Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood provided a striking evaluation of Phoenix Raceway following the recent two-day Unser INDYCAR Open Test. He described the 1-mile oval as similar to the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis—commonly known as Gateway—but “on steroids,” emphasizing how much faster and more dynamic it felt.
This comparison drew attention partly because four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen recently used a similar phrase to describe the upcoming 2026 F1 cars. Verstappen compared those cars to Formula E vehicles “on steroids,” though he meant it negatively. In contrast, Kirkwood’s comment carried a tone of unexpected excitement and respect for the circuit’s unique challenges.
In a post-test interview with Conor Daly and Jessie Punch, the 27-year-old American detailed the track‘s characteristics:
“It’s a very interesting circuit, right? It’s kind of like Gateway on steroids because this end (Turns 1 and 2) is even more flat and even faster and this end (Turns 3 and 4) is very high banking. It’s not a traditional corner. It’s a 90 [degree corner] almost, it feels like.”
This event marked Kirkwood’s first time racing at Phoenix Raceway, as it had for 19 of his IndyCar contemporaries. Among the 25 active drivers, only five had previous experience on the 1-mile oval from IndyCar’s three-year run there between 2016 and 2018.
Other drivers also noticed resemblances between Phoenix and Gateway, though Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing argued that Phoenix was not as tight as Gateway and has its own distinct style.
Insights from Kyle Kirkwood on the Phoenix Test and its Implications for the 2025 Season
During Wednesday’s briefing on the two-day Phoenix test, Kirkwood explained how teams approached their runs and highlighted indications that the upcoming race on March 7 could be competitive. He noted that some ovals in IndyCar, like Iowa Speedway, have struggled to offer genuine two-line, wheel-to-wheel racing, resulting in processional races with limited overtaking—prompting Iowa’s removal from the 2026 schedule.
Kirkwood admitted he initially feared Phoenix might suffer a similar fate if the high racing line wasn’t activated. However, observations from the second day of testing changed his perspective dramatically. He stated:
“For the first day and a half, I’d say mostly everybody was doing their typical Q (qualifying) runs, maybe a long run, kind of no traffic. And right at the end today (day 2), we got some traffic and some passes actually happening. So little bit inspiring for the race. It seems like there can actually be a race here.”
“It was a little bit scary for me. I was like, man, it’s going to be one lane, and you’re just going to be able to do everything on fresh tires, right? But it kind of feels like that might not be the case now,”
With five career wins, Kirkwood’s evolving view suggests that Phoenix Raceway could offer more competitive, side-by-side racing than initially predicted, which is a welcome sign given the high stakes of the March event.
March Race at Phoenix Raceway to Feature IndyCar and NASCAR
The upcoming Good Ranchers 250 weekend on March 6 and 7 at Phoenix Raceway will be a crossover event, featuring both the IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Cup Series. This convergence is expected to heighten fan interest and raise the profile of the IndyCar race, providing an important stage for drivers like Kyle Kirkwood to showcase their skills on an oval that has reemerged as a significant venue on the schedule.
Given the test performances and Kirkwood’s reflections, the race may defy early concerns about its potential to produce engaging competition, offering instead unpredictable and closely-fought battles on an oval that tests driver daring and car setup in unique ways.
