return to Phoenix Raceway for the primary time since 2018 got here in collaboration with for what was deemed a “Desert Double” weekend. For the primary time, and NASCAR shared an oval, with IndyCar having its Good Ranchers 250 race on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Collection holding the Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 on Sunday.
For therefore lengthy, division existed between the 2 collection because of a tug-of-war for the title of america’ hottest auto-racing collection. However after this weekend’s races and 4 doubleheaders on the highway course from 2020 to 2023, the 2 collection might be a part of forces extra ceaselessly sooner or later.
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“To see two utterly totally different types of motorsport on one ticket is such an exquisite idea,” Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi mentioned Tuesday. “I believe each staff and driver loved the expertise. I believe that almost all of the followers did, as effectively. I hope that is a template for the long run and one thing that we will don’t solely at Phoenix — hopefully we’re going again to Phoenix — however different ovals on the calendar, as effectively.”
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Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing driver for the 2026 IndyCar Collection season
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Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing driver for the 2026 IndyCar Collection season
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Santino Ferrucci, 2026 IndyCar Collection driver for A.J. Foyt Racing
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Will Energy, Andretti World driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti World driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Marcus Ericsson, Andretti World driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2025 Indianapolis 500 driver
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Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – JANUARY 24: Romain Grosjean driver of The #16 Myers Riley Motorsports Ford Mustang GT3 GTD walks on stage throughout driver introductions earlier than the beginning of the Rolex 24 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on January 24, 2026 in Daytona Seaside, Florida. (Picture by James Gilbert/Getty Photographs)
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Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Juncos Hollinger Racing driver Conor Daly (76) makes his strategy to pit lane Thursday, Might 15, 2025, throughout apply for the 109th working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Jack Harvey was introduced Monday as the driving force of the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Hy-Vee Honda for 2022 on a multi-year deal.
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Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Ed Carpenter, 2025 Indy 500 driver
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Rinus Veekay, Juncos Hollinger Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Helio Castroneves walks onto the monitor Friday, Might 23, 2025, On Carb Day forward of the 109th working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, walks via the pit lane through the first day of the ADAC Formulation 4 preseason assessments in Oschersleben, Germany.
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Josef Newgarden, Group Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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Scott McLaughlin, Group Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
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David Malukas, Group Penske driver in 2026 IndyCar Collection
Talks of the doubleheader arose days earlier than final 12 months’s Brickyard 400, on the NASCAR IMS dinner. From there, the plans have been put in place for the collection to hyperlink up and for IndyCar to return again to Phoenix Raceway.
Saturday’s IndyCar race drew a median of 1.247 million viewers, a 391% improve from IndyCar’s final race in Phoenix (254,000 viewers), albeit the race in 2018 was on cable (NBCSN) whereas this 12 months’s race was on community tv (Fox). It was additionally a 77% improve from the second race of the season in 2025.
IndyCar president Doug Boles feels it “is sensible” for IndyCar to proceed racing on Phoenix Raceway’s 1.0-mile brief oval, though a deal to return in 2027 hasn’t been finalized.
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“We began racing Indy automobiles there from the second the monitor was constructed,” Boles instructed IndyStar. “From the Unsers, the Foyts, the Andrettis – you concentrate on the names of those who have competed there are such robust, historic IndyCar names.”
A number of IndyCar drivers caught round on Sunday to look at the NASCAR Cup race on Sunday, and a very good portion of the NASCAR grid was in attendance on Saturday. These are two collection that, though totally different, comprise drivers and staff personnel who’ve developed kinship via the years. Placing each collection in the identical place for a weekend gave followers an opportunity to acknowledge each, even when they don’t often observe one in all them.
“Each ought to complement one another,” . “In the event you’re a motorsport fan, you are simply getting far more worth in your weekend to have the highest two motorsport championships collectively on the identical weekend. I do not see why we won’t do some extra of this. I believe it is good for everyone.”
“I believe it is helpful for each side,” Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon mentioned. “… Hopefully, among the crossover can occur. And I believe all of us can be welcome to including extra doubleheaders down the highway.”
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Boles wished to get via the weekend earlier than deciding whether or not to proceed going to Phoenix and collaborating with NASCAR, however after witnessing this previous weekend, he feels each are price persevering with. Boles had preliminary conversations with Phoenix Raceway president Latasha Causey about returning over the weekend, and he and Penske Company president Bud Denker spoke with NASCAR government vp Ben Kennedy about having one other doubleheader weekend.
Conversations will proceed all through the approaching weeks, however Boles claims there’s a “mutual want” to maneuver ahead with the doubleheader concept. If IndyCar and NASCAR proceed the doubleheader, Phoenix Raceway seems to be essentially the most possible web site for the joint weekend.
“We would not be against taking a look at different oval tracks the place we might companion collectively,” Boles mentioned. “The largest problem in it’s (the) schedule and discovering a date on the schedule that works for each NASCAR and IndyCar.”
In Phoenix, NASCAR was nonetheless the principle occasion, regardless of respectable TV scores and fan attendance for the IndyCar race. The Straight Discuss Wi-fi 500 drew 2.841 million viewers at Phoenix Raceway, which NASCAR has owned since 2019. What was seen as applaudable IndyCar viewership was nonetheless lower than half the viewers that watched the NASCAR Cup race the day.
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Some IndyCar diehards have scoffed on the concept of taking a backseat to NASCAR, even when it’s for less than a weekend. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward initially wasn’t thrilled with the thought of the doubleheader.
Forward of IndyCar’s first race, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, O’Ward mentioned, “I’m already bored with IndyCar being just like the help race. I do know that each time we race with them, we’re all the time the aspect present. It’s nice for the followers, however not for us.”
Following some on-line backlash, O’Ward additional defined his feedback in Phoenix, saying, “Once you see the viewership, I get it. I’m not saying that it’s unsuitable, it’s simply I don’t suppose it’s the very best search for the collection.”
Whereas O’Ward desires IndyCar to develop its personal identification, Boles doesn’t have the identical considerations about IndyCar being the second fiddle if doubleheader weekends like this proceed.
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“I believe, if chosen appropriately, and if it is one thing that we do on a restricted foundation, I do not suppose it hurts both NASCAR or IndyCar to be the opener, if you’ll, for the opposite,” Boles mentioned.
Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson hopes to do extra of those weekends sooner or later. Larson, who drove as O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren teammate within the final two , wouldn’t thoughts doing a doubleheader the place IndyCar is the principle draw.
“I believe it might be fairly neat to form of go to their neck of the woods, possibly with like a avenue course or a highway course, form of allow them to be the premier division,” . “These guys deserve it, they placed on nice racing. Would like to do it once more, however the crossover’s nice.”
As long as negotiations don’t falter, it seems IndyCar and NASCAR will proceed to do doubleheaders. The areas and schedules for these future doubleheaders might finally change, however the two collection lastly appear aligned with each other, which may benefit each.
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