Kyffin Simpson, the Caymanian driver, competed in the IndyCar race held on Saturday, 7 March, at the one-mile banked tri-oval track in Phoenix, Arizona. This marked IndyCar’s first return to Phoenix since 2018, with the series sharing the weekend with NASCAR, resulting in a condensed schedule for practice, qualifying, and racing.
Qualifying took place on Friday, where David Malukas, a young driver for Penske, secured his first IndyCar pole position by averaging 175 mph over his laps. Malukas replaced longtime Penske driver Will Power, who had transitioned to Andretti Autosport for the season but suffered a crash in qualifying, relegating him to start at the rear of the grid. Ganassi Honda teammates Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, and Kyffin Simpson qualified 10th, 15th, and 19th, respectively.
Race Action Intensifies Amid Strategic Fuel Management
The 250-lap race began under the bright desert sun, with intense early competition captivating the crowd. Palou quickly advanced through the field but was involved in an incident on lap 21 with Dutch driver Rinus Veekay, which sent Palou’s car into the SAFER Barrier Wall and forced him out of the event, while Veekay was able to continue.
Throughout the race, the lead exchanged hands among several drivers including pole-sitter Malukas, Marcus Armstrong from Michael Shank Racing, Pato O’Ward of Arrow-McLaren, Christian Rasmussen of ECR Racing, and Kyle Kirkwood representing Andretti Autosport. The Ganassi Honda drivers Dixon and Simpson adopted a conservative approach, focusing on extending fuel mileage to reduce the number of pit stops.
Final Stages See Newgarden Claim Victory, Simpson Earns Top Ten
As the race neared its conclusion, Josef Newgarden of Penske surged to the front with fewer than 20 laps remaining and secured the win. Kyle Kirkwood challenged strongly near the end, finishing second, followed by Malukas in third. Scott Dixon and Kyffin Simpson’s fuel-saving tactics proved effective, allowing them to finish seventh and tenth, respectively.
I’m very surprised [with the win]
Newgarden said after the race.
In the middle of the race, I don’t know that I was fully believing that we had the capability to win. We just kept working through it, and I’m, like, ‘Look, if we get another opportunity, we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to run on the offence.’ We took tires and the thing was like a rocket ship when it needed to be, right at the end of the race. Hats off to the whole crew,
Josef Newgarden, Penske Driver
Championship Standings Shift Following Phoenix Race
With Palou’s retirement from the race and Newgarden’s victory, the championship leaderboard shifted, placing Newgarden in the lead with 78 points. Kirkwood trails closely with 73 points, while Palou’s score dropped to fifth place with 59 points, narrowly ahead of Malukas by three points. This marks the first occasion since June 2024 that Palou has lost his position at the top of the standings.
Next Race Set for Arlington Street Circuit
The 2026 IndyCar season continues with the third race across three consecutive weekends, moving to the debut of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on Sunday, 15 March. This new race will take place on a temporary street circuit encompassing landmarks such as AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ ballpark, promising a challenging and exciting addition to the season’s calendar.
