Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi, two seasoned NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, were thrilled to test the Firestone Firehawk tires at Phoenix Raceway on November 6-7, 2025. This test is crucial as it prepares the series for its return to the 1-mile desert oval, scheduled for March 7, 2026, in a combined weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series. Dixon, a six-time series champion, drove for Honda teams in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing car, while Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, tested for Chevrolet teams in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing machine. Both drivers were eager to evaluate various tire compounds and constructions for Firestone, the exclusive tire supplier for INDYCAR. The test holds significant importance as the feedback from Dixon and Rossi will guide the selection of the tire to be used by the entire field in March. Rossi emphasized the criticality of the test, stating that it's essential for the series to choose the right tire, especially with the close nature of INDYCAR racing and the dynamic short-oval racing. Phoenix Raceway, one of the most historically significant tracks in INDYCAR SERIES history, has hosted 64 series races since its opening in 1964. Dixon and Rossi have both driven at Phoenix, with Dixon winning in 2016 and Rossi achieving a best finish of third in 2018. However, the cars they drove in 2018 lacked the aeroscreen and hybrid system, which have added weight and shifted the car's balance. The oval's configuration has also changed, with the start-finish line moved to the other side of the track, and the kink and grandstand positions altered. Despite these changes, both drivers are optimistic about the upcoming race, expecting a compelling and action-packed show when open-wheel cars return to the Valley of the Sun for the second event of the 2026 season and the only oval race before the 110th Indianapolis 500. Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet, both INDY NXT by Firestone graduates, cleared the important hurdle of the series' rookie oval test at Nashville Superspeedway on November 6, 2025. Hauger, the 2025 INDY NXT champion, and Collet, the 2025 series runner-up, can now compete in all non-Indy 500 oval races next season, starting with the first oval race at Phoenix Raceway. They are also eligible for the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program in late April at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a prerequisite for competing in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'
