Newgarden Wins Phoenix Thriller in IndyCar Return

Josef Newgarden stopped for fresh tires late to fly through the field and claim victory.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Josef Newgarden muscled past Kyle Kirkwood with 5 laps to go on fresher tires to win the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, his first victory of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. Polesitter David Malukas finished third for his first career podium. Several drivers, including Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay, crashed out early in the race.

Why it matters

The return of IndyCar racing to Phoenix Raceway after an eight-year absence provided an exciting short-track thriller, with Newgarden's late-race pass showcasing the drama and competitiveness of the series. The race also saw several young drivers, like Malukas, earn career-best finishes, while veterans like Palou and VeeKay suffered early setbacks.

The details

Newgarden was able to muscle his way past Kyle Kirkwood with 5 laps to go, as Kirkwood was forced to hold off on older tires. Polesitter David Malukas finished third for his first career podium. Romain Grosjean was the only driver who did not turn a lap due to a clutch failure before the race, while Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay crashed out early.

  • The race took place on 2026-03-08.
  • The race was the third round of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.
  • The next race is the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on 2026-03-15.

The players

Josef Newgarden

A 33-time IndyCar race winner and two-time series champion, Newgarden claimed his first victory of the 2026 season with a late-race pass for the win.

Kyle Kirkwood

The young Andretti Global driver finished second after leading late in the race but was unable to hold off Newgarden's charge on fresher tires.

David Malukas

The Team Penske driver earned his first career IndyCar podium with a third-place finish.

Alex Palou

The four-time IndyCar champion was involved in a crash with Rinus VeeKay early in the race, ending his day just 40 laps in.

Romain Grosjean

The veteran driver was unable to start the race due to a clutch failure on his Dale Coyne Racing car.

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What they’re saying

“Great to be back here in Phoenix. You know, we love coming here. This has got a lot of IndyCar DNA, this track. So, to be back here with NASCAR's fantastic. Our team just did a phenomenal job this weekend, unbelievable. To have the XPEL car in victory lane, so pumped. The last time we had them was in 2021 on the #2 car. Team Chevy did everything we needed. Look, I didn't believe in the middle of that race that we were going to be able to win this thing, and we just came through firing at the end when it mattered. I'm just so pumped for the team.”

— Josef Newgarden (IndyCar Radio)

“Well, you got to be on the attack in these type of deals. That's how short track racing is, specifically in IndyCar. When the car need to be on rails, it was, and we took some missteps in the middle of the race, and we just got it dialed in at right where it needed to be at the end. It was perfect.”

— Josef Newgarden (IndyCar Radio)

“It's just execution. Great team execution today. So proud of everybody.”

— Josef Newgarden (IndyCar Radio)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.