In his first race at Phoenix Raceway, Kyle Kirkwood delivered an impressive performance, driving his #27 Andretti Global Honda IndyCar to a second-place finish in the Good Ranchers 250. Starting from 11th position, Kirkwood advanced through the field by using an alternate pit strategy that enabled him to lead 47 laps late in the race. However, a late yellow flag allowed winner Josef Newgarden to take fresh tires, resulting in Kirkwood settling for second with just eight laps remaining. This finish catapulted Kirkwood to second place in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, trailing the championship leader by only five points.
Strong Performances from Honda-Powered Teams Highlight Race
Kyle Kirkwood’s podium was part of a notable showing by Honda-powered cars, with four out of five such teams finishing inside the top 10. Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing came from 13th on the grid to finish fifth, while Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon secured seventh place, and Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan finished ninth. These results reinforced Honda’s competitive pace on the short oval track despite challenging conditions.
Other Honda contenders such as Kyffin Simpson, Felix Rosenqvist, and rookie Dennis Hauger also scored points finishes in the mid-field positions. Meanwhile, Mick Schumacher, Marcus Ericsson, and Will Power rounded out the field for Honda, with Power notably leading ten laps despite starting at the back after a crash in qualifying but ultimately dropping to 16th following late contact.
Race Incidents Affect Championship Contenders
The race saw championship leader Alex Palou‘s day cut short after contact with Rinus VeeKay on lap 22 ended his strong run from 10th into the top five. This incident halted Palou’s championship-leading streak that had been ongoing since July 2024. Will Power also faced difficulties late in the race after a strong drive forward, dropping back after a collision involving the #21 car.
Comments Reflect Optimism and Determination from Drivers and Honda
Kyle Kirkwood expressed satisfaction with the result and optimism for future races:
“I’m really happy with our JM Bullion Honda and our result today. We had a really good shot to win there up until the final handful of laps, that’s just what 20-lap fresher tires can do. And today we scored a huge second place for our #27 team. We typically haven’t been that good on short ovals and hopefully this is a turning point for all of us at Andretti Global to really bring the fight on these types of tracks. Shout out to Honda—our fuel economy and overall power were incredible all race long. Just a good day for our JM Bullion Honda team.”
Marcus Armstrong shared his perspective on his fifth-place finish and racing alongside veteran Scott Dixon:
“I’m happy to see the end of that one really. It was a tricky day because I was basically just sliding the whole day. I was really happy to see the checkered flag. I honestly had such a great time battling it out with Scott (Dixon). He’s someone that I grew up watching on TV being a fellow Kiwi and I really looked up to him. So, to be able to be racing right next to him on track was something really fun and special. Phoenix Raceway is honestly such a fun track and I’m hoping that this is a regular on the INDYCAR schedule.”
Kelvin Fu, Vice President of Honda Racing Corporation USA, praised the team’s performance and acknowledged ongoing challenges:
“It’s good to be back at Phoenix. There was a great crowd out there today and I’m glad IndyCar could put on a show for them. Huge congrats to Kyle Kirkwood ending up second place. It’s always a good day when you stand on the podium. We had four of our five Honda-powered teams finish in the top 10, and the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team had an incredible qualifying performance. We’ve made a step, but it’s clear that we have more work to do before our next short oval at WWTR in June. Huge thank you to everyone at HRC US for their continued hard work!”
Detailed Finishing Order Highlights Honda’s Depth
The full Honda finishers in the Good Ranchers 250 were:
- 2nd: Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti Global Honda)
- 5th: Marcus Armstrong (#66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda)
- 7th: Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
- 9th: Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda)
- 10th: Kyffin Simpson
- 12th: Felix Rosenqvist
- 15th: Dennis Hauger (Rookie)
- 16th: Will Power
- 17th: Marcus Ericsson
- 18th: Mick Schumacher
- 23rd: Louis Foster
- 24th: Alex Palou
- 25th: Romain Grosjean
Upcoming Challenges as Series Moves to Texas
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue its intense opening schedule with the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15 in Arlington, Texas. The event marks the third consecutive race weekend, promising further opportunities for Kyle Kirkwood and the Honda-powered teams to build on their achievements at Phoenix Raceway. With momentum on their side and valuable lessons learned, these competitors are poised to continue fighting at the front of the grid.
