Dixon and Rossi testing in Phoenix, ahead of an expected return

The American open-wheel championship hasn't visited the Phoenix oval in Arizona since 2018. A triumphant return is expected on March 7th, the same weekend as the races of NASCAR contested there, Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Alexander Rossi (ECR) have filed the asphalt, for Firestone.

The objective of these two days of testing was simple: to determine as precisely as possible which tire compound would be best suited to the Phoenix track. With particularly steep banking in turns 3 and 4, but very little in turns 1 and 2, the 1,6-kilometer oval presents a puzzle for engineers, both from the teams and from the equipment supplier Firestone. Indeed, the tires must withstand the loads placed upon them, requiring a certain level of hardness, while also being soft enough to allow for tire degradation and different racing strategies.

During the last visits of theIndyCar In Phoenix, between 2016 and 2018, the races resembled processions, as the tire equation hadn't been fully solved. Once the leader caught up behind the last-placed driver, they couldn't overtake, and all that remained was waiting for pit stops. The standard aerodynamic kit, introduced in 2018, helped mitigate this phenomenon, but the addition of the Aeroscreen and electrical components to the 2,4L twin-turbo V6 engines increased the cars' weight, thus putting more stress on the tires.

It was therefore ideal to have two veterans of the category, including a former Phoenix winner, Scott Dixon (in 2016). The New Zealander was delighted to return to the Phoenix track, and especially to resume the development work that has sometimes been somewhat neglected in recent years in a championship as standardized as IndyCar.

IndyCar considering common shock absorbers for all on its new car

“It’s really great to be back here in Phoenix. I have a lot of good memories here. Testing is going well. It’s fantastic that IndyCar and Firestone are working so hard to create racing opportunities, not only here in Phoenix, but also at other tracks, especially short ovals. It’s also cool to get back into the habit of doing big tire tests.”

For Alexander Rossi, winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016, the significance of returning to Arizona is important. This will be the 65th time IndyCar will race at Phoenix Raceway, and its scheduling during a NASCAR weekend will undoubtedly attract a large number of newcomers, who will need to be converted immediately if IndyCar hopes to attract new fans throughout the season.

“These tests are extremely important for the championship, to ensure we choose the right tires. Given the current level of competitiveness in IndyCar racing and the dynamic nature of short oval racing, choosing the right tires is essential. The more testing we do, the more we improve the product we offer for racing. So I’m very honored to be part of this project and to help shape the direction this race will take in March.”

So, we only have a few months to wait before we know if these tire tests will have contributed to creating a product that will interest spectators. The advantage of Arizona is that between the tests conducted in November and the weather expected in early March, conditions shouldn't change drastically, and therefore the knowledge gained from these two days of testing should translate well into performance at the 2026 event.

ALSO READ > Caio Collet joins AJ Foyt Racing in IndyCar