O’Ward Fourth at Phoenix: Newgarden Wins, Dixon Reflects on Racing

PHOENIX, AZ – Josef Newgarden of Team Penske secured his 30th career victory on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway, capitalizing on a late-race strategy and fresh tires in the Solid Ranchers 250. While Newgarden celebrated, Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren finished fourth after a promising run was hampered by handling difficulties, a result that moves him to fourth in the IndyCar Series standings.

O’Ward had positioned himself for a strong finish, running in second place when a caution flag flew on Lap 207 following contact between Will Power and Christian Rasmussen while battling for the lead. He was among seven drivers who opted to pit during the caution on Lap 212, restarting ninth – the highest-running driver with a fresh set of Firestone Firehawk tires.

The No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet quickly gained ground on the restart, climbing to fifth by Lap 223 and then to fourth three laps later. O’Ward briefly appeared to be challenging for his 10th career victory, but his momentum stalled as he struggled with the car’s balance. “It was a busy one in the cockpit today just with moving tools,” O’Ward explained after the race. “I couldn’t quite get it to where I needed to be. The middle of the race we were pretty sporty, but then I really started struggling with the car. It wasn’t just one issue, so it was a little difficult.”

Despite the challenges, O’Ward secured his 50th top-five finish in just 108 career starts. He led 10 laps on Saturday, navigating the high line to maintain pace with the leaders, a maneuver he described as “making you want to change your pants.”

“It was a pretty crazy race,” O’Ward said. “I think it was very good for the fans. Josef (Newgarden) was obviously pretty stout. And I remember (Christian) Rasmussen literally bouncing off the walls. He was fast out there.”

O’Ward now sits fourth in the standings, 15 points behind Newgarden, as the series heads to the Java House Arlington Grand Prix on Sunday, March 15th. He has consistently shown the ability to climb through the field, having started from eighth to finish fifth in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1st, and again driving from seventh to a top-five result.

“Two top-five finishes to start the year feels solid,” O’Ward said.

Armstrong Finds Comfort on the Oval

Marcus Armstrong continued to impress in his second season with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, finishing fifth in the Good Ranchers 250. The result was particularly notable given Armstrong’s limited oval experience prior to joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023.

In just his 14th oval start, Armstrong raced near the front on Saturday, climbing from 13th to finish fifth in the No. 66 ROOT Insurance Honda for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. “I was maxed out just making sure I finished the race,” Armstrong said. “But the high line works for me.”

Armstrong has recorded four top-10 finishes in six oval starts, including a third-place finish in the second race of the Iowa Speedway doubleheader last season. He credits fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon for helping shape his oval approach. Dixon, with 25 career oval victories, has been a valuable resource.

“I have the Meister Scott Dixon to learn from,” Armstrong said. “That’s kind of cool. I’m just doing what feels right and following my intuition. That’s what I like about ovals, you have to trust your instincts.”

Armstrong even passed Dixon for fourth place on Lap 218. “He gave me space, which is cool,” Armstrong said. “Racing Scott is awesome. I’ve said it a million times. I grew up watching him. Racing him wheel-to-wheel is so cool. He has so much aggression and always puts the car in a good spot, so it’s always difficult to pass him.” Armstrong studies Dixon’s film and data to better understand his oval success, and often seeks his input on car setup.

Dixon Reflects on Improved Phoenix Racing

Scott Dixon, the most experienced driver at Phoenix Raceway with seven starts, noted the significant improvement in racing conditions compared to previous events at the track. He charged from 15th to finish seventh in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on Saturday.

“It was actually really good because you could use the second lane, especially on new tires,” Dixon said. “The crossovers were exciting. The different tire strategies were good.”

The race featured a record 565 on-track passes, including 323 for position, 145 in the top 10, and 60 in the top five – all INDYCAR SERIES records at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR Crossover

Several INDYCAR drivers, including Dennis Hauger and Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and David Malukas, are planning to attend the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix on Sunday as part of the “Desert Double.” Hauger, a rookie in INDYCAR, grew up a fan of Jeff Gordon and even met him during Indianapolis 500 qualifying last May.

Team Penske NASCAR drivers Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric also visited the pre-race grid on Saturday, chatting with McLaughlin and Newgarden. Blaney was notably wearing a Rick Mears four-time Indianapolis 500 champion T-shirt.