PHOENIX – Alex Palou arrives at Phoenix Raceway this week poised to make history as he embarks on his 100th NTT INDYCAR SERIES start in Saturday’s Good Ranchers 250. Coming off a dominant win at the season opener in St. Petersburg, the four-time series champion is not only contending for another championship but also etching his name into the record books with an impressive win rate. The race, part of a unique “Desert Double” alongside the NASCAR Cup Series, marks the series’ return to the one-mile oval for the first time since 2018.
Palou, driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, has already secured 20 career wins, a feat that guarantees he’ll have won at least 20 percent of his first 100 races. This accomplishment is unprecedented among active INDYCAR drivers, setting a new benchmark for success in the series. The Good Ranchers 250 is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on FOX, FOX One, the FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio, and powered by OnlyBulls.
A Century of Starts and a Rising Legacy
Even as seasoned veterans Scott Dixon, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden boast more overall career victories – Dixon with 59, Power with 45, and Newgarden with 32 – none reached their 100th race with as many trips to victory lane as Palou. Power held the previous high with 18 wins at his 100th start, while Dixon and Newgarden had seven each. Palou’s 20th victory also places him alongside Earl Cooper, who earned his last win exactly 100 years ago, a remarkable parallel in the sport’s history.
The 28-year-old Spaniard has his sights set on surpassing even more legendary names in INDYCAR history. Just two more wins will tie him with Tony Bettenhausen and Emerson Fittipaldi. Four more victories would put him alongside Ralph DePalma and Bobby Rahal. Five more wins would equal Gordon Johncock’s career total, and seven more would match the impressive record of Johnny Rutherford.
Phoenix Raceway: A Return to Familiar Territory
Saturday’s race will mark Palou’s first career start on the Phoenix oval, but he won’t be alone in that experience. Most of the 25-car field will be navigating the track for the first time since the series last raced there in 2018. However, six-time series champion Scott Dixon has the most experience at Phoenix, with six starts between 2003-2005 and 2016-2018, including a win in 2016 and a second-place finish in 2004.
Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, and Graham Rahal also have prior experience at the Arizona track, each with three starts. Power secured a third-place finish in 2018 and second in 2017, while Newgarden claimed victory in 2018, with Rossi finishing third and Dixon fourth. Rahal’s best result came in 2016, where he finished fifth.
Oval Track Prowess and the “Desert Double”
Palou has demonstrated a strong affinity for oval tracks, winning two of the six oval races on the 2025 schedule. Other one-time oval winners last year included Pato O’Ward, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Rasmussen, and Newgarden. This year’s event is particularly noteworthy as it’s one of only three Saturday races on the 2026 INDYCAR schedule. The “Desert Double” format, sharing the weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series, is a rare occurrence that promises a thrilling spectacle for racing fans.
The action at Phoenix Raceway will kick off on Friday with three practice sessions, all broadcast on FS2. The schedule includes a first practice session at 10 a.m. ET, followed by qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2 p.m. And a final practice session at 4:30 p.m., allowing teams to refine their setups for the high line of the oval. The race distance is set for 250 miles.
As Alex Palou prepares for his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start, the focus now shifts to qualifying and practice sessions on Friday. The Good Ranchers 250 promises to be a pivotal moment in his career, and fans can expect a competitive race as drivers adapt to the challenges of the Phoenix Raceway oval. Further updates and detailed event information can be found at INDYCAR.com.
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