On the Day 1 of the Unser IndyCar Open Test at Phoenix Raceway, David Malukas topped the time sheets for Team Penske. His best lap time of 20.8569 at 172.605mph in the No. 12 capped his first official test session with the team. While tests are just that, did Day 1 show Penske could dominate in 2026?
Top 5
Malukas’ veteran teammate Josef Newgarden ensured he was not forgotten, coming in a close P2 with a time of 20.9277 at 172.021mph. Will Power, now with Andretti Global, showed his experience by claiming P3 with a 20.9661 at 171.706mph. Coming in at P4, Kyle Kirkwood ensured Andretti stayed relevant with a 3-4 finish. Kirkwood posted a 21.0007 at 171.423mph. Reigning champion Alex Palou claimed P5 for Chip Ganassi Racing with a 21.0088 at 171.357mph.
Rookie Watch
2025 IndyNXT champion, Dennis Hauger, was the fastest of the rookies and claimed P17 for Dayle Coyne Racing. Hauger’s 21.2692 lap time was only around 0.7s faster then the next closest rookie, Formula 1 veteran Mick Schumacher. However, Hauger’s speed of 169.259mph was more than 5mph faster then Schumacher’s.
Mick was only able to put his Rahal Letterman Lanigan No. 47 into P23 with a 21.9504 time at 164.006mph. The remaining rookie, AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet, ended the day early after finding the wall at Turn 4 in the only incident of the day. Collet was able to post a 22.1574 at 162.474mph prior to the collision.
What They Had to Say
In his post-session press conference, Malukas likened Phoenix to St. Louis’s Gateway.
“Yeah, engineers were saying that. Hey, if you like Gateway, this might be another one that you might like to add to your list. So far I think they were right. Like it a lot. It’s nice.”
Possibly wanting to appear non-committal, Malukas downplayed his lead on Day 1 of testing.
“I think it’s hard for test days, because you know, you’re running through your own plans, but I mean, of course, it feels good.”
Kirkwood admitted surprise with his first trip to Phoenix Raceway.
“…oh, it’s going to be kind of lower grip, just looking at the asphalt. Usually I’m like tracks out this way get a little bit bumpy in the desert, right? It’s just not that. It’s pretty high-grip. It’s very, very smooth, very fast. It’s pretty enjoyable to drive.”
Kirkwood also spoke to the Driver In the Loop (DIL) simulator running he did in preparation for Phoenix Raceway.
“I was maybe a little bit skeptical because we haven’t been here… So I was, like, Oh, maybe we’re a little bit fast, but we were within about a half tenth of what we are now based on our sim running. So extremely accurate. Very worthwhile.”
Looking Ahead
While the drivers and teams are racking up track time, what does this mean for the first race of the 2026 IndyCar season? Unfortunately, not much.
The data from the one-mile oval at Phoenix mean nothing for the bumpy street circuit of St. Petersburg. Teams will have different setups, tire strategies, and fuel strategies. In a pre-session press conference, Pato O’Ward had reservations over pre-season test sessions.
We cannot forget, however, that the second race of the 2026 season does take place at Phoenix Raceway, returning for the first time since 2018. It is safe to say teams will be banking all this data to use in Round Two on March 7th.
Day 2 Incoming
The 2026 Unser Pre-Season Open Test continues tomorrow with Day 2. IndyCar will then shift focus to the streets of St. Pete for the start of the season on March 1st.
Day 1 provided a headline: Malukas and Penske make a statement! Will their form continue into Day 2? Can Power, Kirkwood, Palou, or someone else topple the Penske powerhouse? Follow the action live on the IndyCar app or IndyCar.com at 9:00 a.m. local time for the morning session, and 1:30 p.m. local time for the afternoon session.
Feature Image Credit: Penske Entertainment