Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune: Turn 2's Enduring Grip On Indianapolis 500 Drama

Turn of fortune in many ways is a double-entendre given this 110th Running Of The Indianapolis 500. There are four turns that have to be negotiated 200 times in order to celebrate a turn in someone's racing fortunes. Bravo to Felix Rosenqviet for passing David Malukas to lead just one lap - the most important last lap in the most dramatic fashion in the history of this motor culture defining event. Image Credit: Matt Fraver NICS (2026) 

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune: Turn 2's Enduring Grip On Indianapolis 500 Drama

The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 just took place and it was a historic ride for all involved - all 350,000 plus and all who tuned in on Over-The-Air television (okay - all of you streamers too).

Turn 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long stood as one of the Brickyard's most unforgiving corners, where banking transitions, dense pack traffic, and unrelenting high speeds repeatedly rewrite race outcomes. This bend, and its symmetric counterpart in Turn 4, has delivered both fortune and misfortune across six decades of Indianapolis 500 history. From spectacular airborne flips that drivers survived to incidents that prompted major safety reforms, the corner's legacy reflects the Speedway's constant demands on drivers and machinery.

The historical pattern is clear and sobering. In the 1975 race, Tom Sneva made wheel contact in Turn 2 while running fifth, sending his McLaren airborne into the catch fence where it tore apart and caught fire; Sneva walked away with minor burns and injuries in one of the era's most dramatic survivable wrecks. In 1996 practice, pole-sitter Scott Brayton suffered a right-rear tire deflation entering Turn 2 at nearly 230 mph, resulting in a fatal impact with the outside wall. The 2010s added further chapters, including Ed Carpenter's 2015 Fast Friday flip exiting the corner, Sébastien Bourdais's heavy 2017 qualifying crash that caused serious fractures and sidelined him, along with later incidents involving Callum Ilott in 2022, Scott McLaughlin's airborne wall hit in 2025 practice, and Kyle Larson's race-ending Turn 2 spin in the 109th running.

That reputation carried into preparations for the 110th Indianapolis 500. On Monday, May 18, 2026, during Practice 7's race-trim sessions, Alexander Rossi lost the rear of his No. 20 Chevrolet exiting Turn 2 in traffic and spun hard into the SAFER barrier. Pato O'Ward, running close behind, spun under braking while attempting to avoid him and made secondary contact, while Romain Grosjean checked up and hit the wall. The multi-car incident damaged cars for Rossi and O'Ward severely enough to require backups, sent Rossi to the hospital for evaluation of minor finger and ankle injuries, and brought out a red flag before thunderstorms ended the session. It stood as the first major wall contact of the Month of May.

Which leads us to the brilliant insights presentation put together by commentator Tom Rinaldi for FOX in their Pre-Race 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 package entitled Turn Two. The following is a transcript captured via audio file that struck a cord and acted as a basis for a song created using the staff and AI tools available to anyone so led to create - with inspiration found in the following:

Presenters Chris Myers, Danica Patrick, and Tony Stewart siting on a portable studio desk on Gallager Pavilion square at the Indiana Motor Speedway with the crowd in Motor Culture world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" behind the pagoda.. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**FULL Turn 2 Package Transcript**

**Chris Myers:** A lot of the tradition has built from the local part of this speedway and this state and has reached out globally, nationally. And America's 250th birthday, by the way, it's going to be on everyone's mind like this race is today. But today, drivers have Turn 2 on their mind, not 2%, as in Turn Two. As Tom Rinaldi rejoins us. Tom, you got more on Turn Two.

**Tom Rinaldi:** Chris, if you were to look down at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from above or at a map of the track, you'd essentially see a rounded rectangle with four corners or turns which appear exactly the same. But if you were to talk to any driver, what those drivers would tell you is each has its own personality. And when it comes to where we are right now, Turn Two, it's a beguiling and difficult mix of menace and chance, opportunity and danger.

Four turns. Identical dimensions. Equivalent measurements. But in history... 

**Scott Dixon:** When you come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Turn Two probably demands the most respect.

**Tom Rinaldi:** .. and psychology.

**Will Power:** Turn Two is risk first, reward second. With all the turns, Turn Two has definitely been my weakness. 

**Tom Rinaldi:** And strategy. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** Some of the biggest crashes, some of the biggest moments have happened through Turn Two.

<<< Film Clip - Tom Sneva | AJ Foyt >>>

**Tom Rinaldi:**  Turn 2 is a high-speed study in volatile geometry. Start with the invisible vortex of shifting air and pitiless wind. 

**Josef Newgarden:** Turn 2 doesn't have a lot of shielding. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** The wind is always a massive factor there. It's one line where you cannot be late, you can't be early. You've got to be perfect.

**Scott Dixon:** You've got to imagine that we're kind of driving fighter jets - wings that push the car down. You know, 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of downforce, making that car stick to the road. 

**Josef Newgarden:** When you get these crosswind profiles hitting the nose at the wrong time. It'll get underneath you, and it can shove you out toward the wall.

<<< Film Clip - Scott Dixon >>>

. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**Tom Rinaldi:**  Add in more elements: changing track temperatures, turbulent air wake, limited visibility - often pushing drivers past their limits and into aerodynamic disaster.

<<< Film Clip - Kyle Kirkwood | Alexander Rossi >>>

**Josef Newgarden:** We had a very tough wreck this week. You know, you have to be able to see something terrible at times and immediately understand it and then erase it. 

**Will Power:** When the crash is in practice, watching it on screen is worse. It always makes you apprehensive. That's why I don't watch them. Try not to even look at them. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** It basically is a bit of a wake-up call that, okay, well, she bites if you get it wrong.

**Tom Rinaldi:** For all its challenges, Turn 2 has singular opportunity. A corner where an inch of space and a breath of wind can measure the difference between catastrophe and glory. 

**Scott McLaughlin:** Turn 2 for me is the part of the track where if you get that right, it's your last opportunity to go for the win.

**Scott Dixon:** And understand how it can help you through the race. Not necessarily how it can hurt you, but you've really got to understand how it can help you.

**Will Power:** If you hate the turn, you'll never conquer it. But if you take it as a challenge... You will get it.

**Josef Newgarden:** You know, two of my best moments here at the track have come off Turn Two. It ended up being a very important moment both times that we won the race. That doesn't mean it can't catch me out in the future at some point.

**Tom Rinaldi:** Back in September and October, a 100-foot stretch of Turn 2 was actually torn up and repaved. Why? Because the original bricks underneath had started to shift, creating a bump in the track along Turn 2 - an additional challenge for drivers.

Will Buxton, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe, siting on a portable studio desk on the front straight of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the crowd walking the grid in Motor Culture world's largest form of a "Cars & Coffee" with teams and drivers. Image Credit: FOX Pre_Race via FUBO (2026)

**Will Buxton:** Beautifully said, Tom. What a lovely piece. Townsend (Bell), James (Hinchcliffe), you have both experienced this. I want to roll to something that Joseph Newgarden said: "The corners of this track are like having four children. You love them all equally, but you raise them individually."

**Townsend Bell:** That's absolutely right, and Turn Two has always been a mystery because the groove is just a little bit more narrow there. The consequences seemingly just a little bit bigger. It's dangerous in all four corners, but Turn Two demands your best. Listen, my body can still feel the crash I had back here in 2014. Left rear suspension let go. I was in contention to win that day. Ended up punching a hole in the SAFER barrier.

You see me bring the steering wheel off, but guys, when I came to a stop, my knee was in front of my face. You can't get out of these cars unless the steering wheel's off. I had hit so hard backwards that it bent the steering shaft, the steering column all the way over. The steering wheel was bent up, and I'm sitting there with my knee like this. I didn't know what state I was in. I couldn't breathe for about 45 seconds. Turn Two has left its mark on my body, no doubt.

**Will Buxton:** And James, it wasn't Turn Two, but you know more than anybody the perils of this circuit and what those walls have in store for you when it all goes wrong.

**James Hinchcliffe:** Well, look, it doesn't matter what corner you're talking about at 220 plus miles an hour. It doesn't tickle when you hit the wall. 

For me, the drivers talked about the wind. This is the only corner that has a gap in the grandstands. There's a gap after the end of the grandstands, before those Turn Two suites. And the other thing that's so unique about it is there's that bump going in that Tom talked about. The wind can just create a tunnel effect through there and really catch drivers off. 

The other thing that's so challenging, I think, Townsend, is the Turn Two suites. They sit so much closer to the racetrack than any of the grandstands or anywhere else around here that visually it looks a little bit different. It throws drivers off. It's so easy to get wrong. Absolutely, it's a place you have to respect around the speedway.

**Will Buxton:** Well, Scott McLaughlin knows that only too well. He had a nightmare of an Indy 500 last year, which was over before it began. But a violent crash knocked him out of top 12 qualifying down there at Turn Two. Thankfully, he'd be OK to race. Penske got his car back up and running for the 500 itself.

In 2026, for the 110th running, he seeks redemption.

**Georgia Henneberry:** And your sixth Indianapolis 500, how can you and the three team ensure that it's your best one yet?

**Scott McLaughlin:** Look, I think we're as prepared as we can be. I mean, the Pennzoil Chevy has been solid all month. I feel like we've sort of flown under the radar, but had reasonable speed the whole way through. And I feel really comfortable. Our best session was on Friday. So I got our list done and ready to go. I can't wait. I just can't wait to create a new storyline. And yeah, last year put a lot of things in perspective for me. So I'm really excited to turn the table.

**Georgia Henneberry:** This month has certainly been a progression for the team. Friday was the first day you said you have checked all those boxes. How confident are you in your race?

**Scott McLaughlin:** Yeah, super confident. Everyone's going to say they feel good, don't get me wrong, but I've got all the tools that I need to win this race. Hopefully we can dot the I's, cross the T's, and make it happen.

**Chris Myers:** Good luck, Scott. 

So Turn Two getting the attention. How would you rank them in terms of toughness? You agree starting with two would be the worst if you go through the four corners?

**Danica Patrick:** Man, I'd have to say one, two, three, four. It actually goes in order. But to just pick up on Scott McLaughlin there, he went from a pole in 2024 to the Indy 500 to crashing out before it even started in 2025. I just want to point out how hard it is to drive these cars. Someone like him that's the best of the best out there, able to still make a mistake under those conditions. It just shows how focused these drivers have to be, whether they're under caution going slow or going 240 miles an hour.

**Chris Myers:** The corners, you rank them real quick. 

**Tony Stewart:** I had a different order. I always thought Turn Two, Turn One, Turn Four. The easiest was Turn Three to me.

**Chris Myers:** All right. Well, hopefully they're turning the right way as we continue here.

ENDS

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune

Theme for the toughest turn at the Greatest Spectacle In Racing

LYRICS

**Verse 1**  

Four turns on the map look the same,  

But only one carries your name.  

Rounded bricks and shifting wind,  

Turn Two waits with teeth bared and grin.  

Crosswinds howl, downforce fights the air,  

One line only — you must be there.  

Late or early, she’ll punish your name,  

Throw you hard into the wall of flame.

**Pre-Chorus**  

Risk comes first where the brave ones play,  

Biggest wrecks and biggest wins in the fray.

**Chorus**  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.  

She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,  

Then hand you glory if you stay clear.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

Four words that define her temper.  

Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —  

Turn Two is where champions come to be.

**Verse 2**  

Fighter-jet wings at two-twenty flat,  

Turbulent wake trying to snatch you back.  

Track temps rising, vision gone blind,  

One wrong twitch and you’re flipping through sky.  

She bites when you’re lazy, rewards when you’re bold,  

Old bricks still whisper the stories of old.  

They tore her up, laid new pavement down,  

But the spirit of Turn Two still rules this town.

**Chorus**  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

That’s the soul of Turn Two, stranger.  

She’ll baptize you in fire and fear,  

Then hand you glory if you stay clear.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

Four words that define her temper.  

Love her or hate her, you’ll never be free —  

Turn Two is where champions come to be.

**Bridge**  

An inch of space, a breath of wind,  

Separates the fallen from the ones who ascend.  

Erase the crash burning in your mind,  

Trust the line and leave the wreck behind.

**Final Chorus (bigger, with gang vocals)**  

Menace! Chance! Opportunity! Danger!  

Turn Two calling out your name louder.  

I’ve won here, I’ve lost here, I’ll race her again,  

She’s the heartbeat of the 500 wind.  

Menace, Chance, Opportunity, Danger,  

My beautiful, brutal savior.  

Last chance to chase that checkered light —  

Turn Two… take me home tonight.

**Outro (building then fading)**  

Four turns look the same…  

But only one ever called my name.  

Menace… Chance… Opportunity… Danger…  

Brickyard's Turn Of Fortune - Turn Two.

ENDS

Race day itself on May 24 added its own Turn 2 punctuation. Early on laps 17-18, Ryan Hunter-Reay spun and hit the wall in Turn 2, collecting Katherine Legge as she tried to avoid the incident; both drivers were eliminated quickly and triggered the first caution. Late in the event, rookie leader Caio Collet got loose exiting Turn 2 around lap 191, overcorrected into the outside wall, and slid with a right-rear fire, prompting a red flag for cleanup with few laps remaining. On the restart, Mick Schumacher brushed the wall in the Turn 1-2 area, bringing out the final caution and setting up a one-lap green-white-checkered finish - not to mention one of the most positive and deciding developments in Turn 2 when Felix Rosenqvist stayed outside - side-by-side - of this teammate Marcus Armstrong to finally complete a pass in Turn 4 and sling past David Malukas for the closest finish in INDY500 history.

Turn 2 has seen fewer headline tragedies than Turns 1 or 4 in the modern SAFER-barrier era, yet it remains a persistent high-risk zone during practice traffic simulations and race conditions. As teams analyze data from the 110th running, the corner's influence on Indianapolis 500 outcomes continues to demonstrate the razor-thin margin between strategy, car setup, and survival at the Brickyard.

As for the historic part of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 that all of the above took place, Felix Rosenqvist secured his first Indianapolis 500 victory in his eighth career start, winning the 110th running presented by Gainbridge by a razor-thin margin of 0.0233 seconds over David Malukas - the closest finish in “500” history, surpassing the previous mark of 0.043 seconds set by Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear in 1992.

The race produced a record 70 lead changes, eclipsing the previous high of 68 from 2013. Rosenqvist, who led 25 laps, became the third Swedish winner of the event, joining Kenny Bräck (1999) and Marcus Ericsson (2022). Driving for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian, he delivered the team its second Indianapolis 500 triumph.

The finish marked the fifth time in race history that the leader entering the final lap was passed for the win. Malukas lost the lead on the last lap, joining a list that includes recent defeats by Pato O’Ward (2024), Marcus Ericsson (2023), JR Hildebrand (2011), and Marco Andretti (2006).

At 34 years old, Rosenqvist became the first driver of that age to win since Hélio Castroneves in 2009. Starting fourth, he joined an elite group as only the eighth winner from that position. It was also the first victory for car No. 60 and the 17th for a Honda engine.

Notable performances included Mick Schumacher finishing as the top rookie in 18th, Romain Grosjean advancing from 24th to ninth, and Conor Daly posting the race’s fastest lap at 225.126 mph. Pato O’Ward recorded his fifth top-four finish in seven starts without a win. Santino Ferrucci completed his eighth consecutive full 500-mile distance, while Hélio Castroneves set a new all-time mileage record (12,480 miles) despite a mechanical DNF on Lap 194.

The 2026 race featured 14 different lap leaders and a record 26 lead swaps between Alex Palou and Scott Dixon. Palou, the pole sitter, led the most laps with 59. In a contest defined by its back-and-forth intensity, Rosenqvist delivered a historic last-lap masterstroke to etch his name into Indianapolis 500 lore.

... notes from The EDJE

FOOTNOTE:

Tom Rinali's 2025 Presentation Package On IMS Walls >>>

TAGS: #Indy500, #Turn2, #BrickyardFortune, #IndyCrashes, #RacingHistory, #110thIndy500, #Rosenqvist, #ClosestFinish, #Indy5002026, #LastLapDrama, #MeyerShankRacing, #SwedishWinner, #RecordLeadChanges, #INDYCAR,  #HondaPower, #TheEDJE

Californian Alexander Rossi Experiences The Highest Of Highs To Dangerous Lows From Race 5 To Race 6

It never rains in Southern California, but it does rain in Indiana - qualifications sessions were rained out and pushed to the morning of race day Saturday. Alexander Rossi hanging out in the pits during the open practice session held at the end of April. Image Credit: Paul Hurley - NICS (2026)

Californian Alexander Rossi Experiences The Highest Of Highs To Dangerous Lows From Race 5 To Race 6

All that is embedded within a successful race driving career requires being in the present in order to gain maximum benefit. The calendar does not pause for nostalgia or ceremony; it simply demands focus when the visor drops. 

Yet for one week in April 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, the Californian who first tasted immortality as a rookie winner of the Indianapolis 500 a decade earlier, lived the full spectrum of what the sport can deliver - honors usually reserved for legends long retired, followed by the raw, unscripted drama that only a steering wheel and throttle can provide. From the rarified air of the world’s most honored automotive museums to a bronze medallion embedded in the West Side sidewalk of the Long Beach Convention Center along Pine Avenue, the week outside the cockpit was pure celebration. Then came the racing itself.

Launch Racers Night At Petersen Automotive Museum

Wednesday night belonged to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Racers Night returned as the unofficial kickoff to Long Beach weekend, and Rossi headlined the sold-out evening alongside reigning champion Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson. Inside the glass-and-steel halls lined with priceless machinery, the trio sat on stage for a candid, high-energy conversation hosted by Marshall Pruett. Rossi, relaxed in a way only a hometown hero can be, fielded questions about his return to ECR, the new hybrid systems, and what it felt like to be back on the streets where he had twice stood atop the podium in years past. 

Laughter echoed off the vintage Ferraris and Porsches as the drivers traded stories; the atmosphere was electric, the kind of night that reminds everyone why they fell in love with the sport. For Rossi, it was validation before a single tire had even turned in anger on the temporary circuit just down the freeway.

Image Credit: Brandon O'Brian - Motor Driven Images (2026)

Thursday late morning hours brought the public ceremony for the 20th Anniversary Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame. Under bright Southern California skies, Rossi stood alongside the family of the late former Mayor Robert “Bob” Foster. At 11 a.m. in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue, the two-time Acura Grand Prix winner unveiled his 22-inch bronze medallion. 

LBMWOF planted medallion featuring Alexander Rossi joins other great names in the sidewalk on the East side of Pine Avenue (outside of Turn 7 of the AGPLB street track) just at the front entrance of the Long Beach Convention Center. Image Credit: Ralph Garcia via FB/META (2026)

The plaque, featuring renditions of his major achievements, was permanently set into the sidewalk ... joining an exclusive roster of motorsports immortals. Rossi, now a new father, spoke of deeper meaning in the honor; it was not just about past victories but about legacy for the next generation of California racers. The crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and local dignitaries, cheered as the former mayor’s contributions to bringing and sustaining the Grand Prix were also enshrined. Rossi posed for photos, signed autographs, and soaked in the moment. For a few hours, the pressure of the upcoming race felt distant.

Full Video Of The Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Presentation Credit: LBTV

Then the weekend turned serious. Race 5 of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES - the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - demanded Rossi stay firmly in the present. Practice showed promise; the ECR crew had rolled out an upgrade package and fresh livery on the No. 20 Chevrolet, and Rossi responded by climbing as high as second-quickest in Practice 1, the car responding cleanly through the famously bumpy Turn 9 brake zone. Qualifying proved trickier. Starting 18th on the grid after a solid but not pole-contending run through the Firestone reds, Rossi faced the street circuit’s familiar challenge: traffic, walls, and the need for precision over 90 laps.

Come race day, the Californian delivered exactly the kind of effort fans have come to expect. Battling from mid-pack, he methodically picked off positions, capitalizing on strategy and clean air when it mattered. He crossed the line ninth - his 100th top-10 finish in the series - gaining nine spots and showing the kind of resilient drive that defines a veteran. 

Alexander Rossi taking the hard right of Turn 3 - The Fountain Turn - on his way to a nice save finish at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motor Driven Images (2026)

No lap led, but the performance was competitive, the car improved, and the weekend’s off-track honors felt earned on-track. Rossi had stayed present, maximized what the ECR Chevrolet could deliver, and left Long Beach with momentum heading into the Month of May.

Three weeks later, the calendar flipped to Race 6: the Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the traditional opener to the most famous month in racing. The stakes were higher, the eyes of the racing world already shifting toward the Indianapolis 500. Rossi rolled out with the same focus that had carried him through Long Beach. For 20 laps the No. 20 ran respectably in the midfield. Then, without warning, the new hybrid system failed. The car stuttered and died just past the yard of bricks on the long front straight - precisely where Rossi had taken the checkered flag in that unforgettable 2016 rookie triumph.

What followed was the dangerous low that no amount of prior celebration could prepare for. Rossi’s Chevrolet sat motionless on the racing line just past the Yard of Bricks while cars approached at over 170 mph. Race control initially displayed only a local yellow, leaving the field to thread past the stranded machine at full speed. Debris from an earlier incident had already lingered elsewhere on track; now this. Two full laps passed before a full-course caution was finally thrown - by which time Rossi, frustrated and unbuckled, had climbed from the cockpit himself, steering wheel in hand, and made his way to safety, on foot. 

During the FOX Sports broadcast, it was amazing for viewers to see both a Yellow flag & light and a Green flag & light on display in the same camera shot down the IMS Road Course reverse Yard Of Bricks straightway.

In the raw aftermath captured by Speed Cafe, the Californian made no effort to temper his displeasure. “Well, it’s pretty annoying to have failures on the car because of a product we didn’t ask for that doesn’t improve the racing. So that’s frustrating,” Rossi said of the hybrid system that had betrayed him on lap 21. He saved his sharpest barbs for the officiating: “Second of all, the fact that it took that long to throw a full course yellow when the cars on the front straight were going by at 170 miles an hour also seems insane when they don’t let us drive in the wet yesterday.” 

The hybrid failure ended his day early on lap 21, but the safety concerns were immediate and legitimate. Other drivers quickly voiced support for Rossi’s blunt post-race criticism of both the finicky new technology and the decision-making that left him parked like an unwanted lawn ornament on one of the fastest stretches of the circuit. 

From the Petersen stage and Pine Avenue plaque to a stalled Chevrolet on the front straight under questionable flags, Rossi had lived the highest of highs and the most dangerous of lows in the span of just eight days. Yet the lesson, as it always does in this unforgiving sport, remained unchanged: a successful racing career demands ruthless presence. The ceremonies fade, the cheers quiet, and the next green flag waits for no one - least of all a Californian with a fresh Walk of Fame medallion and a very public opinion about hybrid gremlins.

Now, with the Month of May stretching out before him like a glorious, unpredictable gauntlet, Alexander Rossi will arrive at the Indianapolis 500 the same way he left Long Beach, eyes forward, visor down, and fully prepared for whatever mix of glory, heartbreak, and mechanical mischief the Brickyard decides to serve up next. In INDYCAR, after all, the only sure thing is that the next turn might just make you a hero … or leave you wishing you’d stayed at the museum.

Screengrab of the Yard Of Bricks start/finish line at IMS during the first day of practice - May 12, 2026 - for the Indianapolis 500 where all 33 drivers become used to driving the road that will consume their lives for the rest of the month of May. Note that Alexander Rossi is listed early in P6, but the month is early and the rules for qualifications have changed in order to keep eyeballs tuning in since the field has only 33 cars entered - no traditional "Bump Day" qualifications.. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - FOX FS2 via FUBO (2026)

UPDATE - Post Sonsio Grand Prix - The "Rossi Ruling"

IndyCar Officiating has moved swiftly in the wake of Saturday’s controversial Lap 21 incident involving Californian Alexander Rossi, issuing a significant procedural adjustment that takes immediate effect across the remainder of the season.

Effective immediately, race control will no longer factor in pit windows or the running order of cars on track when deciding whether to escalate a local Yellow into a Full Course Yellow (FCY). Local Yellow procedures themselves remain unchanged. The decision to deploy the FCY will now rest primarily on driver status, vehicle position and condition, the location and readiness of safety personnel, recovery access, and the speed differential between the affected cars and approaching traffic.

“The Lap 21 incident on Saturday made clear that there needs to be a cleaner standard for how race control moves from a local to a Full Course Yellow,” IndyCar Officiating’s Independent Officiating Board chair Raj Nair said.

“IndyCar Officiating, with IndyCar’s full support, has made this change of approach to ensure that the only inputs to the Full Course Yellow escalation are safety ones. Streamlining the assessment will also save time as competitive considerations are no longer a factor.”

Along the catchfence - image left - from Yard Of Bricks Start/Finish - Rossi stalled on trackside right - to the next flag station - Yellow/Green Not A Pretty Picture! Image Credit: FS1 via FB/META Screengrab (2026) 

IndyCar President Doug Boles, who also serves as president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, added, “The most important job in race control is to ensure the safety of our drivers, crews, safety workers and fans. Saturday highlighted that we must not waver from that central mission and aligning everyone on that philosophy was critical to discuss over the last 48 hours.”

In the high-stakes world of IndyCar, where split-second calls can swing fortunes from podium celebrations to dangerous moments in the barriers, this clarification reads as a direct response to the chaos that unfolded around Rossi’s car on that Lap 21. What began as one of the season’s most electric afternoons for the Californian driver quickly spiraled into one of the most scrutinized safety interventions of the year. By stripping competitive elements like pit strategy and field position out of the FCY equation, officials appear intent on removing any perception that racecraft or timing could influence a safety call.

Whether this streamlined protocol prevents future gray-area deployments or simply tightens the guardrails remains to be seen on track. But for now, the message from the tower is unmistakable: safety first, strategy second, and no more dancing between the two when the Yellows fly.

ENDS

UPDATE - Alexander Rossi lives to drive another day >>>

ALEXANDER ROSSI, No. 20 Java House Chevrolet, Qualified 2nd: “This was a huge team effort from all the boys and girls at ECR. Conditions today were really hard, it was changing for every run. We didn’t do anything the same for each of the three runs. Our last run was the best. That’s a huge win for the Java House crew, and a big win for Chevy to be on the front row. The car has been incredible all month. Obviously, you hope for pole, but a front row is so cool here and something I haven’t accomplished for a really long time. I am thrilled with how today went and can’t wait to get on track tomorrow and make the car even better.”

OF NOTE: 



For the second time in his career, Alexander Rossi will start on the front row of the Indianapolis 500. Rossi's first four-lap average of 231.580 miles per hour had him sitting 6th out of 33, easily advancing him to the Top 12. In the next round of qualifying, Rossi's four-lap average of 231.005 miles per hour was 6th fastest, earning him a spot in Firestone Fast 6 and a chance at the Indianapolis 500 pole position. Rossi saved his best four-lap average for last with a speed of 231.990 miles per hour. He waited on the provisional pole until being bumped down one position by Alex Palou. Rossi will start 2nd in next weekend’s Indianapolis 500.

Rossi burst onto the scene at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2016 as he won the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The Nevada City, California native was the first American rookie to win since 1928. His impressive consistency at IMS includes finishes of 7th or better in seven of his ten starts, including six Top 5s. Last year, Rossi paced the 33-car field for 14 laps, swapping the lead multiple times with his teammates as the trio of ECR Chevrolets ran 1-2-3. On Lap 73, a gearbox issue and an ensuing pit lane fire eliminated the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet from contention. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 will be his 11th attempt.

Earlier this season, Rossi scored his 100th Top 10 finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He is an eight-time winner in the series, highlighted by his Indianapolis 500 victory, and has 30 total podium finishes. Rossi’s career has taken him worldwide, with wins in Formula 2, World Series by Renault, and the 24 Hours of Daytona, along with starts in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000, and the Bathurst 1000.

Rossi continues to pilot the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet this season. Java House is an authentic cold brew coffee brand that began with brick-and-mortar cafés in the greater Indianapolis area and is now revolutionizing the beverage industry with its versatile Peel & Pour™ single-serve pods. Each 100% recyclable pod can be poured into iced or hot water with no machine or brewer required. The innovative, Indianapolis-based brand’s full portfolio of beverages includes Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, and hydration drinks.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #AlexanderRossi, #IndyCar, #LongBeachGP, #AcuraGrandPrix, #WalkOfFame, #SonsioGP, #Indy500, #MonthOfMay, #EdCarpenterRacing, #RacingHighsAndLows, #Petersen, #TheEDJE

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

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