6-time IndyCar champion gives clear verdict on momentous NASCAR crossover at Phoenix in 2026

Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon is eagerly anticipating the series’ return to Phoenix Raceway in 2026, which will feature a special crossover event with the NASCAR Cup Series. IndyCar last raced on the iconic 1-mile oval in 2018, marking a seven-year hiatus that will end when the series next visits on March 7, 2026.

On Friday, November 8, Dixon joined Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi for a Firestone tire test at Phoenix Raceway. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver said he was “flooded with memories” of IndyCar’s past races at Phoenix, recalling both the atmosphere and the challenges unique to the venue.

Dixon also addressed the upcoming crossover with NASCAR, expressing excitement about the expanded opportunities for both series. “It’s gonna be a fantastic weekend, a great partnership, I think, between NASCAR and IndyCar. Honestly, it’s just fantastic for the fans,” Dixon said. “For us as race car drivers or teams, we love racing and doing our day job, no matter where we are. I think picking the right circumstances, the right series, this combo, is big for us attracting NASCAR fans and vice versa. So there are really no downsides.”

IndyCar’s most recent run at Phoenix Raceway spanned from 2016 to 2018, after returning from an 11-year absence. Dixon himself claimed victory on IndyCar’s return in 2016, while Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was the final winner before the series departed again in 2018.

**Major Changes to Phoenix Raceway Since the Early 2000s**

Dixon was very pleased with how the recent tire test unfolded, especially given the number of changes Phoenix Raceway has undergone during IndyCar’s absence. The test carried special significance, as Phoenix will host IndyCar’s first oval race of the 2026 season. In recent years, the Indianapolis 500 has been the first oval event, with other ovals concentrated in the second half of the season.

Dixon observed several notable updates to the track layout since he first competed there in the early 2000s. “Pit exit has changed a little bit,” Dixon noted. “I think the kink (on the oval) and how they’ve moved the back wall, the grandstand is not where it used to be, the start-finish is on the other side. I guess everything has changed. As far as the old track when I first came in the early 2000s, it’s kind of flipped on its head.”

Alexander Rossi also expressed his gratitude for being chosen to help test the new Firestone tire compounds at Phoenix, calling it an “honor.” The 2026 IndyCar race at Phoenix will feature dramatically different cars than in 2018, including heavier machines equipped with hybrid power units and the innovative aeroscreen—technologies that were not in use during IndyCar’s previous visits.

Fans are eagerly awaiting this new chapter, which promises to deliver an exciting spectacle and usher in a new era for both IndyCar and NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/indycar/news-6-time-indycar-champion-gives-clear-verdict-momentous-nascar-crossover-phoenix-2026

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