At the Unser Open Test held over two days at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet-powered cars set the pace on the 1-mile oval. Veteran driver Alexander Rossi, piloting the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, topped the combined timesheet with a lap speed of 174.542 mph, which he clocked during the second day’s afternoon session. The test featured a striking dominance by Chevrolet, with five of the top six drivers across the two-day session driving Chevrolet-powered cars. Notable names in the top six included Rossi, Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet), Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 ECR Chevrolet), David Malukas (No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet), and Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet).
The impressive showing by Chevrolet teams at Phoenix Raceway underlines the automaker’s competitive edge as the IndyCar season opener approaches, setting high expectations for the upcoming doubleheader event scheduled in a few weeks.
Drivers Reflect on Performance and Adjustments at Phoenix Raceway
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden expressed enthusiasm about returning to Phoenix, recalling the 2018 race victory at the same venue:
“It was great to be back at Phoenix. I have a lot of fond memories of this place from the last race in 2018 when we ended up in Victory Lane. Hopefully we can have the same success at the doubleheader weekend coming up, which will be an amazing weekend of motorsports. And we actually have several crew members from 2018 so we know we can get it done, even if it is a new configuration. It’s a blast to race on, for sure and the XPEL Chevy had plenty of speed.”
– Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet
Scott McLaughlin, also from Team Penske, shared his journey through the test:
I was a bit disappointed in the overall speed with the Gallagher Chevy following the first day of the test. We came back today and tuned it up. I felt really comfortable and competitive today, and ready to come back for the INDYCAR-NASCAR doubleheader weekend. The conditions were windy and cold today so that will give us something to think about before we come back, but I’m confident that we will get it all dialed in.
– Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet
A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet highlighted his progress through data analysis and adaptation:
Yes, definitely. Today we analyzed a lot more data and tried to understand what the Penske guys were doing. I think they have pretty good knowledge. I’m trying to adapt my driving style to what they are doing, and I think it is beneficial. The qualifying sim that I did wasn’t exactly a qualifying sim. I’m just trying to get more comfortable with the procedure and so on. I think we can be competitive. Before that, it was a bit of a nightmare. I think being competitive is good to end the test on a positive note. Did some pit stops at the end to be ready for St. Pete.
– Caio Collet, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Alexander Rossi shared his satisfaction after a productive test session:
We got through everything we wanted, and obviously, when you can do that it’s a good day. Of course, the top is good, and the team car. Christian’s car is also strong, so there’s nothing more I could ask for.
– Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Chevrolet
Rossi also tempered expectations about the cold test conditions compared to the warmer race weekend forecast, noting:
It doesn’t take away confidence. But, it is 50 degrees, and if you look at the weather forecast, it’s going to be 85 degrees when we come back. We have a good baseline and it feels like we are on top of it.”
– Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Chevrolet
Christian Rasmussen described the strong performance of ECR Chevrolet:
We’re pretty happy in the ECR camp. Going one, two, 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.
– Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Chevrolet
Rinus VeeKay of Juncos Hollinger Racing reflected on his first oval test with the team:
Had a really first oval test with the team here at Phoenix. We hit the ground running. Really happy with the car and, made a lot of progress throughout the 3 sessions in 2 days. So, yeah, I learned a lot for the race for sure. Really good qualifying case. You know, most important, really good long run pace. So, now really good time with the team. Final test, and well, St. Pete coming up. Very excited. We are ready.
– Rinus VeeKay, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Sting Ray Robb assessed the testing experience and the track’s challenges:
Well, the Unser open test was interesting to say the least. I think this track is actually really fun. I like the layout. I think that it’s really easy in testing here to kinda get off the trail, and then you kinda have to find your way back. So I think we did a good job of finishing the two day test.
– Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
He added optimism about the forthcoming race weekend:
On a good note, I think that we were in a good spot to end and we’ll come back with so we can roll off the truck strong. There’s definitely a lot to learn here. There is some of the big teams that, unfortunately, got a a few extra days on this since we’re tired testing gears, so they knew what was ahead of them. But I think with that, we did a very good job. I think both cars are very quick, and I think that we can roll off here and be in the top half of the field right away.
– Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Nolan Siegel Discusses Learning Curve and Team Dynamics
Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel, making his Phoenix Raceway debut in the No. 6 Chevrolet, spoke extensively about his test experience and outlook during a press conference. Siegel described the track as enjoyable and unique due to its varying corner characteristics, stating that it posed both setup and driving challenges.
Reflecting on fan engagement during the test, Siegel said:
We had a ton of fans at the autograph session. I was surprised. We were all like, why are we doing an autograph session here, and then everyone showed up, and we were like, oh, that’s why. I think that’s a good look into what the race weekend is going to be like.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Siegel expressed optimism about the team’s potential in Phoenix and short oval racing in general:
I think we’ll be strong. I think we’ve been strong on all the short ovals pace-wise. I have full confidence that we’ll figure it out as a group. We have done a good job splitting kind of test items between the three cars.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Siegel also detailed his approach to learning the track and preparation for the test, including extensive use of iRacing and past race footage rather than traditional simulator laps:
I did not do a lap on the sim here. I’ve jumped on iRacing and done it that way at home. No, we have — obviously the team has a long history, so we have some info from when we were here last in INDYCAR… Watched the race replays from 2016 through 2018, got kind of as much on board as I could from there, and then walked the track, and it’s been really nice to have these two days to just get adjusted.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Addressing off-track distractions and team cohesion, Siegel highlighted:
Yeah, I mean, I think honestly, people have made a really big deal about all of that, and I don’t think internally with me or Tony or any — it’s really not that big a deal for us. Nothing has changed. We still have a good relationship.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
He further praised the team environment and his comfort with staff additions:
I’m very comfortable. It’s been nice to run with the group that TK has helped put together on the 6 car. I think there’s some really good additions. He’s done a great job with that. Everything is good. I feel comfortable where I am, comfortable with the people I’m with. Working with Kate again; Andy, new performance engineer, has been doing a great job. Yeah, a lot of familiar faces, which is obviously comforting going into the season. A lot of really strong new faces. I think honestly, for me, I would say I’m at this point more comfortable and more confident with the group we have than I expected to be. It feels like a group that’s worked together for a long time. Yeah, I would say the comfort level is very high, and everyone is happy. Everyone is optimistic.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Siegel noted that off-season racing in LMP2 contributed positively to his readiness:
Yeah, I think it was super helpful. Last year obviously we didn’t have this test, either, so it was just Sebring, and I hadn’t driven a race car for a long time, so you get in and it’s — I felt a little bit more rusty kind of than I would have liked, and I think a lot of people have that experience where you jump in and it takes a few runs to get comfortable, whereas this year it was just in and it felt normal right away. Same thing here, just comfortable and right into rhythm, and it eliminates some of that time to get readjusted.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Regarding the new Arrow McLaren team facility, Siegel commented:
It’s great that the team has a new facility that I think sort of matches the rest of the program. Before it was a big program running out of a small space. I think it was maybe not the most comfortable for everyone. People were crammed into small offices. The cars were close together. It was definitely cramped. So it’s nice to have a bit more space now. It certainly looks the part, and everyone is settling in. I think people are still sort of getting used to the new space and getting used to things being different, but ultimately I think everybody is going to really enjoy it, and once everyone gets settled in it’s going to be a huge positive for us and just make things a bit easier on everyone.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Technical Insights and Strategy for the Upcoming Race Weekend
Siegel elaborated on the technical tools available on ovals that impact racing strategy:
Yeah, on the ovals we have the weight jacker, which we don’t have on road courses, so we can change the balance with that weight jacker, which is a really nice tool to have through a stint. We’ve got the anti-roll bars, roll stiffness in the front and rear individually, so we can use a combination of all three of those tools. That’s been another nice thing to have this testing for, because you do these long runs and you can take some time to go through all of the different positions in the bars and move the jacker around and have time to feel it out before we get to the race. Definitely kind of increases the workload on the driver, but at the same time, if you have a problem, you do have an opportunity to try and make it better for yourself and try and fix it. I think that’s a really cool aspect to the long runs in INDYCAR.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
On learning the track specifics, Siegel noted the advantage of testing without race-weekend pressure:
I think a big one is just as a driver having been here before, obviously coming into practice 1, you get to it right away. That’s big. Then nobody has been here in a long time, so having the opportunity to try tons of things across all three cars is super helpful. I think you get to a race weekend, and sometimes with the lack of time, you’re hesitant to take big swings at things and try kind of more experimental items just because you don’t have the time to get yourself way out of the window and then work your way back, whereas here, you can take a big swing at something and if it doesn’t work, that run wasn’t good, and whatever. You come back and try something else. It’s fun. I really enjoy testing for that reason, and it allows people to get a little bit more creative. I think we found some big, big things and got a good chunk better as a team with all three cars over these two days. Very confident with our starting point going into the race weekend. Certainly more confident with that starting point than I would have been coming to a new track without a test.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Siegel emphasized the importance of a strong start to the season given a packed March race schedule:
It’s always important. I think it’s important for my confidence, for the group’s confidence. It’s always nice to go to St. Pete and have a good event and build some momentum going through the first bit of the season. I think at the same time, it’s still going to be a new group for us. It’s a lot of new people that are working together for the first time and there are going to be little kinks to iron out. We’re going to continue working through that and we’re going to continue working through our program. I’m quite confident that we’ll be strong in St. Pete. I’m really excited for St. Pete. But at the same time, if you’re not, then it doesn’t really change anything for us. We keep working through it the same way. We’ll see where we’re at. I’m confident that we’re going to be good, and we’ll try and just maximize the potential every weekend.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
He also welcomed the energy of consecutive early-season races:
But I think having three back-to-back races at the start of the season is actually going to be really nice. Normally you wait so long through the off-season, everyone is ready to go, you do your one race and you’re just back to waiting again, and I think everyone is ready to go and energized for those three weekends, and it’s nice to do those back-to-backs at the start of the season when everyone is excited for it and ready for it.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Connection to IndyCar History and Co-Hosting with NASCAR
Siegel reflected on the significance of Phoenix Raceway within the history of IndyCar:
Yeah, absolutely. I think this is kind of the heart of INDYCAR racing, right, these short ovals. It’s going to be a fun race, and it does definitely feel like it’s kind of back to the roots of series, which is really cool. Talking to — obviously we’ve got TK who’s raced here a ton; Ryan Hunter-Reay has been hanging around and has raced here a ton, as well. I obviously watched this race growing up and watched those guys racing here growing up, and it’s cool to hear their perspective having driven the previous generations of cars here. I really enjoy INDYCAR short oval racing. I think it does feel like the home for the series, and it just feels like this is what INDYCAR was meant for. Cool to have another short oval on the calendar, and it’s fun for it to be somewhere with so much INDYCAR history.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Discussing the unique dogleg turn at Phoenix, Siegel offered technical insight:
Yeah, it’s interesting. I think the dogleg itself isn’t super exciting. It’s very easy flat, kind of just a straightaway. But what is different is Turns 3 and 4 are not full 180 degrees. It is kind of like a 90-degree corner that feels more like a road course corner. Having the mix of more standard sort of I would say Gateway feeling Turns 1 and 2 and then this kind of funky 90-degree big banked compression that feels like a road course is a very interesting combination and an interesting challenge to have the two of them. Really enjoy driving around this place so far.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Regarding the upcoming INDYCAR-NASCAR doubleheader weekend, Siegel said:
I think it’s awesome. I really enjoyed watching the NASCAR race here last year. It was awesome, awesome racing. Very exciting. I think if we can get some NASCAR fans interested in INDYCAR, get some INDYCAR fans interested in NASCAR and just kind of have an event that’s really fun and exciting for all of the motorsports fans in general that come out — I think the more eyes on INDYCAR, the better. The more eyes on NASCAR, the better. If we can just have this be a big weekend that boosts both series, gets people excited about short oval INDYCAR racing, I think that’s a great thing. So very excited about that.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Team Collaborations and Support Network Among Drivers
Siegel acknowledged his teammates’ and veterans’ valuable experience:
Yeah, I actually honestly haven’t been able to talk to him as much as I would like. He’s another great resource, and I’m very lucky to have so many experienced people around me that are so willing to help. I’ve had some short conversations with Ryan about just issues I’ve had here and whether that’s something he’s experienced and how he dealt with it, and I think there are some kind of track-specific things that are a little different from other places here and how to drive around those things and what we need to work on. It’s been nice to be able to have those chats with him, and I’m looking forward to talking to him more, and obviously when he gets in the car, it’ll be cool to listen to how he goes about things when he’s driving, as well.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Regarding experience advantage among drivers, Siegel reflected:
Yeah, I don’t know. It is obviously tough being newer to the series and having so many people here that have been in it for so long and have so much experience, so I do think that coming somewhere new where everyone resets a little bit is good. At the same time, I wouldn’t say this is necessarily one of those places because we do have quite a few people here that raced here in 2018 I think was the last time we came. There are definitely still people with more experience, but yeah, I think going to new street circuits where everyone is learning and starting from scratch is probably not the worst thing for me. I don’t think it really makes a huge difference, but I would rather be closer on experience than further away.
– Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Looking Ahead to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
As the Chevrolet teams wrap up their preparations, they are heading back to their respective shops to focus on the upcoming season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida. Track activity is scheduled to begin on February 27, leading up to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg set to start at 12:29 pm on March 1, with coverage airing on the FOX Network. The positive results and valuable data gathered during the Phoenix test have given Chevrolet-powered teams and drivers solid confidence as they head toward the first race weekend of the year.
