Graham Rahal Reflects On Father Bobby Rahal Ahead Of Documentary Premiere At Sonsio Grand Prix Weekend

Bobby and Graham Rahal collaborate on the set-up of Graham's 2025 No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara Honda at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the INDY500. Image Credit: Paul Hurley via NICS (2025)

Graham Rahal Reflects On Father Bobby Rahal Ahead Of Documentary Premiere At Sonsio Grand Prix Weekend

Graham Rahal sat in the ZOOM Call press conference ahead of this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix and spoke with clear pride about his legendary father, Bobby Rahal. The occasion allowed for Graham to respond to questions centered on the upcoming global debut of the documentary “Bobby Rahal: True American Racer,” set to air Friday night on FS1.

The one-hour version, produced by Chassy Media and directed and edited by Travis Long with support from Scott Borchetta and Nate Adams, premieres at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will re-air multiple times throughout May to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bobby Rahal’s stirring 1986 Indianapolis 500 victory. 

### Premiere and Main Airing

- **Premiere**: Friday, May 8, 2026, at **7:30 PM ET on FS1** (also mentioned with FOX One in some promotions).

- It followed NASCAR Truck Series coverage that night on FS1.

No airings are listed on the main **FOX** channel (the over-the-air network); it has been primarily on **FS1** and **FS2**.

### Re-Airs (as of May 9–10, 2026, and ongoing)

It re-airs multiple times throughout May on FS1 and FS2 to tie into Indy 500 coverage. Examples from current TV listings include:

**On FS2 (recent/ongoing examples)**:

- Sunday, May 10: 6:00 AM ET

- Other morning slots (e.g., around 8:00 AM) and evening repeats in the following days.

**On FS1**:

- Evening slots like 6:00 PM ET on various days (e.g., May 9–10 window and later in the month).

Schedules can shift for live sports (e.g., IndyCar practice/racing on FS1/FS2), so check local listings, the FOX Sports app, or sites like TV Insider for the latest. It may also be available on-demand via platforms like Fubo, DirecTV, or FOX Sports streaming.

For the most up-to-date schedule, visit **foxsports.com** or use your TV provider's guide, as re-airs continue through the Indy 500 period (May 2026). A full-length version of the documentary is expected later in 2026.

This television cut focuses on Bobby’s early years through his emotional win with close friend Jim Trueman, who sadly lost his battle with cancer shortly afterward. A longer, full-length edition covering Bobby’s complete and still-active career arrives later in 2026.

Travis Long described the project, which began in 2022, as deeply compelling. He conducted a seven-hour interview with Bobby and gathered 25 interviews totaling more than 30 hours of footage. Long noted that Bobby’s story stood out because of his hands-on approach to everything from Formula Atlantic and endurance racing to building his own successful team and businesses.

Graham Rahal admitted he had not yet seen the film but expressed genuine excitement about viewing it. He voiced deep admiration for his father not only as a racer but also as a father, businessman, and entrepreneur. 

Graham explained that he strives daily to follow in Bobby’s footsteps by developing ventures outside of racing. This approach allows the sport to remain a true lifelong passion rather than solely a driving career, precisely as Bobby has demonstrated for decades.

When asked what defined Bobby’s racing success - including the Indy 500 triumph, three CART championships, and capturing a title in his first season as an owner - Graham highlighted two standout qualities. First, Bobby proved himself a methodical thinker and supremely talented racer. Second, and perhaps most importantly, Bobby possessed a rare gift for surrounding himself with exceptionally smart and capable people and placing them in the right roles.

Graham pointed to early collaborations such as Adrian Newey at Rahal Hogan, along with loyal team members like Tim, JP, Jimmy Prescott, Clay Wilson, and Ricardo Nault, many of whom have been with the family for 40 to 50 years and are now considered family. He also cited smart business hires such as Ron Ferris for the car dealerships. Graham observed that this same talent for building strong, enduring teams explains the sustained success of top organizations like Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti.

Bobby Rahal’s ability to excel both on and off the track, combined with his leadership in people and vision, continues to inspire his son and the broader racing and business communities.

Addendum: Graham Rahal’s Strong IMS Road Course Record

As it relates to this weekend's Month Of May race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Graham Rahal brings an impressive history to this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. In 12-plus NTT IndyCar Series starts there since 2015, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver owns two runner-up finishes - charging from 17th to second while leading nine laps in 2015, and starting fourth, leading 18 laps, and finishing second in 2020.  

He has posted additional strong results including fourth (2016), fifth (2021), and sixth-place runs (2017 and 2025), with top-10 finishes in 15 of 17 starts and an average finish of roughly 7.6 positions. No wins yet, but consistent podium contention marks his affinity for the 14-turn circuit.

Currently 10th in the 2026 championship standings with 106 points, Rahal will chase his first victory at the venue in Race 6 of the season.

Broadcast Details: Practice and qualifying Friday, May 8. The 85-lap Sonsio Grand Prix goes green Saturday, May 9 at 4:30 p.m. ET, live on FOX and the FOX Sports app.

Former teammates Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal share a friendly conversation during a
pre-race driver autograph session ahead of the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Image Credit: Titus Slaughter - NICS (2026)

Post Race Update:

Christian Lundgaard, in the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, delivered a stellar performance - qualifying P4 and going on to win the race, his second in his NICS career - while Graham Rahal charged from P7 to a strong (highest placing Honda) P3 podium finish in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. A great moment between two respected competitors catching up off the track. These two drivers shared the podium (and the image above - just over Lundgaard's shoulder) with Team Penske's David Malukas driving the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, who qualified P5 and secured P2 after leading in the late stages of the race.

Month of May at IMS post-race comments from Rahal (drawn from team reports, broadcasts, and related coverage) typically emphasize satisfaction with the result on a track where RLL has historically performed well, relief at converting a solid qualifying position into a podium amid chaos (incidents, strategy battles, and pit decisions), and praise for the team's execution.

Lundgaard will try to repeat Alex Palou’s 2025 “double” - on his way to a third consecutive season championship for a total of four in the last five years - of winning the Sonsio Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge when the 110th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” takes place Sunday, May 24. Practice on the fabled 2.5-mile oval opens Tuesday, May 12 Rahal, Malukas, and thirty other drivers will be there to make sure this will not happen. 

For the Rahals, this Sonsio Grand Prix weekend is complete.

... notes from The EDJE

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Graham Rahal On The Prospect Of Racing In Washington DC - Freedom 250 Grand Prix

TAGS: #IndyCar, #BobbyRahal, #TrueAmericanRacer, #SonsioGrandPrix, #RahalLegacy, #Indy50040th, #TheEDJE, #IndyCarOnFOX

Will Power, Andretti Global, And The Parity Push At Barber – Four Races In March And A 25-Car Field That Refuses To Settle

Human ingenuity amplified by AI - Andretti INDYCAR has partnered with TWG AI as the primary sponsor for the #26 Andretti Honda driven by first year Honda & Andretti Global Driver, Will Power. Image Credit Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)

Will Power, Andretti Global, And The Parity Push At Barber – Four Races In March And A 25-Car Field That Refuses To Settle

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES rolls into one of its most picturesque and physically demanding venues this weekend for the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park, and the early-season script keeps getting more interesting.

In just three races held so far in 2026, the series has produced three different winners from three different teams. That kind of spread-out victory lane is exactly what fans love to see, and the fourth race of the month crammed into a 29-day window offers another prime opportunity for the competitive balance of this 25-car field to assert itself even further.

It has been more than 50 years since the series packed March this aggressively. In the past decade, only the month of July has hosted as many events across different locations. The pace has been relentless, the racing sharp, and the storylines fresh.

Andretti Global dominates the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington weekend! Kyle Kirkwood capped the day in style by driving the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda to the win in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. Marcus Ericsson led the field to green from pole position, while Will Power delivered a strong run to finish third, giving Andretti Global three cars in the top four on the new 2.73-mile Arlington street circuit. The victory marks Andretti’s 78th INDYCAR win and their 21st on a street circuit. With the win, Andretti Global now leads the INDYCAR driver championships as the series heads to Barber Motorsports Park after a short break. Image Credit: Andretti Global via FB/META (2026)

Will Power, now in his first campaign with Andretti Global, sat down for a press conference this week and delivered his usual mix of blunt honesty, dry humor, and quiet confidence. The veteran corrected the moderator early on: he finished third at the Streets of Arlington, not fourth, behind teammate Kyle Kirkwood's impressive victory and Alex Palou in second. It was a strong weekend for the team overall.

Power acknowledged the slow start in the points incidents at St. Petersburg and Phoenix hurt but stressed the underlying speed has been there. The team led at Phoenix before the trouble, and he believes a top-five finish was likely at St. Pete. "The capability to contend for the championship is there," he said. "It's a very good team."

This weekend at Barber carries extra weight for Power. He owns two wins and five podiums at the Alabama rollercoaster, a flowing, elevation-heavy road course that rewards rhythm and precision. Yet it marks his first time piloting the current Andretti car on a proper fast-flowing road course. Friday practice will be critical as he evaluates setup and where the package stacks up in a field that grows tighter every year.

High commitment series of corners and an elevation rise at the end of a high-speed practice run by Will Power has him finishing day one in the top ten drivers in a field of twenty-five. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski - Penske Entertainment (2026)

Power made it clear he expects to be at the pointy end again, but he also knows this stop will reveal plenty about whether Andretti has closed the road-course gap they identified last season.

No discussion of the 2026 title chase skips Alex Palou. Power, the last driver to win a championship against the Ganassi star, described him plainly as the standout and the one setting the standard. While other Ganassi entries haven't matched that level, Palou remains consistently at the front no matter the track type.

To beat him, Power noted, a team and driver cannot afford a single glaring weakness not in qualifying, race pace, strategy, or pit stops. "You can't have a weakness ultimately 'cause he will get you," Power observed. He even joked (mostly) about wanting an in-car camera of Palou on a road or street course just to study the man's technique.

Pitlane ponderings run through Will Power's mind while in his box at Practice 1 of the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park. Image Credit: Joe Skibinski - Penske Entertainment (2026)

Power drew a parallel to his battles with Dario Franchitti years ago but noted the modern era is tougher: a misstep today drops you to 17th, not third, thanks to the depth in the field. Still, he sees Andretti currently led in the standings by teammate Kirkwood as right in the mix.

Power has been impressed with his new squad. He described their debriefs as very military like more structured than what he experienced at Penske with strong processes and ample resources. "They've got everything they need to win a championship," he said. He's providing feedback drawn from years at another top organization, and the team is already making directional improvements.

The whirlwind of adapting to new people, procedures, and car feel has been intense. A recent weekend off helped him catch our breath and digest lessons, especially valuable while prepping for the Indianapolis cars. Power believes the ingredients for a title fight exist right now, not in three years as he once projected. Arlington showed the pace; Barber will test it on a classic road course.

He also tipped his cap to the late George Barber, praising the passion and presentation that turned the venue into one of the series' best from the museum to the sculpted grounds and flowing track layout. Tributes and stickers honoring Barber will feature prominently this weekend.

Full ZOOM Call:

Power sounded genuinely upbeat about the health of INDYCAR. Ratings, crowds, and event quality are rising. He credited the new Arlington layout, partnerships with major sports owners like Jerry Jones, and the overall push for bigger, better spectacles. "From when I first started to now, it's only progressively got better and better every year," he remarked.

Looking ahead, Long Beach remains a traditional strength for Andretti, and Power expects the car to shine there. Indy 500 preparations continue, with focus on building a qualifying-fast machine to complement the team's noted race-handling strengths.

With three different winners from three different teams already on the board, Barber represents another chance for the parity narrative to deepen or for someone to stamp authority. Power and Andretti arrive optimistic but realistic: the road course will be telling. Palou lurks as the benchmark. The 25-car field remains deep and unpredictable.

Four races in March. A sport showing renewed vitality. And a veteran driver in a new home still chasing that championship feel while enjoying the ride.

The Alabama hills are calling. The pointy end awaits. And the early-season story of balance and opportunity has every reason to continue.

As this article is sent to the web to be published, the first practice session is in and Will Power unloads and finishes, during the last and final session of Practice 1, as the 4th quickest Honda and nearly one-half of a second behind the top Chevy driven by former teammate Scott McLaughlin.

POST RACE UPDATE - From P23 to P12 & Biggest Mover:

... notes from The EDJE 

TAGS: #IndyCar, #BarberMotorsportsPark, #WillPower, #AndrettiGlobal, #AlexPalou, #NTTIndyCarSeries, #IndyCarParity, #ChildrensOfAlabamaIndyGrandPrix, MotorsportsJournal, #TheEDJE

Josef Newgarden Captures Strong P2 In Qualifying For The Good Ranchers 250 At Phoenix Raceway

Team Penske's senior driver Josef Newgarden places his No. 2 XPEL Chevrolet Dallara at number two on the grid being edged out by his new teammate David Malukas for the pole - Malukas' first pole in his young career. Image Credit: James Black NICS (2026)

Josef Newgarden Captures Strong P2 In Qualifying For The Good Ranchers 250 At Phoenix Raceway

The desert heat at Phoenix Raceway delivered a fitting backdrop for the NTT IndyCar Series' long-awaited return to this iconic 1-mile oval, and Josef Newgarden wasted no time reminding everyone why he's often called the series' "oval king." In qualifying for the Good Ranchers 250 on March 6, 2026, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time series champion locked down P2 with a solid two-lap average of 174.548 mph in his No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet.

The front row sweep belonged to Team Penske, but it was the surprise story of the session: David Malukas, the young Chicago native now in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, claimed his first career NTT P1 Award (pole position) with an impressive 175.383 mph run. Malukas edged out his veteran teammate Newgarden by nearly a full mile per hour, marking a breakout moment for the driver who joined Penske in the offseason. "I'm just so happy! So many P2’s and finally a pole…what a way to start the season… and our Phoenix race tomorrow," Malukas said post-qualifying, capturing the excitement of a fresh chapter.

CLICK-IMAGE To Launch Post Qualifications Press Conference

Question - Tom Stahler with Josef Newgarden

Tom Stahler - Motorsports Journal: The time of day here in the Phoenix valley, this is the time of day where you really do see a significant shift in temperature. Obviously it played into your hands even starting later in the qualifying session, but a lot of other people I think faltered because the guys earlier had cooler temperatures. How do you feel about the time of day you were qualifying, and what did you do differently?

JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, we were sort of on the back end of it, right? We were, what, 19th or something to go out.

It depends on where you're at. It's a good question. Indianapolis you always want to be first out when the track is the coldest, and you don't want the temperature to build. I think that's somewhat true here. A colder track is typically a faster track, more grip.

I don't think you had a ton of shift. I think just -- I think in general qualifying was a higher track temperature than we had seen the last multiple sessions we had been here. It's the first time everybody really experienced that.

I think at the very end of qualifying, in particular, you saw a lot of drop-off on that second lap for most people, including myself. Compared to the very beginning, that probably got a little bit worse, where you just weren't as consistent on the second lap time.

Mick, for instance, was the first out. He was super consistent both laps, and then the last guy to go, you just saw that drop-off in the second lap. I think that was the difference today.

But I think for where we were, I think we made the most of it.

ENDS

For Newgarden, starting second aligns perfectly with his history at Phoenix. He remains the defending winner here from 2018—the last time the series visited before this 2026 revival. That victory stands as a benchmark for oval mastery, and his front-row lock today positions him ideally for tomorrow's 250-lap battle on March 7 (3 p.m. ET on FOX). The Nashville native's consistency on ovals has long been a hallmark of his career, boasting 32 wins (the most among active American drivers), and this result underscores Team Penske's strength on the high-banked tri-oval despite challenges elsewhere in the field.

Drama wasn't absent: Teammate Will Power suffered a hard crash during his qualifying attempt, adding tension to the Penske camp. Yet Newgarden's smooth, flat-out run kept the Chevrolet momentum rolling. Behind the front row, Graham Rahal slotted into third at 173.993 mph, with Mick Schumacher showing strong form in his first oval qualifying session at 173.667 mph for fourth - another highlight in a day full of surprises.

As the series dusts off this classic venue after an eight-year hiatus, Newgarden's P2 start sets the stage for what could be a dominant Penske performance in the Good Ranchers 250. With his pedigree on ovals and a front-row perch, the question isn't if he'll contend ... it's how far he'll push for another Phoenix triumph. The green flag drops tomorrow, and the "oval king" is ready to reignite the desert.

... notes from The EDJE










TAGS: #IndyCar, #PhoenixRaceway, #GoodRanchers250, #JosefNewgarden, #TeamPenske, #DavidMalukas, #OvalKing, #QualifyingResults, #NTTIndyCarSeries, #MotorsportsJournal, #TomStahler, #TheEDJE

Dennis Hauger Previews Phoenix Oval Debut After Strong IndyCar Start

Norway rookie driver to NTT INDYCAR SERIES Dennis Hauger sports a decorated junior career, winning the 2021 FIA Formula 3 championship. In 2025, he dominated INDY NXT by Firestone with Andretti Global, earning six wins, eight poles and the championship over Caio Collet by 72 points. Hauger is nicknamed the “Norwegian Nightmare.” Image Credit: Joe Skibinski NICS (2026)

Dennis Hauger Previews Phoenix Oval Debut After Strong IndyCar Start

Dennis Hauger, the Norwegian rookie driving the No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda for Dale Coyne Racing, spoke to the media on March 3, 2026, ahead of the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway—the NTT IndyCar Series’ return to the one-mile desert oval after an eight-year absence. 

Coming off an impressive debut at St. Petersburg, where he qualified third—the best rookie qualifying performance since 2018—and finished 10th, Hauger answered questions with a composed, reflective demeanor that balanced quiet confidence with the realism of someone still absorbing the intensity of his new surroundings.

He described his first IndyCar weekend as a strong if imperfect beginning. Practice setbacks were overcome, soft-tire runs unlocked confidence and delivered that near-pole lap (just four-hundredths off the top spot), and both Coyne cars reached the top six in qualifying—a result that lifted the entire team. In the race itself, he acknowledged missed opportunities but highlighted valuable lessons: the importance of aggressive yet controlled in-laps and out-laps, pushing harder on cold tires during the opening lap, and refining pit strategy amid red flags and shifting undercuts. A surprise pre-race motivational outburst from NFL quarterback Jameis Winston—“Preach,” Hauger recalled with amusement—added an unexpected jolt of energy to the team.

Phoenix marks his first competitive oval outing in an IndyCar, following a test session where he adapted swiftly to the car’s greater weight, power, and downforce compared with his INDY NXT experience. While he cautioned that testing is never definitive, he expressed solid comfort heading into qualifying—his strongest discipline—and emphasized the need to dial in balance quickly. The oval’s relative unfamiliarity to much of the current grid (beyond a handful of veterans like Scott Dixon) might narrow the experience advantage slightly, but Hauger focused on fundamentals: setup precision, execution, and learning the unique demands of oval racing, including more frequent pit stops and close-quarters traffic.

CLICK-Image To Launch ZOOM Call

ZOOM Call Transcript:
EDMUND JENKS - Motorsports Journal: It's been kind of an exciting debut, probably the strongest debut since Robert Wickens joined the series back in 2018, and oddly enough, we were racing in Phoenix at the same time. I know it's a bit of a distraction, but this is kind of a duel-sport weekend, and INDYCAR goes first on Saturday. Do you have any interest whatsoever, since you're a driver and probably curious, catching up with any of the people and watching what's going on with NASCAR? 

DENNIS HAUGER: Yeah, definitely. I'm staying on Sunday to watch the race. It's going to be the first time I've watched a NASCAR race live. I think it's awesome that the two paired up together to make an awesome weekend for the fans, for the crowds. I think you've got two different types of racing, just in terms of how we race and how the cars work. At the end of the day, we all just want to have some good sounds, some good racing, and enjoy what we love. I'm definitely going to watch the race on Sunday and see how they get on. Hopefully we'll give some good racing for the fans, as well. It's going to be a fun weekend to watch for sure. 

EDMUND JENKS - Motorsports Journal: Now revealing your background in coming to INDYCAR, you're a champion twice, you were no less than 10th in a field of 22 drivers in Formula 2, and then you finish in your first race 10th. It's like, you can't finish worse than 10th. Given your testing at Phoenix, how well do you think you might fare against everybody else? 

DENNIS HAUGER: As I said, it's really hard when you're testing because you're trying different things. You don't know what the others are doing. You're kind of just focused on your own stuff. Putting everything together for the race weekend, everyone is just figuring stuff out during testing and putting it together for the race. That's when you really find out what you've got. As I said, I hope we can be there in a decent spot for qualifying. 

I think we can do something good there. Our race pace seemed pretty decent in testing. But it's going to be completely different when we are running the high line and everything. Just the racing, as well, is just so different when you're with 25 other cars on track fighting for position. It's something I'm just really open-minded with. I know there's a lot of new stuff again this weekend, but for me, again, it's just about trying to maximize what I have at the time, and at that point, that's all I can do. 

EDMUND JENKS - Motorsports Journal: It's kind of exciting to see you blend in with Dale Coyne and Romain Grosjean. Also great to see him back behind the wheel again. It's like we've got two different kind of rookies coming back in to the field. How has he related to you on driving on ovals since he only became familiar with them when he came to INDYCAR?

DENNIS HAUGER: We haven't talked too much about it. We're all working together to try and be the quickest out there. But it's always good to hear what he has to say about balance. Our driving style is in a very similar window, which makes the feedback also very similar, which is very positive, I think, as a team. That makes it just easier to have both cars going one direction for what we want to do balance-wise. So that's been really good.

Hopefully he has some tips on the side for this weekend, as well, in terms of the racing. That's the main thing for me. Just get more experience with the racing side, being wheel-to-wheel with the others. I feel like qualifying I'm in a pretty good spot. I feel confident there.

It's just about keep progressing, and having him as (audio interruption).

ENDS

Frenchman and former F1 and NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Romain Grosjean - who now lives in Florida - back in the field for another go at a championship here in 2026. Image Credit: Chris Jones: NICS (2026)

His late-announced teammate, Romain Grosjean, has integrated smoothly despite the short preparation window. Their similar driving styles produce aligned feedback, helping both cars progress in the same direction - a dynamic Hauger values even as he aims to outperform his more experienced partner. Grosjean’s oval background offers potential insight, though the two have so far concentrated more on shared setup work than detailed oval tutorials.

Hauger downplayed any notion of heightened external pressure following his strong debut. The P3-to-P10 weekend provided a clear confidence boost without becoming a weight. He expects the season to deliver highs and lows, with consistency as the true target rather than chasing perfection every time out. 

He refuses to fixate on rookie status; the priority is maximum performance on any given weekend, whether the result is a podium or a top-10. Preparation remains his cornerstone: exhaustive study of video, data, and track details to arrive more ready than his competitors. 

Asked to sum up his IndyCar debut in three words, he chose “happy, surreal, and decent.” Decent, because he always hungers for more. Yet for a rookie confronting time-zone confusion, new sponsors, hybrid systems, fueling calculations, and the distinctive rhythm of American open-wheel racing, a 10th-place finish after starting third stands as a credible and promising foundation. 

As the series turns to Phoenix, Hauger’s approach is straightforward: keep grinding, adapt rapidly, chase every available tenth—and trust the results will reflect the effort. The young driver who left Formula 2’s frustrations behind for success in INDY NXT now turns his focus to conquering IndyCar’s ovals. Early signs suggest he is adjusting faster than most anticipated.

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED ARTICLE >>>

TAGS: #DennisHauger, #IndyCar, #PhoenixRaceway, #DaleCoyneRacing, #RookieSeason, #GoodRanchers250, #StPetersburgDebut, #OvalRacing, #NTTIndyCarSeries, #RomainGrosjean, #MotorsportsJournal, #TheEDJE

Rookies Find Their Feet At Phoenix: Day One Unser Open Test Wrap

Conor Daly & Jessie Punch interview Cail Collet, No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet - Image Credit: NICS Video (2026)

Rookies Find Their Feet At Phoenix: Day One Unser Open Test Wrap

Day one of testing at Phoenix Raceway wrapped with the full 2026 IndyCar grid laid bare, rookies included, under the Arizona sun that shifts and plays tricks just like the wind does on these short ovals.

Conor Daly, riding shotgun in the broadcast booth with Jessie Punch, framed it plainly: a classic rookie day. Laps piled high, experience chased hard, no one rewriting the record books ... and that's exactly the point. This Unser Open Test isn't about fireworks; it's about stacking knowledge brick by brick before the real battles ignite.

The three newcomers - Mick Schumacher, Dennis Hauger, Cail Collet - each carved their own path through the session. 

Dennis Hauger, fresh off a dominant Indy NXT campaign, looked every bit the expected pace-setter among the rookies, marveling at the grip monster these high-downforce cars become on sticker tires. "Oh, there's some grip here," he said, the kind of understated awe that comes when a driver realizes the machine can take more than intuition first allows. He kept building, noted a few gremlins to sort, and eyed tomorrow for more baseline work in a field so tight that 17th was only a tenth or so off top-eight territory.

Cail Collet, settling into the AJ Foyt fold alongside the oval-savvy Santino Ferrucci, admitted to the inevitable greenhorn moment: a push too far on fresh rubber, misjudging the extra bite, clipping the apron in turn three or four and spinning into the wall. Lesson delivered the hard way, but he took it in stride - praising Ferrucci's openness with tips (even if ignoring the one about tire pressures and sun glare in turns three-four cost him dearly). Focus tomorrow: traffic runs, dirty air, placing the car right behind others. The steps from quali trim to race long-runs loom large, and he's hungry to log the data, watch the videos, shadow the veterans.

TAP Image To Launch Video Presentation

Mick Schumacher, ever analytical and quick to push back on the "rookie" label - he's raced too long, claimed too many starts elsewhere to wear it comfortably - treated the day as championship business from the jump. He stacked laps, more than most, dialing in the peculiarities of Phoenix: the flat-ish banking that tilts the car outward unexpectedly, the hooked feel in turn three, the wind gusts that shove or suck the aero balance corner to corner. The biggest adjustment? Learning to relax in the seat with a pad for consistency over long stints ... counter to years of tensing up to feel the car precisely. Firestone tires feel worlds apart from Pirelli or Michelin; mastering their window is the immediate homework. Teammate Graham Rahal's counsel rang true: every oval tells its own story, and Phoenix whispered its secrets in differences from Homestead or Sebring.

Beyond the new blood, the timesheet told familiar tales with fresh twists. Team Penske's machines hummed fast as anticipated, but Josef Newgarden, short-oval royalty, found himself shaded by new teammate David Malukas at day's end, while old wingman Will Power lurked close in the Andretti entry. McLaren's squad stayed quiet, potential still holstered; Graham Rahal Hall's push to 11th hinted at progress on a program that has historically wrestled these bullrings.

The field? Razor-close. Top 20 within half a second. Margins microscopic. Rust shaken off, new Firestones waiting for day two.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #IndyCar, #PhoenixRaceway, #UnserOpenTest, #RookieDay, #DennisHauger, #Kyle, #MickSchumacher, #TeamPenske, #ShortOvalGrip, #IndyCarTesting, @IndyCarOnFOX

David Malukas Tops Day One At Phoenix As Penske Era Kicks Off With A Bang

David Malukas - The Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway - Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via NICS (2026)

David Malukas Tops Day One At Phoenix As Penske Era Kicks Off With A Bang

David Malukas arrived at Phoenix Raceway on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and promptly turned the Unser INDYCAR Open Test into his personal welcome party for the Team Penske era. Slotted into the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet - freshly vacated by Will Power - he dropped a 172.605 mph lap that topped the timing screens, edging teammate Josef Newgarden for a clean 1-2 Penske punch on day one of the two-day shakedown.

At the end of the day, Malukas led Penske teammate Newgarden and the man he replaced, now driving for Andretti Global, Will Power. Andretti's Kyle Kirkwood and Ganassi's Alex Palou round out the top five; strong showing for MSR 6th and 7th with New Zealander Marcus Armstrong and Swede Felix Rosenqvist.

The Chicago native stepped to the microphone sounding like a man who'd just discovered a new favorite toy. Phoenix, he declared, feels eerily akin to Gateway ... those mismatched ends of the track, turns one-two demanding one setup flavor while three-four beg for another, forcing quick swaps via weight jacker and the cockpit arsenal in the razor-thin window down the back straight. Wind played its usual desert games, subtle but present, keeping the ADHD brain stimulated as he described it with a laugh - every lap a chess move, tweaking, counter-tweaking, chasing grip that never quite settles the same way twice.

He loves it here already. The sheer velocity through one and two pinned him back initially - "Man, I don't know how Josef's doing that" - until he leaned harder, trusted the downforce, and watched the car devour speed like it was nothing. One of his favorite tracks to drive, full stop; racing it will be another beast entirely, no long runs logged today, but hopes run high that the Good Ranchers 250 in March will deliver the pack racing goods.

Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway End of Day 1 News Conference - Kyle Kirkwood | David Malukas

Post Test Transcript - NTT INDYCAR - Phoenix Raceway

Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal: Every track has a different feel or personality, giving visual cues and so on. How does Phoenix strike you, given you got the mountain on one side and then obviously the stands coming into three and four? How does it all feel to you, and what's your impression on the whole thing?

DAVID MALUKAS: Well, surprisingly, watching it on TV, it seems a lot longer than what it is. You see the beautiful mountains and things.

I think I saw that once I pulled in, but once you're on track, it feels so fast-paced to me. I didn't even notice that you have the hills and everything going on because you just have to be so focused on what's in front.

I don't know. The track just feels very short, very quick. There's a lot going on. Again, having that difference between one, two, three, and four, there's so, so, so busy.

I love it. It's amazing. I think that's why it's one of my favorites so far for ovals. Yeah, I think the characteristic would be busy. That would be its characteristic for me.

Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal: Also, a comment was made earlier about pit lane and how in some ways it might be challenging, especially with the rise towards the end and so on. What is your reaction of pit lane and where you're set up?

DAVID MALUKAS: I mean, there was talks. I can see the concerns over it. It's just going to be, again, a question mark for now until we can see what marbling is going to happen.

Is there going to be quite a lot of marbling once you get down into pit lane, especially with the pit commitment and pit out. We're going to have to see how that plays out.

So far of a whole day of running, and it doesn't seem like there wasn't that much marbling, but a race is a different beast in its own. I think a lot of these questions will get answered once we get closer to race weekend.

ENDS

Settling into Penske has been seamless bliss. Chemistry with the crew clicks; the car looks beautiful, feels right; every pit in-and-out draws a grin he can't suppress. Teammates Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin? Gold. Driving styles align close enough that data swaps carry real weight—Josef's change today becomes tomorrow's known quantity for all three cars, tripling test efficiency in tire-limited days. The engineering depth hits different too: smart people everywhere, everyone grinding 110%, all feeding into one perfectly tuned machine. Best environment he's known, hands down.

Test days mean running plans over outright glory, but topping the sheet? Feels good, confidence boost undeniable. Newgarden's oval mastery provided instant reference—pushing limits he didn't know existed. Interaction with Penske's NASCAR contingent looms too; they've run this place plenty, data exchange on the horizon despite the different machinery.

Phoenix's quirks - sandblasted surface, potential Goodyear marbles, wind shifts—add unknowns for race day, but Malukas isn't fazed. Momentum matters early in '26: back-to-back-to-back opens the calendar, building rhythm fast, keeping fresh eyes on the sport instead of the usual mid-season lull. New team, new ride, but the core IndyCar feel remains familiar—minuscule tweaks, same driver game.

Day one closed with Malukas smiling widest, lap record in pocket, Penske humming. Tomorrow brings more laps, more learning, more proof that this move might just be the spark the championship chase needed. The desert oval listened; the new No. 12 answered loudest.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #IndyCar, #UnserOpenTest, #PhoenixRaceway, #DavidMalukas, #TeamPenske, #172605MPH, #PenskeEra, #ShortOvalChess, #GatewayVibes, #IndyCarTesting, #Penske1-2, #Newgarden, #WillPower, #ShortOvalSpeed

Phoenix Raceway Pre-Unser Open Test Press Conference Unfolds With Palou And O'Ward

First of the 2026 on-site open test press conference with Pato O'Ward and INDYCAR series Champion Alex Palou at Phoenix Raceway. Drivers share a laugh about events about the tire test held at Sebring a week earlier. Image Credit: NICS ZOOM Call Video (2026)

Phoenix Raceway Pre-Unser Open Test Press Conference Unfolds With Palou And O'Ward

As the sun rose over Phoenix Raceway on a crisp February morning in 2026, and the paddock buzzed with the familiar hum of anticipation that only a season-opener test can generate. Here, in the desert air still carrying a hint of winter chill, two of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES' brightest stars - four-time reigning champion Alex Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and the ever-competitive Pato O'Ward piloting the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet - stepped to the microphones. 

The moderator set the scene plainly: Phoenix was back on the calendar, a throwback oval welcoming most of the field to virgin territory, and the Unser Open Test was the first real chance to shake out the cobwebs before the green flags flew in earnest. Palou, fresh off a season of utter dominance with eight victories in 2025, spoke with the quiet confidence of a man chasing history. A four-peat would place him in rare company, only Sébastien Bourdais having achieved the feat in the modern era. Yet for all the laurels, he admitted the workload ahead felt endless - Sebring the week prior, Phoenix now, and no real pause until May. The Chip Ganassi team had poured hours into preparations over the winter, aiming to replicate or perhaps even eclipse the magic of the previous year. This test, especially on an unfamiliar oval, represented starting from scratch, but Palou welcomed the luxury of multi-day running rarely afforded on ovals outside Indianapolis. Confidence in the car, the ability to attack rather than merely survive the laps - that was the true measure of success he sought.

Pato O'Ward - The Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway - Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via NICS (2026)

O'Ward, entering his seventh full season and armed with nine career wins including two last year, approached the 1-mile tri-oval with the curiosity of a newcomer. Only a handful of veterans - Power, Newgarden, Rossi, Dixon - had turned laps here in anger, and the last INDYCAR visit dated back to 2018. He likened the layout to a blend of Gateway and Iowa, old-school and fast, and hoped the test could coax a proper second lane into life for the race to come. Sebring's times? Dismissed with a laugh; that was tire development and experimentation, not outright speed. What mattered now was building comfort, finding a setup that allowed aggressive running without the car dictating terms. Ovals demand trust - if the machine isn't planted, the delta between control and chaos widens dramatically. 

Both drivers agreed the test's value lay not in headline lap times but in feel and foundation. Palou emphasized subtle adjustments and the freedom to experiment without the pressure of a race weekend's limited laps and identical fuel loads. O'Ward echoed the sentiment: a solid base here could carry forward, even if NASCAR rubber, weather shifts, or race-day dynamics later scrambled the picture. Phoenix before the Indianapolis 500 offered another oval outing early, but neither saw it as direct preparation for the Brickyard - Indy, they noted, remains its own unpredictable beast, defying easy translation from other tracks.

The No. 10 Honda piloted by reining NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion blisters by at around 170 miles per hour on the tight banked turns of Phoenix Raceway. Image Credit: Matt Fravervia NICS (2026)

Conversation drifted to lighter matters: the new FOX commercials drawing praise (Palou singled out Will Power's spot as a standout), the grueling early-season stretch demanding no radical changes to conditioning regimens, and the visual spectacle INDYCARs might provide to crossover NASCAR fans during the shared weekend. Track limits drew a firm line - unlike NASCAR's apron exploits, INDYCAR would enforce boundaries strictly, and Palou, after a track walk, deemed the rough outer edges a recipe for disaster rather than daring passes.

Firestone's tweaked right-front tire, wider for better following and second-lane grip, came under discussion as a welcome evolution for short-oval racing. Palou referenced prior testing by veterans like Dixon and Rossi, crediting it as a step toward multi-groove action. The session underscored a mature approach from both stars: gone were the days of treating every test lap like qualifying. Now, plans guided the process - team strategy over raw bravado - though the inner drive to demonstrate speed never fully receded.

FOX Sports promotional commercial (click-image) shows Alex Palou rushing through a grocery store check-out line passing by a magazine stand featuring a magazine cover with Pato O'Ward on the face hinting that O'Ward may be getting more attention and press than the three-time and reining NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion himself. Image Credit: NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Chip Ganassi Racing (2026)

As the press conference wrapped and the first day of the two-day Unser Open Test was engaged, the timing screens told their own story by dusk. David Malukas led a Team Penske 1-2, but Palou slotted solidly fifth overall with a best of 21.0088 seconds at 171.357 mph, clocked on his 48th of 55 laps - a clean, confident marker amid the Honda contingent's strong showing.

O'Ward, meanwhile, ended the day 16th of 25 drivers at 21.2509 seconds and 169.405 mph on his 19th of a busier 98 laps, a cautious tally that spoke to methodical exploration rather than early fireworks. The sense lingered that Phoenix 2026 would test more than setups. For Palou, it was another chapter in a quest for immortality; for O'Ward, a fresh proving ground to harness his talent on ovals that define the series' soul. The cars would roll out again tomorrow, and in the desert heat, the real answers would emerge ... not in words, but in the howl of engines and the lines carved into the blacktop.

... notes from The EDJE








TAGS: #IndyCar, #UnserOpenTest, #PhoenixRaceway, #AlexPalou, #PatoOWard, #NTTIndyCarSeries, #FourPeatChase, #OvalTesting, #2026Season, TheEDJE, #MotorsportsJournal, #IndyCarOnFOX, #INDYCAR

From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue

The title "From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue" evokes a grand sweep of American progress, one that leaps from the dusty tracks of the early republic to the thunderous roar of modern machinery tearing through the heart of the nation's capital. Image Graphic Credit: Edmund Jenks via GROK (2026)

From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue

In the sweltering summer of 1801, as the Federal City was still finding its footing amid marshes and half-built monuments, President Thomas Jefferson - ever the Enlightenment figure with a farmer's appreciation for fine horseflesh - allegedly presided over or at least lent his prestige to a horse race in the fledgling Washington. The anecdote, dusted off and polished for contemporary telling, paints a scene of gentlemen in waistcoats and tricorn hats gathered near the President's House, wagering on blooded steeds pounding turf that would one day become Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Whether the event was a formal meet of the nascent Washington Jockey Club (founded just a few years prior) or a more informal contest among the elite, the record is hazy. Primary sources from the era mention racing enthusiasm in the district, with Jefferson himself a known horseman who bred and rode mounts with care, but no definitive ledger pins a singular "Jefferson-held" spectacle precisely to that year. Still, the image endures: equine power symbolizing the raw, organic energy of a young republic.

Fast-forward 225 years to January 30, 2026. President Donald Trump, flanked by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and racing impresario Roger Penske, signed an executive order launching the Freedom 250 Grand Prix ... an IndyCar street race set for August 23, 2026, as the centerpiece of America250 celebrations marking a quarter-millennium of independence. 

Duffy, with characteristic flair, quipped that the last race in the capital dated to 1801 under Jefferson - "a horse race" - before declaring, "Now we're going to do a real race." The vision: open-wheel machines pushing toward 190 mph along routes embracing Pennsylvania Avenue and circling the National Mall, engines howling past the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House itself.

This pivot from horsepower in the literal sense - living, breathing animals bred for speed and stamina - to horsepower in the mechanical idiom - turbocharged V6 hybrids unleashing 700+ ponies - encapsulates the arc of American ingenuity. Jefferson's era prized the horse as transportation, agriculture, status, and sport; the internal combustion engine, refined over the 19th and 20th centuries, democratized mobility, fueled industrial might, and birthed motor racing as a global spectacle. IndyCar, with its American roots tracing to the Indianapolis 500, now carries that torch into the symbolic core of the republic.

The proposed circuit promises drama: tight, high-speed sections demanding precision braking and throttle control, all while federal landmarks stand sentinel. Logistical hurdles loom - security perimeters, road closures, congressional nods, coordination with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser - but the administration frames it as pure patriotic theater: free admission for spectators, a showcase of engineering prowess, and a nod to freedom's revving spirit. "Freedom doesn’t ring, it revs," Duffy proclaimed in one enthusiastic release.

Critics may see spectacle over substance, or question the wisdom of closing the capital's arteries for a weekend of speed. Yet the contrast remains irresistible. Where once a president watched Thoroughbreds thunder across open ground in pursuit of glory and purse, now another envisions carbon-fiber projectiles slicing the same vistas, their synthetic fury echoing through marble corridors.

From horse race to horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue: a reminder that America's story is one of relentless acceleration - biological to mechanical, agrarian to industrial, past to future - always chasing the next horizon at ever-greater velocity. Whether the Freedom 250 ultimately thunders down the avenue or settles into committee purgatory, the metaphor holds: progress doesn't trot; it races.

With this title and information, ... notes from The EDJE author Edmund Jenks, decided to create an SUNO AI generated song from this posting with the chorus and title of :

Click-Image - Launch Song - From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue

From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue

LYRICS

Back in the dust, 1801 glow  

Gentlemen wager, watch the stallions go  

Jefferson smilin', reins in his hand  

Hooves hittin' hard on this new promised land  

Feel the thunder, feel the fire  

From the old dirt track to the neon wire  

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

Engines screamin', revvin' through  

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

Drop it low, let the freedom ride, yeah we breakin' through!  

Two centuries flip, now the asphalt burns  

IndyCar lights flash, tires take their turn  

White House watchin', monuments in the blur  

700 horses roar, history's got the urge  

  

Build it up, feel the chase  

Old blood to chrome in this capital space  

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

Engines screamin', revvin' through  

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

Drop it low, let the freedom ride, yeah we breakin' through!  

 

(Spoken/chanted over rising tension)  

Hold up... feel that shift...  

From the track to the strip...  

One more time...  

 

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

(Yeah!) Engines screamin', revvin' through  

From Horse Race to Horsepower on Pennsylvania Avenue  

Drop it low, let the freedom ride - freedom ride - freedom ride!

FADE OUT

Track layout highlight via local news >>>

Load up the K-Rail and lock up "Code Pink"/"Antifa" 'cause we goin' racin' folks. 

We, at Notes From The EDJE hope that there is a longer points paying run of the DCGP Freedom 250 than we witnessed at Nashville Streets, Baltimore, San Jose, and Thermal.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #FromHorseRaceToHorsepower, #PennsylvaniaAvenue, #IndyCar, #Freedom250, #WashingtonDC, #ThomasJefferson, #HorseRacing, #Horsepower, #America250, #GrandPrix, #StreetRace, #DCGrandPrix, #IndyCarDC, #CapitalSpeed, #AmericanInnovation, #RacingHistory, #JeffersonHorseRace, #TrumpRacing, #SeanDuffy, #NationalMall, #WhiteHouse, #CapitolBuilding, #TechHouse, #ChrisLakeStyle, #EDMVibes, #FestivalAnthem, #RacingAnthem, #PatrioticSpeed, #EvolutionOfPower, #FromHoovesToEngines, #TheEDJE

Rahal Fires Back: DC Grand Prix A 'Massive Opportunity' For IndyCar Amid Fan Backlash

Not a pretty or soy-boy around the track, INDYCAR beginning of Content Days are filled fancy prep work for photoshoots and interviews to be used on FOX Sports broadcasts, website background information, and general breadth of "content" to be used for any imagined purpose. Image Credit: Rahal NICS via Letterman Lanigan FB/META (2026)

Rahal Fires Back: DC Grand Prix A 'Massive Opportunity' For IndyCar Amid Fan Backlash

In the crisp air of IndyCar's preseason media content day at Indiana Convention Center on January 27, 2026, veteran driver Graham Rahal stepped to the microphone and delivered a no-holds-barred defense of the proposed Washington, D.C. street race, brushing aside online critics with the kind of blunt candor that has defined his long career in open-wheel racing.

Rahal, piloting for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, described the potential "DC Grand Prix" as nothing short of a game-changer for the NTT IndyCar Series - a rare spotlight moment handed directly to IndyCar, not NASCAR or Formula 1. The idea originated from high-level discussions involving the White House and the Department of Transportation, pitched to Penske Entertainment as part of the nation's buildup to the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy laid out the formal concept, which quickly gained traction when President Donald Trump offered public support through social media. IndyCar officials have confirmed that talks with the White House remain active as feasibility studies continue.

When pressed by reporters about the wave of negative commentary flooding social platforms - fans vowing to skip broadcasts or tune out entirely ... Graham Rahal didn't pull punches.

"It's a massive opportunity for INDYCAR," he declared. "It's honestly a bit shameful sometimes when I read comments on social media. You see people saying, 'Oh, that's the one race I'm not going to watch this year.' I mean, get a life. Get a life."

Speculation about IndyCar racing in Washington, D.C. in 2026 began soon after FOX acquired a 33% stake in Penske Entertainment, giving the broadcaster a share of both IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Prominent pictured from left to right Roger Penske, 2019 INDY500 Winner Simon Pagenaud, and President Donald J. Trump. Image Credit: IndyCar Reports via FB/META September 26, 2025

The driver's frustration stemmed from what he sees as a missed perspective among some in the fanbase. For Rahal, this isn't just another street circuit on the calendar; it's a singular chance to showcase IndyCar in the heart of the nation's capital, potentially on or near the iconic National Mall.

"If you really are an INDYCAR fan, this is a huge opportunity that's been given to us," he continued. "It hasn't been given to NASCAR, not to Formula 1 - it's been given to INDYCAR."

Ever the self-described patriotic type, Rahal made clear that the appeal transcends any political lens.

"I'm a patriotic guy," he said. "I don't care who's in the White House. If we get to go race in Washington, that would be awesome, especially in a place like the National Mall."

The comments arrive at a pivotal moment for IndyCar, which continues to seek ways to elevate its profile amid a crowded American motorsports landscape. A race in D.C. - if it clears logistical, security, and permitting hurdles (a very big if) - could deliver unprecedented exposure, drawing eyes from beyond the traditional racing audience during a year of nationwide bicentennial celebrations.

Rahal's straightforward take cuts through the noise: embrace the shot or step aside. For a series hungry for growth, the veteran driver's words serve as both a rallying cry and a reality check. Whether a DC Grand Prix ultimately materializes remains an open question, but Graham Rahal has already made his position unmistakable.

UPDATE - January 30, 2026 

President Trump put pen to paper on Friday with an executive order green-lighting the ambitious **Freedom 250** street race right in the heart of Washington, D.C.

The plan, tied to the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, calls for the event to roar through the capital over the August 21-23 weekend - slotting neatly (or perhaps precariously) into the open date between the Markham, Ontario round and the Milwaukee Mile classic in Wisconsin. 

Trump directed D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to team up with his administration on logistics, while tasking the Departments of Interior and Transportation with mapping out a track layout in collaboration with IndyCar - and, crucially, sourcing the funding to make it all happen.

Rahal highlighted the sheer scale of the challenge ahead: pulling off a major street circuit in the nation's capital on such a compressed timeline would test every aspect of organization and coordination. Add to that the longstanding ban on advertisements across Capitol grounds, and the usual sponsor-laden livery of IndyCar machines presents an immediate regulatory hurdle that could require creative solutions or legislative tweaks.

Adding star power to the Oval Office signing ceremony were Roger Penske - who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump back in 2019 - and FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks. Trump, ever the promoter, predicted the race could shatter attendance records since it would throw open the gates to the public, turning the National Mall and iconic monuments into a massive, free-admission grandstand for what promises to be a spectacle of speed and patriotism.

For Rahal and the rest of the paddock, this remains a bold, headline-grabbing proposal with plenty of real-world obstacles still to navigate ... but one that could deliver an unforgettable chapter in American motorsport history if the pieces fall into place. Stay tuned; the revs are just starting.

... notes from The EDJE

From Horse Race To Horsepower On Pennsylvania Avenue - Theme Song

TAGS: #IndyCar, #IndyCarOnFOX, #Indy500, #DCGrandPrix, #GrahamRahal, #TheEDJE