(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mick Schumacher (RLL-Honda; 18th) reached the finish on his oval debut. There wasn’t really anything more to ask for in advance, but of course the question arises as to what would have been possible if the impact wrench at the front right hadn’t jammed during the first pit stop. As a result, Schumacher spent the rest of the race outside the lead lap. (Result)
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Mick Schumacher finished his first oval race in 18th place.
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There was no chance of regaining the lost lap as the race progressed. Although there was a third yellow phase on lap 142 of 250, not all vehicles made a pit stop. As a result, Schumacher, who had been there shortly before, did not receive a wave-by and remained outside the lead lap.
The same applied to the fourth caution on lap 208, when all vehicles had already completed their last regular stop. Again Schumacher was unable to benefit because only some of the vehicles on the leading lap stopped.
IndyCar 2026: Phoenix
Highlights from Race 2 of 18 of the 2026 IndyCar Series, the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona! More formula racing videos
As the best vehicle outside of the lead lap, he also had no one to fight directly with. So he got stuck in 18th position, but gained valuable experience on the oval as he was able to drive in traffic even when he was laps behind. He later lost a second round because he had a different pit strategy.
Gigantic Rasmussen show, but Newgarden wins
The man of the day was Christian Rasmussen (Carpenter-Chevrolet; 14th). The Dane, who stunned the IndyCar scene with crazy overtaking maneuvers during his debut victory in Milwaukee last year, continued seamlessly in Phoenix.
Starting from 18th place, Rasmussen stopped in the very first yellow phase, which was imposed after just ten laps for Dennis Hauger’s (Coyne-Honda; 15th) remarkable spin without impact.
He then drove through the field on fresh tires and impressed again with spectacular overtaking maneuvers. Even when the tire ages equalized after the first regular stop, Rasmussen was unstoppable. His car kept swerving in the turbulent air of the people in front, but Rasmussen kept catching it – a spectacular show.
Still, it wasn’t enough for victory. Rasmussen’s race began to go in the wrong direction when three riders, Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti-Honda; 2nd), Will Power (Andretti-Honda; 16th) and Scott Dixon (Ganassi-Honda; 7th), were left out in the penultimate caution, which Rasmussen had to overtake again.
When he caught up with Power, who had started from the back after his accident in qualifying, there was a collision. Apparently Power’s spotter wasn’t paying attention. Miraculously, Rasmussen’s car survived the collision, while Power suffered a puncture.
Although Rasmussen defended his lead almost to the finish, the damage became noticeable in the final phase. He fell behind like a stone in the final laps. Kirkwood was the first to benefit, but was intercepted by Josef Newgarden (Penske-Chevrolet; 1st) six laps before the end. Penske’s strategy didn’t quite fit the yellow phases, which is why Newgarden had to really tough it out.
He ultimately succeeded and Newgarden won ahead of Kirkwood and pole sitter David Malukas (Penske-Chevrolet; 3rd). The next race in the IndyCar Series will take place next weekend on the new Arlington street circuit in Texas, which ends the “triple header” at the start of the season.
