Iconic Blue Envelopes Containing Indy 500 TicketsMailed to Fans Across Globe

March 11, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IMS:

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 11, 2026) – Indianapolis 500 fans will watch their mailboxes after the highly anticipated blue envelopes featuring Race Day tickets were mailed Wednesday, March 11 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.

AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet was on hand to assist with the initial mailing, which included shipments to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 32 countries around the world as race fans eagerly await the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24.

“It’s really impressive,” Collet said. “To connect the drivers and make them closer to the public is unique and something that only INDYCAR does.”

Collet also took time to write notes and signatures on a few envelopes, with these special messages going to ticket buyers from his native country of Brazil. In addition, 26 signed Parkside trading cards were randomly placed in envelopes as a unique surprise for ticket buyers.

It takes approximately nine weeks to package all pre-ordered tickets for mailing, from orders the day after the previous year’s race up to current orders. Hard work from employees in the Ticket Office and other Penske Entertainment Corp. departments ensures the ticketing process runs smoothly and on schedule.

A few facts and figures about this year’s initial ticket mailing:

Number of tickets sent: More than 225,000 items (includes 173,000 Indy 500 Race Day tickets, parking, qualification and practice tickets, concert tickets, etc.)

Number of blue envelopes sent: More than 33,000

Number of U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate envelopes: More than 720

Weight of all ticket envelopes and trays in first mailing: More than 6,800 pounds

Hours needed to fill envelopes by hand: More than 1,100 person-hours

Number of working days to package envelopes: 44

Number of Penske Entertainment employees who fill envelopes: 68

Number of states distributed: 50

Number of countries distributed: 32 (including United States)

Fans who have purchased Miller Lite Carb Day tickets will receive their blue envelopes once the concert artists have been announced.

Federal postal inspectors came to IMS with a large truck for the first mailing. Collet joined IMS and INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles and several IMS employees in helping to load the trucks

.“This is, if not the most important day of the year, certainly one of the most important as our fans can expect their Indy 500 tickets to show up in the mail,” Boles said. “Most people want that ticket because it means so much to them.”

Receiving an eagerly awaited blue envelope in the mail is a rite of spring for thousands of fans of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

But why are the envelopes blue? In the 1970s, Indianapolis 500 tickets were mailed in brown envelopes with the IMS return address in the upper left corner. In the 1980s, a heavier-stock, gray-colored envelope was introduced to mail the tickets, with just the IMS Post Office box number in the upper left corner. A computerized printer also was used for the first time in the 1980s to print ticket customers’ name and address on each envelope.

When the NASCAR Cup Series was added to the IMS schedule in 1994, the Ticket Office needed a way to distinguish between the envelopes containing tickets for the Indianapolis 500 and the annual NASCAR race, especially if the Postal Service returned the envelope as non-deliverable.

So, the IMS Ticket Office decided to color-code the ticket envelopes for each event. Indianapolis 500 ticket envelopes became blue, Brickyard Weekend envelopes became purple, Sonsio Grand Prix envelopes became green, and ticket envelopes for other IMS events use a variety of colors, including red, cream, gray and yellow.

Tickets for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24, the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 9 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.

Daly Secures DRR Ride in 110th 500

March 11, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar:

Team News

Conor Daly To Drive for Dreyer & Reinbold in Indy 500

INDYCAR.com

Editorial Staff

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) and Kingspan, a worldwide leader in high-performance building materials, announced March 11 their partnership to enter popular veteran driver Conor Daly in the No. 23 DRR Chevrolet car in the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24.

Daly, 34, from Noblesville, Indiana, will attempt to make his 13th start in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” He has recorded five top-10 finishes at Indianapolis, including in 2024 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. After starting in 29th position for DRR, he finished 10th. He led 22 laps and was the race’s biggest mover, gaining 19 positions. Daly has led a total of 82 laps at the “500.”

“Having a chance to go racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway again at Indy 500 with DRR means the world to me,” Daly said. “I love this event. I can’t wait to get back in the car, and I appreciate the chance that Dennis (Reinbold) and everyone at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has given me to do the job I enjoy.

“We’ve set some high goals with the No. 23. We want to win this race together, and I appreciate that Kingspan has come on board for the biggest race in the world. We appreciate their support for this effort to chase after that nice cold glass of milk in the winner’s circle.”

Second-generation racer Daly was the 2010 Star Mazda series champion with seven wins and captured the 2011 Indy NXT by Firestone race at the famed Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Prior to his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, Daly competed in GP3 from 2012-13 with a third in the series final standings in 2013. In the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Daly has one pole (Iowa, 2020) and two podium finishes (second at Detroit, 2016; third at Milwaukee, 2024).

Kingspan, with 29,000 employees across more than 80 countries and 278 manufacturing sites worldwide, is at the forefront of innovative building solutions. In the U.S., the company operates 32 facilities across 17 states, producing best-in-class products for a wide range of sectors.

This partnership is a perfect match given Kingspan’s commitment to high performance and a speed-focused business mentality.

“We value partnerships that reflect our shared commitment to innovation and performance,” said Alswinn Kieboom, president of Kingspan’s North American insulated panels business. “Collaborating with Conor Daly and the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team on the Indy 500 race provides us with a unique platform to reach our primary customer base while promoting our North American growth ambition.”

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, based in Carmel, Indiana, will compete in its 27th Indy 500 this May with the 100-year legacy of the Dreyer and Reinbold families at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This dates to DRR team owner Dennis Reinbold’s grandfather, the legendary Floyd “Pop” Dreyer, serving as a mechanic for the Duesenberg team in the 1920s. DRR has entered 51 cars in the Indy 500, and all entries have qualified.

“We are excited to partner with Kingspan to field our No. 23 entry for Conor in this year’s Indy 500,” Reinbold said. “Kingspan is a world leader in its field, and we are pleased to team them up with Conor and a strong DRR team this year.

“Conor has been a contender to win the biggest race in the world on several occasions, and we want to put him, Kingspan and our squad in the IMS winner’s circle on May 24. We were top contenders in last year’s event, and we are ready to reach the ultimate goal this year.”

Grand Prix of Arlington Schedule

March 9, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

All times Central

Freedom 250 Grand Prix Unveils Historic Racetrack Design To Commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration

March 9, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

From IndyCar.

INDYCAR to Host First-Ever Street Race on National Mall, Aug. 22-23, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Monday, March 9, 2026) – Charting the course of racing history, officials today unveiled the unique racetrack design and layout for this summer’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., featuring the cars and stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Set for Aug. 22-23, 2026, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will mark the first‑ever auto race held on the National Mall and the historic city streets of Washington D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The landmark weekend will be free and open to the public, offering unprecedented access to North America’s premier open-wheel series framed by America’s most iconic symbols of democracy, freedom and unity.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature a 1.7‑mile, seven‑turn layout, blending the high‑speed demands of INDYCAR racing with the historic character and stunning visuals of the nation’s capital. The racing circuit will wind around the National Mall, incorporating some of America’s most historic and iconic landmarks.
Designed with fan accessibility, breathtaking views and safety at its core, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit will feature the high-powered open-wheel cars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing on a sweeping .4-mile frontstretch along Pennsylvania Avenue, framed by the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. The pit lane area of the track will be adjacent to the track, on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Turns 1 and 2 on the circuit design. The ultra-competitive INDYCAR field will also race by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Archives on the challenging and picturesque course layout.
“This circuit is unlike any other street race we’ve seen,” said two‑time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and back‑to‑back Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who had the opportunity to tour the circuit on Monday morning. “You’ve got a high‑speed section down Pennsylvania Avenue that will reward commitment and precision, mixed with technical corners around 9th Street that will demand respect. Racing through the heart of American history, with those amazing landmarks lining the course, is going to be incredibly powerful. I can’t wait to be back here to race and celebrate America’s birthday at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.”
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix was formalized through an Executive Order signed earlier this year by the President entitled “Celebrating American Greatness with American Motor Racing.” The first ever street race around the National Mall enjoys key support from Chief of Protocol of the United States, Ambassador Monica Crowley, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“The story of America is one of vision, courage, perseverance – and speed,” said Ambassador Monica Crowley, the President’s representative for America’s 250th. “What better way to showcase our exceptional American spirit than by hosting the Grand Prix in our Nation’s Capital during our 250th birthday year! Presidents Washington and Jefferson marked notable celebrations with spirited horse races; the Freedom 250 race will bring that historic tradition into the 21st century and renew a tremendous sense of patriotic pride.”

Link to Freedom 250 Grand Prix track map, course renders and official event logo approved for media usage

Newgarden, Ambassador Crowley, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were joined by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser along with Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner & CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Ted Leonsis, FOX Sports CEO and Executive Producer Eric Shanks and Freedom 250 Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker on Monday to unveil the course design.
“Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs! The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will showcase American ingenuity in engineering and technology along the backdrop of our historic capital in a spectacle that will leave the world in awe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The President and our partners at INDYCAR are preparing a historic celebration worthy of America’s 250th anniversary. The design of this unique and competitive track will deliver an exhilarating and safe experience for millions of Americans to enjoy and celebrate.”
“… America’s 250th will be unlike any moment in our nation’s history,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “INDYCAR racing has always captured the American spirit: bold innovation, relentless drive and the determination to lead, and the Department of the Interior is proud to help bring the historic, all-American race to the very streets in Washington D.C. that shaped our great nation. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix will mark a milestone lap in American history and stand as a defining moment of the semiquincentennial celebration, bringing to life in our nation’s capital the qualities that make America truly exceptional – ambition, speed, resilience and the individual liberty of every American to chart their own path forward.”
Buildout of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix circuit will begin later this summer, with the roads near the U.S. Capitol and around the National Mall expected to remain open and accessible throughout the majority of the course creation.
“We are very excited about hosting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in the Sports Capital,” said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We want people to plan their trips to DC now. Come for the Freedom 250, and then stay to enjoy our monuments and museums, our beautiful parks, world-class restaurants and hotels, and all the culture and entertainment that make us the best city in the world.”
During Monday’s gathering at the foot of the National Mall, officials also revealed the official Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. event logo. The logo design features an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race car positioned in front of the U.S. Capitol dome rendered in a patriotic red, white and blue color palette.
The official Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR also made its debut on Monday, featuring a custom red, white and blue livery created specifically to honor 250 years of American Independence. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix INDYCAR is an open‑wheel, single‑seat Dallara chassis identical to those competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The car will be displayed at prominent locations throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region over the next several months, serving as a rolling ambassador for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix and building excitement as the nation counts down to the historic INDYCAR race weekend.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is poised to become a defining moment in American sports history and, like all NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, will be broadcast live on FOX to a national television audience. FOX will feature enhanced coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix as one of its marquee events honoring America’s 250th anniversary.
“This is so much more than another sporting event on the calendar,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports CEO & Executive Producer. “It’s a unique opportunity to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity and competitive spirit that helped build America. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, racing through a monument-filled course in the heart of Washington, D.C., will be a centerpiece of the celebrations honoring our nation’s 250th birthday. FOX Sports is incredibly proud to help bring this historic moment to fans across the country.”
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. is also bolstered by support from Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which will serve as the event’s Official Marketing, Sponsorships and Corporate Hospitality Sales Partner, leveraging its integrated sports, media and venue platform to connect INDYCAR with fans, partners and the local community. MSE owns the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA) and Washington Mystics (WNBA), and the company hosts hundreds of high-profile events across the region each year.
For more information and to sign up for updates on the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., visit www.Freedom250GP.com.
# # #
ABOUT THE FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will take place Aug. 22-23, 2026, marking the first‑ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the National Mall and the Washington D.C. city streets. The event will be administered by INDYCAR in coordination with the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Washington, D.C.’s Executive Office of the Mayor. The free, two-day motorsports event will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with world‑class racing set against the backdrop of some of America’s most historic landmarks, including the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. The unique street race will be broadcast live on FOX on Sunday, August 23. To learn more, visit www.Freedom250GP.com.
ABOUT INDYCAR
INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America’s premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers – including championship contenders Josef Newgarden (USA), Alex Palou (Spain) and Pato O’Ward (Mexico) – who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses. The 2026 season consists of 18 races in the United States and Canada and is highlighted by the historic Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES, INDY NXT by Firestone, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IMS Productions are owned by Penske Corporation, a global transportation, automotive and motorsports leader. For more information on INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, please visit www.indycar.com. For more information on INDY NXT by Firestone, please visit www.indynxt.com.

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

March 8, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

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

March 8, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

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

March 7, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

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

March 6, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

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.

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

March 6, 2026 thepitwindowLeave a comment

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.