Alexander Rossi topped the charts during a rain-interrupted session at the Unser IndyCar Open Test held on Wednesday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway. The 34-year-old Californian secured a flawless day by leading both the morning and afternoon sessions, despite challenging weather conditions that forced frequent pauses. During the afternoon, Rossi completed 19 laps, recording his fastest lap of 174.542 mph (20.6254 seconds) around the 1-mile tri-oval.
Strong Performance by Ed Carpenter Racing Drivers
Rossi’s teammate Christian Rasmussen closely followed, clocking in second place with a speed of 173.924 mph. Both drivers delivered impressive performances for Ed Carpenter Racing throughout the afternoon session. Rossi expressed satisfaction with the day:
“We got through everything we wanted, and obviously, when you can do that it’s a good day,”
Rossi said, reflecting on the productive test.
“Of course, the top is good, and the team car. Christian’s (Rasmussen) car is also strong, so there’s nothing more I could ask for.”
Rasmussen also shared optimism about their results:
“We’re pretty happy in the ECR camp,”
Rasmussen said.
“Going 1-2 here this afternoon, and Alex was P1 this morning. I was up there as well, even with a run where I had a bit of traffic. It’s safe to say we’re pretty excited about Phoenix.”
Top Competitors from Other Leading Teams
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, a reigning and four-time IndyCar Series champion, finished third with a top speed of 173.625 mph. Right behind Palou was Will Power in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda, reaching 173.188 mph for fourth place. Marcus Armstrong, driving the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, slipped into fifth place with a late lap at 172.940 mph.
Additional noteworthy performances included six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon in sixth and Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing in seventh. Nolan Siegel from Arrow McLaren was seventh, with Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing placing ninth. The No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet driven by Rinus VeeKay rounded out the top 10.
Other drivers such as Romain Grosjean (Dale Coyne Racing), rookie Caio Collet (AJ Foyt Racing), Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren), Marcus Ericsson, and Kyle Kirkwood (both Andretti Global) filled the eleventh to fifteenth positions respectively.
Session Highlights and Incidents
Josef Newgarden of Team Penske logged the highest number of laps at 85, but his pace was slower, finishing last at 166.439 mph. The session was disrupted by rain and multiple cautions, but the only incident involved Marcus Ericsson. As the final hour commenced, Ericsson lost control of his No. 28 Andretti Global Honda in Turn 4, colliding with the outer wall. Thankfully, he exited the car unaided and avoided injury.
Implications for the Upcoming Season at Phoenix Raceway
The test results indicate that Ed Carpenter Racing holds strong potential for the Phoenix event, with Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen showcasing speed and reliability under difficult conditions. With top competitors like Alex Palou and Will Power maintaining competitive pace, the upcoming races look promising and highly competitive. Monitoring how teams adapt to evolving weather and track conditions will be crucial as the season progresses.
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