Last year, fans had to wait three weeks after the season opener for the next race — this year, it’s only six days! This coming weekend marks the first oval race on the calendar: after an eight-year absence, Phoenix Raceway is back! Only five drivers have previously competed on this one-mile oval and only Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon have taken victory here before. Will we see them claim a sporting redemption, or will it once again be Alex Palou taking maximum points? Here’s everything you need to know for the upcoming race weekend!

The History of the Good Ranchers 250

First IndyCar race: 2064
Number of races held: 65
Number of different winners: 34
Last winner: Josef Newgarden (2018)
Lap record: Hélio Castroneves in 2017, 18.8837
Most successful driver: Al Unser Sr., 6 zeges (1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1979 en 1985)

The 2026 Race

Race length: 250 laps / 250 miles (411.2 km)
Tires: 10 sets of standard Firestone tires per car (+ 1 extra set for participants in de ‘High Line’-practice)
Green flag: Sunday, March 7, 3:20 PM ET
Expected race duration: 1 hours and 45 minutes
Number of participants: 25

Entry List for the Good Ranchers 250

#2 Josef Newgarden – XPEL Team Penske (Chevrolet)
#3 Scott McLaughlin – Gallagher Insurance Team Penske (Chevrolet)
#4 Caio Collet – Combitrans Amazona AJ Foyt Racing (Chevrolet)
#5 Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren (Chevrolet)
#6 Nolan Siegel – NTT DATA Arrow McLaren (Chevrolet)
#7 Christian Lundgaard – Velo Arrow McLaren (Chevrolet)
#8 Kyffin Simpson – Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda)
#9 Scott Dixon – PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda)
#10 Alex Palou – DHL Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda)
#12 David Malukas – Verizon Team Penske (Chevrolet)
#14 Santino Ferrucci – Homes For Our Troops AJ Foyt Racing (Chevrolet)
#15 Graham Rahal – Fifth Third Bank Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Honda)
#18 Romain Grosjean – BMax Dale Coyne Racing (Honda)
#19 Dennis Hauger – Ault Block Chain Dale Coyne Racing (Honda)
#20 Alexander Rossi – ECR Java House (Chevrolet)
#21 Christian Rasmussen – ESC Splenda Stevia (Chevrolet)
#26 Will Power – TWG AI Andretti Global (Honda)
#27 Kyle Kirkwood – JM Bullion / Gold.com Andretti Global (Honda)
#28 Marcus Ericsson – Delaware Life Andretti Global (Honda)
#45 Louis Foster – Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Honda)
#47 Mick Schumacher – ESWE Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Honda)
#60 Felix Rosenqvist – SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing (Honda)
#66 Marcus Armstrong – ROOT Insurance Meyer Shank Racing (Honda)
#76 Rinus VeeKay – ARCO Juncos Hollinger Racing (Chevrolet)
#77 Sting Ray Robb – Goodheart Juncos Hollinger Racing (Chevrolet)

Schedule for the Good Ranchers 250

Friday, March 6
Practice: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Qualifying: 2:05 PM – 3:05 PM ET
‘High Line’-Practice: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Warm-up: 5:10 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Saturday, March 1
Race – ‘Drivers, Start Your Engines’: 3:15 PM ET
Race – Green Flag: 3:20 PM ET

The Good Ranchers 250 on TV

USA: The Friday practice sessions and qualifying will all be shown live on Fox Sports 2. The race broadcast begins at 3:00 PM (ET) on FOX.
Canada: All practice sessions and the race will be available on TSN+, with the race also being broadcast on TSN1. The race broadcast begins at 3:00 PM (ET).
UK: All sessions and the race will be shown on Sky Sports F1. The race broadcast begins at 8:00 PM (GMT).
Australia: All sessions, except the warm-up, and the race will be shown on Stan Sport. The race broadcast begins on Sunday morning at 7:00 AM (AEST).
New Zealand: The first practice session will be shown on Sky Sport 3, while qualifying and the warm-up will be broadcast on Sky Sport 6. The race broadcast begins on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM (NZST) on Sky Sport Select.

Weather Forecast

IndyCar drivers can brace themselves for the first truly warm race of the year. Conditions for Friday’s practice sessions look pleasant, with temperatures around 73°F (23 °C) and plenty of sunshine. The sun may be a bit less prominent on race day, but temperatures are expected to climb to approximately 82°F (28 °C).

Friday, March 6: 77°F (23 °C), sunny
Saturday, March 28: 73°F (28 °C), mostly cloudy

Source: AccuWeather.com

Historical Results

Number of Pole Positions
1. Josef Newgarden – 1
= Scott Dixon – 1

Number of Wins
1. Josef Newgarden – 1
= Scott Dixon – 1

Number of Podium Finishes
1. Will Power – 2
= Scott Dixon – 2
3. Josef Newgarden – 1
= Alexander Rossi – 1

Average Finish Position
1. Josef Newgarden – 5,33 (3 races)
2. Scott Dixon – 7,33 (6 races)
3. Will Power – 9,00 (3 races)
4. Alexander Rossi – 10,67 (3 races)
5. Graham Rahal – 11,67 (3 races)