David Malukas secured pole position for the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday with a standout qualifying performance. The 24-year-old Chicago native, driving Team Penske’s #12 Chevrolet, completed two laps around the 1-mile tri-oval at an average speed of 175.383 mph, marking his first-ever pole in IndyCar competition.
Malukas expressed his relief and excitement following the achievement.
Oh, man, finally, I’m just so happy,
he said.
We had so many P2s. The story of all of last season is we wait until the last few guys and then, boom, we get P2. But finally, we got it! I think the track got in our favor a little bit, it looked like it was getting a bit worse, but we got it. Feels so good.
Penske Team Challenges and Teammates Near the Top
Nicknamed ‘the oval king’ by FOX Sports, Malukas’ Penske teammate Josef Newgarden—twice winner of the Indianapolis 500—posted a solid qualifying run with a two-lap average speed of 174.548 mph to secure second place. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) briefly led the charts with a 173.993 mph average before finishing third due to a loose car in the final corners.
RLL rookie Mick Schumacher made a notable oval debut by qualifying fourth with an average of 173.667 mph over two clean laps. Reflecting on his run, Schumacher remarked,
Yeah, pretty quick, pretty short, but not great,
adding,
Great to have the experience. I think we managed to get a good couple of laps together, so hopefully we’ll be right in there in the mix and we can manage to have a good start.
Scott McLaughlin also represented Team Penske well, delivering a fifth-place result at 173.448 mph. Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) followed closely in sixth place with a 173.389 mph effort. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward encountered difficulties on his second lap, yet still earned seventh place with a combined speed of 173.344 mph.
Qualifying Results Reveal Challenges for Champions and Rookies
Reigning four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou, the recent winner on this circuit, was limited to 10th place with an average of 172.980 mph in his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Fellow Chip Ganassi Racing driver and six-time series champion Scott Dixon faced difficulties and managed only a 15th-place qualification at 172.074 mph.
Christian Rasmussen, winner of last year’s short oval race at the Milwaukee Mile, struggled to gain momentum, placing 17th with a 171.540 mph average. Rookie Dennis Hauger experienced a tough session, finishing 22nd after posting a 169.818 mph lap in his #19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
Will Power’s Crash Alters Starting Grid
Will Power endured a harsh setback during qualifying when, on his second lap, the rear of his #26 Andretti Global Honda lost control and slammed into the Turn 3 wall. This accident forced him to start from the last position, 24th on the grid. Power reported feeling hurt after the incident but confirmed no serious injury.
I’m good,
he said.
My knee hit the dash when it came up, so just pretty sore but nothing broken or anything.
Asked about his readiness to race, Power told FOX Sports reporter Kevin Lee,
I don’t know man. I just don’t know what happened, the car is so much looser than we were this morning. It’s very strange. That was tough. The car had been very comfortable there all day. Man, rough start to the year, for sure. These sort of things happening are not good.
Felix Rosenqvist, who had crashed in opening practice, was unable to participate in qualifying after Meyer Shank Racing could not repair his #60 Honda in time. Consequently, he will start 25th and last on the grid.
Full Starting Lineup and Expectations for the Race
The qualifying session set a varied field for Sunday’s Good Ranchers 250, highlighting a mix of experienced frontrunners, emerging talents, and those recovering from misfortunes. David Malukas’ breakthrough pole demonstrates his growing prowess, while teammates like Newgarden and McLaughlin push for strong results. Veterans such as Palou and Dixon face challenges that might impact their performance, with rookies like Schumacher and Hauger eager to make an impression.
The unexpected crash by Power has introduced additional uncertainty, reshuffling the grid and underscoring the unpredictable nature of Phoenix Raceway. Observers expect the race to be intense and strategic, with drivers leveraging speed and track position to navigate the demanding oval.
