IndyCar champion Alex Palou expressed excitement for the upcoming NASCAR–IndyCar doubleheader scheduled at Phoenix Raceway in March 2026, while also highlighting a key concern about how the events will be managed. The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series was recently announced with 17 races, featuring new and returning tracks and the historic crossover weekend with NASCAR drawing considerable attention.
Next year’s race at Phoenix on March 7 will mark the 59th IndyCar event at the desert oval, but it will also be the first time competitors face the newly reconfigured dogleg section of the track. This change adds a fresh challenge to the race weekend, which is being held in partnership with FOX Sports.
Palou discussed the doubleheader concept on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, showing strong enthusiasm but also pointing out the current separation between the two series during the event. He said,
“I would love if we could be a little bit more together, not like what we had, I would say, two years ago, that we were very separate. And I just wanted to see the NASCAR cars as well,”
— Alex Palou, IndyCar champion
His statement reveals a desire for a more integrated experience, where fans can enjoy both NASCAR and IndyCar seamlessly, rather than feeling the races operate as isolated showcases during the doubleheader weekend.
IndyCar’s Ambitious Season and the Distinctive Phoenix Raceway Challenge
The 2026 IndyCar schedule will begin on Florida’s Gulf Coast, followed closely by the unique doubleheader weekend at Phoenix Raceway. J. Douglas Boles, President of IndyCar, described the early season as “action-packed” with four races compressed into a five-week period.
Boles emphasized the significance of the Phoenix event by saying,
“We’re going to kickstart the season in fitting fashion,”
“Our joint weekend in partnership with NASCAR and FOX at Phoenix Raceway will be a can’t-miss for motorsport fans across the country and a truly special celebration of fast, fearless racing across the motorsport landscape.”
— J. Douglas Boles, IndyCar President
The dogleg addition at Phoenix presents new technical and strategic challenges for both drivers and engineers, perfectly highlighting IndyCar’s emphasis on speed combined with precision driving. The collaboration with NASCAR, running their race on the same weekend, is expected to attract one of the largest combined motorsport audiences this season.
While fans will experience intense competition from two premiere racing series in one weekend, Palou hopes the event is more than just a one-off novelty. He envisions Phoenix as setting a new benchmark for cooperation between IndyCar and NASCAR, enhancing the fan experience and possibly establishing a permanent crossover event. As the 2026 season approaches, the racing community will closely watch if this partnership can deliver on its promise and bring the two series closer together.
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