The NTT IndyCar Series concluded its second and final testing day for the 2026 season at Phoenix Raceway on Wednesday, featuring all 25 confirmed entrants. Alexander Rossi emerged as the fastest driver during the test, demonstrating notable speed in his Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet despite interruptions caused by rain.
Rossi Leads Speed Charts Amidst Competitive Field
During the Unser Open Test morning session, Alexander Rossi posted the quickest lap at a speed of 174.444 MPH. He improved upon this performance in the afternoon, setting a lap time of 20.6254 seconds with an average speed of 174.542 MPH. At 34 years old, Rossi’s pace surpassed previous times from day one, solidifying his position at the top of the timesheets.
Josef Newgarden and Alex Palou recorded the second and third fastest laps during the morning, respectively, with Christian Rasmussen and David Malukas following closely behind. Malukas, who had led times on Tuesday, ranked fifth on Wednesday. Rookie Mick Schumacher was the fastest newcomer on the track with a lap at 171.096 MPH and finished eighteenth overall across both days, completing 222 laps as he continues to adapt to oval circuits.
Drivers collectively praised the Phoenix Raceway, expressing satisfaction with how the cars handled on the one-mile oval. While there was some uncertainty about whether a second racing groove would develop during the upcoming race weekend, overall feedback about the track conditions was positive.
Testing Interrupted by Weather and Incidents
The Wednesday morning session proceeded with only one brief stoppage due to debris on the track. However, the afternoon faced multiple interruptions as rain showers moved through, eventually halting the session before it was fully completed. Although Phoenix is located near the Sonoran Desert – an area known for arid conditions – February often brings about four days of measurable rainfall on average.
Despite inconsistent weather, there were about two hours of uninterrupted running in the afternoon, enabling drivers to finalize preparation and testing objectives. Marcus Ericsson experienced a setback when he crashed into the wall driving his #28 Andretti Global Honda. The damage was confined to the rear of his car, and Ericsson suggested a mechanical failure may have contributed to the incident.
Over the combined eight hours of track time, drivers completed a total of 4,853 laps, gaining valuable experience with the unique characteristics of Phoenix Raceway’s oval layout.
Looking Ahead: The Good Ranchers 250 Race Weekend
Teams and drivers will return to Phoenix in two weeks for the Good Ranchers 250, marking IndyCar’s first competition on the one-mile oval since 2018. The testing insights gathered during these sessions, particularly Alexander Rossi’s strong performance, set a hopeful tone as the series prepares for this significant event.
The ongoing development of track grooves and car setups will likely influence strategies and speed during the race weekend, with the ability to adapt to Phoenix’s singular racing conditions proving essential for success.
