Alexander Rossi topped the overall timesheets on the final day of the Unser IndyCar Open Test at Phoenix Raceway, leading an ECR 1-2 in the afternoon session as the 2026 pre-season wraps up. Rossi’s best lap of 174.542 mph in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet came after the afternoon session started 90 minutes late due to light rain, with teammate Christian Rasmussen second in that session at 173.924. His last oval win came at Pocono in 2018. On this evidence, that wait might not last much longer. 25 drivers. 4,853 laps over two days. One clear message heading to St. Pete.
Key Points – IndyCar Phoenix Open Test 2026 Day 2
- Rossi fastest overall at 174.542 mph, led both sessions in the No. 20 ECR Chevrolet
- Newgarden second overall at 174.362 in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, consistent across both days
- Palou third at 174.220, 79 laps completed in the morning session alone
- Rasmussen fourth overall at 173.924, ECR 1-2 in the afternoon session
- Malukas fifth at 173.759, strong across both days in the No. 12 Penske Chevrolet
- Schumacher biggest mover among the rookies, gained more than 7 mph on his Tuesday best
- Ericsson spun in Turn 4 in the afternoon, hit the SAFER Barrier, walked away unhurt
- Power turned 259 laps over two days, more than the full race distance on March 7
- 24 of 25 drivers posted faster laps on Day 2 than Day 1
Rossi and ECR Mean Business
Alexander Rossi led every session across Day 2. Morning. Afternoon. Overall. That’s not a coincidence, that’s a car that works.
ECR teammate Christian Rasmussen was second in the afternoon session at 173.924, making it a clean 1-2 for the team when it mattered most. Fourth overall across the full day. Two cars, both in the mix, both on programme.
Rossi hasn’t tasted oval champagne since Pocono 2018, and his win drought dates back to Gateway 2023. On this evidence, ECR might be the team to end both streaks.
“We got through everything we wanted, and when you can do that, it’s a good day,” Rossi said. “We have a good baseline, and it feels like we are on top of it.”
That’s a driver and team that came here with a plan and executed it.
Newgarden Quietly Consistent
Josef Newgarden was second on Day 1. Second overall on Day 2 at 174.362 in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. His best lap came in the morning session. In the afternoon, Penske’s drivers dropped down the order deliberately, working through programme items rather than chasing time.
That’s fine. That’s smart. Two days of testing at a track the series hasn’t visited in eight years. Penske collected what they came for.
Champion, Composed, Still Watching
Alex Palou was third overall at 174.220 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Honda. He completed 79 laps in the morning session alone. Quietly thorough. No drama, no headlines. Just work.
That’s who Palou is. Four consecutive championships. He doesn’t need to win a test.
Schumacher: The Biggest Mover
Mick Schumacher ends the two-day test as the story of the rookie group. 171.096 mph in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda. That’s more than 7 mph quicker than his Tuesday best of 164.006.
7 mph. In one day. On just his second-ever oval outing.
Teammate Louis Foster was 14th at 171.705. The raw numbers put Foster ahead. But Schumacher’s progression is the headline. The lap count across both days tells the fuller story. He put in the work, built the pace methodically, and finished the test knowing the track.
That’s exactly how you approach a new discipline. He’ll be closer still at race weekend.
Ericsson Incident, Power’s Lap Count
One incident on Day 2. Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda fielded by Andretti Global had a quarter-spin in Turn 4 during the afternoon session and hit the SAFER Barrier. He was unhurt. Car damage was assessed, and the session continued.
Will Power was the story nobody is talking about. 259 laps across the two-day test, more than the full race distance for the Good Ranchers 250 on March 7.
After 16 seasons running Chevrolet power at Team Penske, Power is now adapting to the Honda power unit at Andretti Global in the No. 26. Different engine, different team, same work ethic. He’s not easing himself in. 259 laps says everything.
What’s Next
Pre-season is done. All 25 drivers head to St. Petersburg for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete on Sunday March 1. Full broadcast times and start times for every 2026 race are on FOX Sports IndyCar 2026 race broadcast and start times.
Phoenix gets its first IndyCar race since 2018 a week later. Good Ranchers 250, March 7, alongside NASCAR.
The desert has given its answers. Now the streets of St. Petersburg will decide if they’re true.
Coffee Corner Take
Rossi topping both sessions is the headline, but ECR putting both cars in the mix across the full test is the real story. Rasmussen won at Milwaukee last year. Rossi has the oval pedigree and clearly has the car under him. ECR could be a genuine force on ovals this season, not just a front-row threat at Indy.
Schumacher’s 7 mph gain in a single day on only his second oval deserves proper recognition. Some drivers take a full season to find that comfort level. He’s compressing the learning curve at speed. Keep watching that No. 47.
And Power’s 259 laps while learning a new power unit in a new environment? That’s a man with something to prove. He’s not settling in. He went to Andretti, switched to Honda, put his head down, and logged more miles than anyone. That motivation is going to matter when the season gets tight.
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