What are the goals of IndyCar’s Phoenix open test?

Credit: Chris Owens

Ahead of the series’ first race at the track since 2018, IndyCar returns to Phoenix Raceway for a two-day full-field test on the mile-long oval this week.

With PREMA Racing remaining absent amid uncertainty over their future in the series, the 25 confirmed driver-car combinations for the 2026 season, which gets underway on 1st March on the streets of St. Petersburg, will be on track on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Running kicks off at 12:00 MT (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday, with a five-minute installation period followed by 55 minutes of rookie running for Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher. All drivers can then run from 13:00-17:00 MT (20:00-00:00 GMT).

Wednesday’s running is split into two sessions, 9:00-12:00 MT (16:00-19:00 GMT) and 13:30-16:30 MT (20:30-23:30 GMT), as drivers and teams either learn or get reacquainted with the track ahead of IndyCar’s visit to the desert oval on 7th March. 

A fresh challenge for many

All but five current drivers - Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, Andretti Global’s Will Power, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi - have never raced at Phoenix before.

So for the vast majority of the field, this is a venture into the unknown.

“It’s a new oval to the calendar for most parties involved,” said Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, one of the series’ standout oval drivers. “IndyCar oval racing really is obviously part of what the fans love here. I share the same passion as a lot of the other guys in terms of racing so it’s been good to add a new one. 

“It looks a bit of a mix of maybe Gateway, Iowa. Looks old school, typical IndyCar. Hopefully we can get a second lane working. We’ll see what it’s all about but it looks quite quick. And our race weekend truly starts here because it’s coming up very quickly. Lots of work to do.”

Credit: Chris Jones

There have been a pair of two-car test outings since Phoenix’s return to the calendar was announced in September, kicked off by Dixon and Rossi testing tyre compounds in November. The learnings from that outing were furthered last month, when Power and most recent Phoenix winner Newgarden took to the track.

Even for those familiar with the track, modifications made since IndyCar’s last visit will be a cause for recalibration. Beyond changing the side of the track on which the start-finish line sits, creating an asphalt apron in the Turn 4 ’dogleg’ has offered an extra dimension to NASCAR’s races at the track since the alterations.

But where NASCAR drivers are able to cut the ’dogleg’, that will not be possible for IndyCar - both due to track-limit rules and compromised safety.

“I tried in the sim because I thought it would have been great,” said reigning champion Álex

Palou. “It’s very tough on Indy cars. But on top of that, they don’t allow us. So even if it was doable in IndyCar, you’re not going to be able to see it because it’s forbidden to go there. 

“But it’s very rough. What I saw during the track walk, it doesn’t look very nice. I think there would be a big crash if somebody tries it.”

Confidence and comfort the key

Owing to the unfamiliarity for so many, plus the change in the configuration of the cars with the added weight of the aeroscreen and hybrid system since 2018, there is lots of learning on the cards across this week’s two-day test - both for drivers and engineers.

“When you start a day when you don’t know the race track, it’s a little bit different to a track that you already know,” O’Ward said. “For the teams that haven’t really tested here since 2018, the aero is different because of the aeroscreen and that stuff. 

Credit: Chris Owens

“Things have changed so you first just need to see if you’re in the window and you’re in a place where you can start evolving from that package that you’ve brought. So I think that’s the biggest thing, just trying to get that underway and then really build on that.”

Once the drivers have adapted to the track, work will then commence on refining packages ahead of the race weekend in two-and-a-half weeks’ time, without putting undue emphasis on recording bumper lap times.

“Normally at ovals, it’s just about how you feel with the car, if you have confidence to push and attack the car and be on top of the car and not allowing the car to drive you and take you around,” Palou said. “[You make] a lot of subtle changes. 

“Normally we don’t really have much time to test on ovals; it’s only at [Indianapolis] that we really have days or hours to do any testing. On all other ovals, we just have like one hour before qualifying and you cannot really test much. It’s exciting, although it’s a new track so we’re starting from zero. But at least [on Wednesday], we’ll be able to do a lot of changes. 

“You always want to go fast, even if you are not trying to go quick. You want to feel fast. But at the same time, it’s just a lot easier [in] testing to get a super big lap compared to when you come on the race weekend and you only have two qualifying laps and then the race: everybody on the same fuel, setup and everything. I just want to feel confident with the car.”

In O’Ward’s mind, patience will be one key this week, particularly with 10 hours of dedicated track time in hand for the non-rookies at Phoenix.

Credit: Chris Jones

“Obviously the ovals, [there is] more caution whenever the car isn’t really to your liking,” he said. “You obviously need something that is under you to be able to just be running out there really. If it’s not, then it really is a big delta from one to the other. 

“You have to be comfortable; you have to be happy with what you have. And this will be a huge opportunity to see the car in every aspect, rather than just a performance run and guessing what the car is going to be like in the first stint.”

Different race weekend conditions?

There are some fears that conditions may be a little warmer for the race weekend visit for Phoenix at the beginning of next month - at least from Chip Ganassi Racing. That could lead to some adjustments having to be made from what is learned at the test.

“We don’t think it’s going to be as cool when we come back for the race,” Palou said. “I just let the engineers figure that out. I’ll just try and do the job that they want during the test. It changes but, at the end of the day, if you have a good base here, it’s still going to be a good base when we come back, even if there’s different rubber, different weather, whatever.”

Adding to that, IndyCar is sharing the race weekend with NASCAR, hence why their race is falling on a Saturday, ahead of the Cup Series event the following day. It is the first time the series have shared a weekend since on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in 2023 and prompts questions over differences in the Firestone and Goodyear tyre rubber.

“The NASCAR rubber sometimes affects the IndyCar a little bit differently than if it’s just all Firestone rubber,” O’Ward said. “Sometimes it varies from track to track so you just have to wait for the rate weekend and see if it decides to throw the balance upside down or not.”

Credit: Chris Owens

Racing prospects at Phoenix

An unknown that will possibly be answered this week is what the quality of racing may be at Phoenix and whether cars will be able to run across multiple lanes on the track.

“I really don’t know what to expect,” O’Ward said. “But I’m assuming we’re probably going to do a two-lane session this week to try and bring that up to life a little bit and see if guys can be running up there. We want the race to be good enough for cars to be exploring, rather than just the one-lane zone.”

As part of the tyre testing already undergone, Firestone’s ultimate choice of compound is also hoped to be something that could enable more side-by-side racing.

“My understanding is that it’s wider, the front-right tyre,” Palou said. “That was best for following cars and racing. I think it’s actually what we need at some of these ovals just to get more grip from the tyre itself so we are able to go in the second lane when it’s not so grippy and still be able to run it.”

This week’s ‘Unser IndyCar Open Test’ serves as a tribute to the Unser family - winners of seven titles and nine Indianapolis 500s - as IndyCar returns to their home track. Al Unser’s six wins at Phoenix marks a track record for IndyCar, while Bobby Unser claimed four victories and a track-record 11 poles, alongside Al Unser Jr.’s four runner-up results.

Fans can attend on Wednesday with free access, including an autograph session from 12:45-13:15 MT for the first 300 fans to visit the Phoenix Raceway display in the Midway. The test will not be live-streamed but live timing will be available on the IndyCar site.