David Malukas tops first Phoenix IndyCar open test day as Team Penske begins 2026 preparations
Malukas sets the pace in first official oval running of his Penske tenure
David Malukas led the opening day of the Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway, delivering the quickest lap as full-field running began ahead of the series’ return to the one-mile tri-oval in March. Malukas, 24, posted a best speed of 172.605 mph in Team Penske’s No. 12 Chevrolet during the final hour of track time, completing a day that placed him among the leading group throughout the session.
Josef Newgarden ended the day second overall, making it a 1-2 result for Team Penske. Newgarden’s pace set the benchmark for much of the test day before Malukas moved to the top late in the four-hour afternoon run.
Key storylines: new combinations, reduced speeds, and limited tire allocations
The Phoenix test is part of the final buildup to the Good Ranchers 250, scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026. The event will mark INDYCAR’s return to Phoenix Raceway and is positioned as the second round of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, following the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1.
Several major driver-team changes were prominent near the top of the timing sheet. Will Power, beginning a new chapter with Andretti Global after a long stint at Team Penske, finished third-fastest on Day 1 at 171.706 mph, with Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood fourth at 171.423 mph. Reigning series champion Alex Palou rounded out the top five for Chip Ganassi Racing at 171.357 mph.
Lap speeds were notably lower than the last competitive INDYCAR running at Phoenix in 2018, reflecting a different technical landscape and the way teams approached a structured test plan rather than qualifying-style runs. Teams also worked within a restricted tire supply for the two-day program, shaping run plans that emphasized data gathering and race preparation.
Incidents and workload: one crash, heavy mileage for a few entries
The day featured multiple yellow flags, but only one caution stemmed from an on-track incident. Rookie Caio Collet made contact with the outside wall in Turn 4, then spun and stopped on track. He was evaluated and cleared to continue, while repairs were undertaken to return the car to service.
Only a small number of drivers exceeded 100 laps on Day 1, underlining how teams balanced long-run work, setup changes, and tire management across the available track time.
- Fastest lap: David Malukas, 172.605 mph (Team Penske)
- Second: Josef Newgarden (Team Penske)
- Third and fourth: Will Power and Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global)
- Fifth: Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing)
The two-day open test continues Wednesday, with teams expected to refine race setups and evaluate tire behavior and traffic effects ahead of INDYCAR’s first Phoenix race weekend in eight years.