surged late and pulled off a remarkable drive to win the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway.

The Tennessee native was 10th on a late restart with fresh tires on his #2 Team Penske Chevrolet, but charged through the field and took the lead with seven laps to go to take victory, the 33rd of his IndyCar Series career. In the end, he beat Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood by 1.77937s on the 1-mile tri-oval.

Pole-sitter David Malukas, Newgarden’s teammate, was third to take the final spot on the podium. 

Arrow McLaren’s Pato O'Ward finished fourth, ahead of Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong. 

The Race

Malukas was able to jump out to a solid lead at the start, pulling a gap of almost 2s on teammate Newgarden after just 10 laps. 

Moments later, though, the first caution waved after Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger spun off Turn 2. Fortunately, the ‘Norwegian Nightmare’ kept it off the wall and then proceeded to drive backwards down the straightaway before whipping his #19 Honda back around in Turn 3 and continue on. 

Although Malukas got a clean getaway on the Lap 19 restart, it became tense just behind.

Alex Palou's 100th IndyCar start ends in early crash at Phoenix

Graham Rahal propelled his #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda back around Alex Palou #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda for third. Then, shortly after, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay attempted an outside pass on Palou going through the dogleg, but the two came together and it led to the reigning and four-time series champion retiring out of the race in his 100th start after just 22 laps.

Alex Palou into the wall! pic.twitter.com/k8v356UBkV

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) March 7, 2026

Malukas held the top spot in the approach to the pit cycle, making his first stop on Lap 73. After exiting the pits, though, he was thrust into a tense wheel-to-wheel battle with Newgarden, with the teammates even making contact briefly before the latter eventually pushed ahead.

It was O’Ward, though, who pitted on Lap 68, that ended up ahead courtesy of the undercut on strategy and cycled to the lead. 

Pit stop botched! Mick Schumacher loses lead lap in Phoenix

Rasmussen then came onto the scene with a strong charge, vaulting to second and then to the lead with an outside pass through the dogleg on Lap 109. O’Ward pitted 10 laps later. 

The second caution came out on Lap 142 after Louis Foster’s #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda scrubbed the wall. Kirkwood cycled to the lead as Rasmussen pitted, along with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon. 

Kirkwood took the restart on laps that were 25 laps older, along with teammate Will Power, who were 1-2 on the Lap 155 restart. The Andretti duo held firm for several laps until Rasmussen took the lead on Lap 191. Following another cycle of pit stops, Power found the lead six laps later and was thrust into a fight with Rasmussen.

With the fight on, the two rolled around as Power tried to keep Rasmussen behind. On Lap 206, Power and Rasmussen collided. Power’s #26 Andretti Global Honda drifted high on the exit of Turn 2 but found the left-front of Rasmussen’s #21 ECR Chevrolet. The contact left Power with a flat tire, and Rasmussen saying “something doesn’t feel right” over the radio as the caution came out once more.

Contact between Will Power and Christian Rasmussen! Power has a flat. pic.twitter.com/O5z7XfC3m8

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) March 7, 2026

Despite the concerns over damage, Rasmussen stayed out, ahead of O’Ward and Kirkwood. 

O’Ward opted to pit, along with Newgarden, while Rasmussen stayed out as did Kirkwood. The restart was on Lap 218, which saw Rasmussen get away clean from Kirkwood, while O’Ward and Newgarden began to carve through the field from ninth and 10th. 

O’Ward’s climb was stunted as he broke into the top five, but Newgarden fought through and managed to get up to the top three with 10 laps remaining. 

Kirkwood got around the battered race car of Rasmussen with eight laps to go, but then lost the lead a lap later to the surging Newgarden. 

Despite an admirable fight, Rasmussen was unable to hold pace and fell down the running order to finish 14th. Meanwhile, Newgarden comfortably rode to his first win of the season, with Kirkwood and Malukas joining him on the podium. 

Official race results: 2026 IndyCar at Phoenix

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’s hopes for victory were dashed after crashing out early in the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway.

The reigning and four-time IndyCar Series champion, Palou, making his 100th career start, collided with Rinus VeeKay's #76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet and was left wrecked after just 22 laps on the 1-mile tri-oval.  

After starting 10th on the grid, Palou’s #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda vaulted up into the top three shortly after taking the green flag. He settled into the position behind the Team Penske duo of pole-sitter David Malukas and Josef Newgarden.

A brief caution set up a restart on Lap 19, which saw Palou get jumped by Graham Rahal’s #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda moments later. Then, with an opportunity to attempt a pass from the high line, VeeKay tried to move to the outside of Palou as the duo went through the dogleg. However, Palou continued to come up and VeeKay never lifted, leading to the two making contact and the former’s right-front slamming into the outside wall. Palou’s machine came to a rest on the inside of the track with damage significant enough to step out. 

Alex Palou led the INDYCAR championship standings after every race since June 23, 2024.

That ended today in Phoenix after this crash. pic.twitter.com/7gZzyFZII3

— Motorsport (@Motorsport) March 7, 2026

“I haven't been able to see it,” Palou said, noting a replay. “I just, I don't know if I just squeezed someone or someone was trying to get there. Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I didn't think there was anybody there.

“(I) need to see if there was really that space or not, but yeah, unfortunate that we ended up in the wall so early and not even trying, but it's racing.”

VeeKay was able to continue on, but was left fuming at believing he was squeezed into contact by Palou. 

“He drove up on me, man,” VeeKay said, over the radio. 

VeeKay also felt he’s dealing with potential suspension issues, running five laps down in 23rd at the time of this release. 

“Yeah, steering up to the left,” he said. “I think it's got suspension damage here.”

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