the obvious pole favorite was on track for his qualifying run, FOX decided this was a good time to take up past of the screen and interview Joey Logano, a Nascar driver. They could have had a word with him while Malukas was on his cool down lap instead of interrupting one ofr the two runs I really wanted to watch today. I hope lots of IndyCar drivers get airtime during the nascar shows. End of rant.

Results

Malukas Leads Phoenix Practice

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David Malukas led this morning’s practice session at Phoenix Raceway as Team Penske left no doubt that they are the team to beat on ovals. Josef Newgarden finished third, while Scott McLaughlin finished seventh. Malkus’s fast lap of 175.605 was more than a mile an hour ahead of second place Pato O’Ward.

About halfway through the 60 minute practice, Felix Rosenqvist spun and backed into the wall, destroying both front and rear suspensions. Rosenqvist was not hurt, but the team has a busy three hours before qualifying ahead of them.

Aside from Penske’s three cars in the top 10, ECR put both of their cars in the top six with Christian Rasmussen fourth and Alexander Rossi sixth.

Andretti Global also had a pair of cars in the first 10. Will Power was fifth and Kyle Kirkwood ninth.

Mick Schumacher came in 11th fastest in his first oval session. He struggled early with tire balance but then had a solid run the final half of the session.

Points leader Alex Palou was only 18th fastest.

Notes

It took FOX more than seven minutes to show a car on track at the start of the broadcast. We know what the booth talent and pit reporters look like. I tune in to see race cars running.

IndyCar is at Phoenix this weekend in order to show off the series to NASCAR fans, yet their first time on track is a practice run in front of empty stands. I wonder how many people will be there for qualifying. If this shared weekend happens again next year, I hope the schedulers rethink this early morning practice.

Qualifying is at 2 pm Eastern on FS2.

Results

Phoenix Preview

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Starting the season with a flurry of races is taking some getting used to. Not that I object. It is a great thing for the series to not have three weeks off after St. Pete. This weekend is a two day show at Phoenix Raceway with the good Ranchers 250 on Saturday afternoon.

The event is the earliest oval on the schedule in quite some time, and it’s about time the series has an oval race before the Indianapolis 500. Teams that are strong on ovals have an early opportunity to gain some traction in the points. Rookies can get some oval experience.

It is possible that someone not named Alex Palou could lead the points going into Arlington next weekend,

Phoenix Raceway opened in 1964 and was a pre-Indy staple on the IndyCar schedule for many years. A second race was run in the fall as well. Times changed, and NASCAR bought the track. IndyCar returned for three years from 2016-2018, with races run in front of meager crowds.

For 2026, IndyCar runs at Phoenix on a shared weekend with NASCAR. I don’t mind an occasional shared weekend with the stock car series, but I think for the first two races of the season, IndyCar should showcase its product in standalone events.

The track configuration has changed since 2018, with the starting line moved to between the old turns 1 and 2. As Felix Rosenqvist told me last week, it’s the same track.

The question is how many lines there will be. A high line practice is scheduled for Friday afternoon to help rubber in a second line. How much will the rubber from the NASCAR tires affect the grip is another thing to watch for.

Experience Helpful?

Just five drivers- Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal, Alexander Rossi, and Will Power- have raced at Phoenix. Will their experience give this quintet an edge? It’s hard to say. While the open test at the track a few weeks ago was mainly to find a setup, how the track races is still unknown. We might get an idea during tomorrow’s practice sessions.

Rookies

The trio of rookies get their first taste of IndyCar oval racing early, and as Dennis Hauger said the other day, it will be a weekend of learning. Hauger is realistic about his chances Saturday. He and Caio Collet got some oval work in last year in IndyNXT, but IndyCar is completely different.

Mick Schumacher, whose IndyCar debut lasted just three corners in St. Pete should get some laps in this time. Saturday will be Schumacher’s first oval race ever.

I look for Team Penske to be very strong this weekend, and either Josef Newgarden or Scott McLaughlin should win.

St. Pete Postscript

Just a couple notes about last weekend.

Attendance continues to grow for this event. Grandstands were full every day.

The truck race was much better than I expected it to be, but if this race continues, it needs to be shortened to about 65 laps. The trucks definitely helped the Saturday crowd, and it added a lot of value to the weekend.

I’m not sure the two stint rule for the alternate tires is necessary. It did not improve the racing, and the early yellow made satisfying the requirement too easy.

Good Ranchers 250 Fast Facts

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.Race weekend: Friday, March 6-Saturday, March 7         
Track: Phoenix Raceway, a 1-mile oval

Race distance: 250 laps / 250 miles

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 150 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: Ten sets primary to be used during the event weekend. One additional set is available for use during the group session on Friday.

X: @phoenixraceway, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @phoenixraceway, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @PhoenixRaceway, @IndyCar, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @IndyCar, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR

Event website: www.phoenixraceway.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com

2018 race winner: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet)
2018 pole winner: Sebastien Bourdais (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan Honda), 39.0285 seconds, 188.539 mph (two laps)
Qualifying records:
One lap: Helio Castroneves, 18.8701 seconds, 194.975 mph, April 28, 2017Two lap: Helio Castroneves, 37.7538 seconds, 194.905 mph, April 28, 2017

FOX Sports telecasts: 
Practice 10 a.m. ET, Friday, FS2 (live);
Qualifying, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);
High Line Session/Final Practice/Warmup Show, 4:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live);

Race, 3 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX (live).

Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Jack Harvey, Georgia Henneberry and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. All FOX Sports telecasts also are available on FOX One and the FOX Sports app

.INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Alex Hayden is the turn announcer. Alex Wollf, DJ Clark and Chris Wilner are the pit reporters. The Good Ranchers 250 race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (All Times Local/Mountain Time):

Friday, March 6
8-9 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice, FS2
12:05-1:05 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (single car, two timed laps), FS2
2:30-3 p.m. –  NTT INDYCAR SERIES Group Session (Two groups, 15 minutes each), FS2
3:10-4 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, FS2

Saturday, March 7
12:30 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
1 p.m. – FOX Sports on air
1:15 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines.”
1:20 p.m. – Good Ranchers 250 (250 laps / 250 miles), FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports App (Live)

‘WHAT TO LOOK FOR’ AT PHOENIX:
Palou continues historic title chase at Phoenix: Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou claimed the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the second consecutive season. The driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is scheduled to make his 100th series start in Saturday’s Good Ranchers 250. With 20 career wins, Palou is already assured of winning at least 20 percent of his first 100 races, something no other active driver has accomplished. Palou has led the NTT INDYCAR SERIES point standings after every race since Laguna Seca in June 2024 – a span of 28 straight races.
Phoenix familiar to a few: While most of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field will compete at Phoenix Raceway for the first time, five drivers in the field have raced at the 1-mile oval previously, and two of the three most recent winners are entered – Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden. Dixon won the series’ last return race to Phoenix Raceway in 2016 while Newgarden won the most recent race at the track in 2018. Alexander Rossi, Graham Rahal and Will Power also have raced at Phoenix Raceway from 2016-18.
“Desert Double” with NASCAR: This weekend’s event at Phoenix is one of three Saturday races on the 2026 schedule, as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is competing on a rare doubleheader with the NASCAR Cup Series on the same weekend in a “Desert Double.” NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series also races Saturday at Phoenix.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Notes: The Good Ranchers 250 will be the first INDYCAR SERIES event conducted at Phoenix Raceway since 2018 and the 65th INDYCAR SERIES race held on the 1-mile oval since it opened in 1964.The Good Ranchers 250 is the first of six oval races on the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Other oval events scheduled are the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (May 24), Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway (June 7), Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway (July 19) and a doubleheader at the Snap-on INDYCAR Weekend at Milwaukee Mile (Aug. 29-30).Five drivers have previously raced INDYCAR SERIES cars at Phoenix Raceway:
 Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi. Al Unser has the most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver at the track (six). Dixon (2016) and Newgarden (2018) are the only past Phoenix winners entered in this year’s race.Eleven drivers have won the Phoenix race from the pole: Helio Castroneves (2002), Arie Luyendyk (1996), Rick Mears (1982, 1989, 1990), Al Unser (1969, 1985), Tom Sneva (1984), Teo Fabi (1983), Johnny Rutherford (1977), Gordon Johncock (1973), Bobby Unser (1968, 1972), Lloyd Ruby (1967) and Mario Andretti (1966).Drivers who have won at Phoenix have gone on to win the INDYCAR SERIES championship nine times: A.J. Foyt (1964, first race; 1975, second race), Mario Andretti (1966, second race), Bobby Unser (1968, first race), Al Unser (1970, first race; 1985), Rick Mears (1982, first race), Bobby Rahal (1992), Buddy Lazier (2000), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001) and Tony Kanaan (2004).Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 421st INDYCAR SERIES start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record. Dixon has made 357 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Alex Palou is expected to make his 100th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start…Josef Newgarden needs to lead 66 laps to pass Dario Franchitti for ninth on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time laps led list…Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will make their first INDYCAR SERIES oval start this weekend at Phoenix. 

St. Pete: New Year, Same Result

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Here we go again. The calendar flipped, and Alex Palou still leads the IndyCar series points. Palou opicked up weher he left off in2025, when he led the championship from start to finish.

Palou repeated his victory in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg virtually the same wat he did last year. Palou stayed out the longest before his first pit stop, which allowed him to build up a lead e only lost briefly after his second stop.

Scott McLaughlin dominated the first third of the race from pole, but Palou quickly moved to second from his fourth starting spot, and from that point forward it was just a matter of time before Palou would assume his usual position.

Palou has won nine of the previous 18 races dating back to St. Pete last year. We are witnessing a generational talent along the lines of Scott Dixon, A. J. Foyt, and Mario Andretti. While it may be boring to see him in Victory Circle every week, we need to enjoy and appreciate his talent.

Quick Thoughts

While Palou was on his typical Sunday stroll, a terrific battle for second happened behind him between Kyle Kirkwood, Scott McLaughlin, and Christian Lundgaard. Kirkwood’s tires eventually faded, and the Andretti driver had to settle for fourth. McLaughlin and Lundgaard continued their fight to the end of the race.

Rookies Dennis Hauger played it smart today and ended with a top 10 finish. The rookie driving for Dale Coyne started third after an impressive qualifying effort. he dropped back at the start, choosing wisely to not battle with the three former race winners as the race began.

Hauger’s fellow rookies did not fare as well. Mick Schumacher’s debut ended in less than a lap as he was involved in a crash. Caio Collet struggled all day and finished 17th on the lead lap.

Difficult Debuts– Will Power ‘s first race for Andretti Global did not end well. Power had wall contact as the same suspension issue which plagued the team all weekend reappeared. He returned 30 laps down and ended22nd.

His replacement at Penske, David Malukas, had a promising day ruined when he flat spotted a tire after running in the top five. Malukas finished 13th.

Biggest Movers–

Josef Newgarden moved up to seventh after starting 23rd. The result is a hopeful sign that Newgarden may have a better season than he did in 2025.

Rinus VeeKay moved up 10 spots to finish ninth.

Team results

Four teams had two cars in the top 10 Team Penske, Andretti Global, McLaren, and Dale Coyne.

This weekend was a great one for Dale Coyne Racing, and I hope we see more results like this from them.

While St. Pete isn’t always the nost thrilling event on the schedule, Palou’s 12.4948 margin of victory is a record for the season opener.

Before you hand Palou the title, keep in mind the packed opening schedule, I think he will experience a challenge at Phoenix.

Thanks for following along this weekend. I will have a wra pup tomorrow morning.

Results

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