There was a sense that ’s moniker as ‘The Oval King’ was at risk after teammate obtained the higher of him in qualifying and captured the pole, after which once more in the course of the race when ECR’s ’s daring exterior passes placed on a present that propelled him to the entrance. Ultimately, although, it was Newgarden surging on a late restart from tenth and making the profitable move with seven laps to go, reminding everybody why he’s the usual they’re chasing anytime the IndyCar Sequence races on an oval.
There was no scarcity of motion and drama round Phoenix Raceway’s 1-mile tri-oval, with loads of winners and losers as soon as the checkered flag fell.
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WINNER: Josef Newgarden Josef Newgarden, Staff Penske
Josef Newgarden, Staff Penske
This one is clear. Anytime somebody fees from tenth to first with 33 laps to go, they’ll make the lower on the great aspect of this checklist. And that’s precisely what Newgarden, driver of the #2 Chevrolet, did en path to the thirty third victory of his storied profession. The Tennessee native solely led eight laps, together with the final seven after getting across the #27 Andretti International Honda of – who was on older tires – and rolling to a 1.7937s margin of victory.
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It additionally elevated Newgarden, a two-time sequence champion, to the highest of the factors standings, holding a five-point benefit over Kirkwood. Lastly, the outcome marked the twelfth consecutive season Newgarden has scored no less than one victory within the IndyCar Sequence.
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It seemed ominous for the sector after Alex Palou went tenth to 3rd simply moments after taking the inexperienced flag. Nonetheless, all of it got here undone for the reigning and four-time sequence champion on Lap 21. Shortly after being handed by ’s #15 Honda, Palou was additionally beneath menace of shedding fourth to . Popping out of Flip 4, Veekay tried to push his #76 Chevrolet to the skin of Palou’s #10 Honda, however the two got here collectively on the exit and into the dogleg, and it led to Palou retiring from the race and ending twenty fourth in his a centesimal profession begin.
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In flip, Palou additionally misplaced his stranglehold of the general championship lead, a spot he stood for an unfathomable 622 days.
WINNER: Kyle Kirkwood Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International w/ Curb-Agajanian
Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International w/ Curb-Agajanian
For the second consecutive week, Kirkwood confirmed flashes of being a menace to win. To say his efficiency was sudden can be a disservice to the enhancements Andretti International have made, however the ‘how’ ought to definitely be getting folks’s consideration.
There was one occasion halfway by means of the race when the warning waved on Lap 142 of 250 and the vast majority of the sector opted to pit for recent tires; Kirkwood, together with teammate , stayed out. Regardless of the numerous drawback of being out on tires 25 laps older than his rivals, Kirkwood was in a position to maintain the lead and hold the sector at bay till Lap 190 – pitting two laps later and kickstarting the following cycle of stops for almost all of the sector.
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And the Floridian almost replicated that very same technique to victory, staying out on the final warning after which passing Rasmussen with eight laps to go for the race lead, solely to lose it moments later to Newgarden. Kirkwood’s efficiency, which included main 47 laps, showcased Andretti International’s continued progress on quick ovals, and now sits second within the title race because of it.
LOSER: Christian RasmussenChristian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing
Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing
There is no such thing as a denying that Rasmussen was a pressure, placing on a present with passing on the excessive aspect whereas vaulting from 18th to first and main a race-high 69 laps. These daring exterior strikes, which he prominently displayed en path to his first IndyCar win final season at The Milwaukee Mile, was on show once more in Phoenix.
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For all of the fearlessness Rasmussen has, although, it additionally put him in a number of precarious positions.
With 43 laps to go, the Dane was in a battle for the lead with Energy and was trying a move on the skin of Flip 2 when the 2 got here collectively. Energy’s #26 Andretti International drifted to the best making an attempt to cease the run, however Rasmussen’s entrance wing was already there. The contact pushed Rasmussen’s #21 Chevrolet into the wall, someway not instantly ending his day or breaking the entrance wing, whereas Energy nursed a flat right-rear tire to pit highway for a substitute.
The incident introduced out a warning and Rasmussen opted to remain out and assumed the race lead, and held it till eight laps to go when Kirkwood obtained round. Regardless of his admirable battle, although, Rasmussen’s wounded journey, with vital suspension injury, worsened and he dropped right down to 14th.
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WINNER: Everybody Watching
It’s solely the second spherical of the 2026 season however a case can already be made for Phoenix – which was a uncommon shared weekend with NASCAR – being a race of the 12 months candidate.
There have been 18 lead adjustments amongst 11 leaders, with fixed motion all through the sector courtesy of tire put on and the excessive line creating early. And the proof was within the statistics, with 565 on-track passes, 323 passes for place, with 145 of these within the prime 10 and 60 within the prime 5 – all data at monitor positioned within the Valley of the Solar.
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LOSER: Juncos Hollinger Racing
Qualifying delivered a wholesome shock after the Juncos Hollinger Racing duo of VeeKay and ended up eighth and twelfth, respectively.
That’s the place the great occasions stopped rolling, although.
VeeKay’s aforementioned incident with Palou left him wounded and by no means having the ability to get better the tempo that propelled the Dutchman into the highest 5. He was left 5 laps down and ending a lowly twenty second.
Robb struggled to transform the qualifying tempo to the race, shedding floor on each stint because the #77 was unable to maintain up with the tire falloff. Ultimately, he was left ending 4 laps down in twenty first.
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