Phoenix Trials – Day 1: Malukas sets the tone from the start

After two days of testing at Sebring to prepare for the season's street races, the peloton of theIndyCar The team is in Phoenix for two days of oval testing, on a track the championship will visit on March 7th. This will be the first race on the Arizona oval since 2018, making it crucial for some drivers to get reacquainted with the track and for others to discover a very unique layout!

Usually comfortable on short ovals like Phoenix (2,4 km), David Malukas began his time with Penske in the best possible way, setting the fastest time on the first day of testing. The Lithuanian-American driver finished ahead of his teammate Josef Newgarden, the most recent winner on this track… and also in IndyCar, having won the Nashville finale last September in his hometown.

While David Malukas wasted no time adapting to his new environment, the same can be said for the driver he replaced at Penske, Will Power. The Australian, now with Andretti Global, posted the third fastest time, ahead of his teammate Kyle Kirkwood and three-time defending champion Álex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing), who secured his first two oval victories of 2025 at Indianapolis and Iowa Speedway.

For the rookies, fortunes were mixed on Tuesday, with the 17th fastest time going to Dennis Hauger (Dale Coyne Racing), who already has oval track experience following his successful year in Indy NXT. Mick Schumacher (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), the important thing was to complete the laps, with 109 laps completed, the German driver finished 23rd ahead Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing), back on an oval for the first time since 2024, and who will contest the full season this year.

The last rookie entered, Caio Collet (AJ Foyt Racing), unfortunately distinguished himself by being the only driver to make a mistake, an hour before the end of practice. The Brazilian escaped uninjured after damaging the rear of his car in Turn 4. He finished with the last time, 1,3 seconds behind Malukas, whom he is replacing at Foyt.

Testing continues this Wednesday in Phoenix, while the 2026 IndyCar season will begin on March 1st in St. Petersburg, Florida.

IndyCar 2026 – Phoenix Tests
The results of the first day

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