Lochie Hughes Secures Pole Position at WWTR, Gaining Momentum for Season Lochie Hughes needed this. The series veteran earned his third career pole and first of the 2024 season for the INDY NXT by Firestone at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, securing the front row with a two-lap average of 162.578 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry. This marked his first pole on an oval track, a significant milestone in his career. Hughes expressed satisfaction with his performance but acknowledged the pressure of the moment. “I think I just left the tiniest bit of margin out there, so I was a little bit nervous because I knew probably could have gone a bit quicker. But it was a really good two laps. It’s so easy to overdo it, as well,” he said. The 28-year-old driver emphasized the importance of the result, noting that the season had started with challenges. “My mind has been a bit like a pretzel, so I’m relieved to have a pole position. Hopefully we can back it up with a win. That’s what we need. But this is nice. It’s some momentum going the right way.” The 75-lap race on the asymmetrical, 1.25-mile oval—marking the first oval event of the season for the series—will broadcast live on FS1, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The race promises high stakes, with the series leader and arguably its fastest driver on ovals starting from the back of the grid. Rookie Alessandro de Tullio continued his strong qualifying performance this season by securing the outside spot on the front row at 162.363 mph in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing machine. De Tullio, who has five poles and two second-place qualifying performances in eight starts this season, showcased his consistency and speed.#indycar #fs1 #lochie_hughes #world_wide_technology_raceway #andretti_global
NASCAR Driver Daniel Dye Faces Backlash for Mocking IndyCar's David Malukas The incident originated during late February at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where drivers from different racing series engaged in informal interactions. What began as a lighthearted exchange quickly escalated into an online controversy after a livestream clip surfaced. Critics focused on Dye’s tone and phrasing, while others highlighted past controversies from his career. During the stream, Dye recounted his conversation with David Malukas, an IndyCar driver, and exaggerated his voice while mimicking Malukas’ words. He referred to the interaction as his “David Malukas gay voice” and continued the impression while opening card packs. In the clip, Dye repeated Malukas’ lines, including, “Oh my gosh, yes, we race Indianapolis, love Indianapolis, and Roger Penske, I love Roger. Love you, Roger.” The clip sparked widespread backlash, with journalists and fans condemning the behavior. Austin Konenski, a journalist, wrote, “This is not a good look for Daniel Dye. Glad to see Brent Crews take himself out of that conversation. There is no place for that kind of behavior.” Joe Srigley added, “This is disappointing… I don’t understand why we can’t just be nice to the people we meet. To say this on a public social media platform where it can easily be clipped and shared is bananas. Not to mention, there’s a good chance that David ends up seeing this.” Fans amplified the criticism by referencing a past incident involving Dye. One user posted, “Daniel Dye mocking David Malukas (by all accounts, an extremely nice guy) with a homophobic tone because Malukas talked to him about ovals is ironic considering Dye is a criminal charged with grinding his cock on someone’s face.#david_malukas #indycar #kaulig_racing #daniel_dye #firestone_grand_prix_of_st_petersburg
If you think today's IndyCars are fast at Phoenix... The one-mile Phoenix Raceway oval has become a stage for stark contrasts between NASCAR’s Cup Series and IndyCar’s high-speed spectacle, as fans witness the dramatic differences in speed and performance between the two racing series. During the Good Ranchers 250, Team Penske’s David Malukas secured pole position in the No. 12 Chevy with a two-lap average of 175.3mph, while Cup drivers will wait until Saturday to qualify for their Sunday race. For context, Denny Hamlin’s pole in the November championship-deciding race averaged 133.7mph, highlighting a 41.6mph gap in average speed and a 6.5-second difference in lap times. For newer IndyCar fans, these numbers may seem staggering, but a look back at the series’ history reveals how much the DW12 has evolved. During the 2016-18 manufacturer aero kit era, Helio Castroneves set a record pole in the No. 3 Chevy at 194.9mph, a 19.6mph increase over Malukas’ current pace and 61.2mph faster than Hamlin’s November lap. Castroneves also completed the lap in 18.7 seconds, outpacing Malukas by 2.6 seconds and Hamlin by 8.2. The technical differences between the 2016-17 aero kit era and today’s rules are significant. The introduction of the aeroscreen cockpit safety device in 2020 added over 100 pounds of weight, while the adoption of hybridization with an energy recovery system in 2024 pushed the DW12’s minimum weight to its highest level since rear-engine designs became standard in the 1960s. These changes were implemented to prioritize tire safety and longevity, as the high speeds and increased weight put immense stress on the right-side tires. To address this, engine power was reduced by dialing down turbocharger boost, and downforce was adjusted to make cornering more challenging without lifting the throttle.#david_malukas #team_penske #indycar #denny_hamlin #helio_castroneves
How to Watch INDYCAR Desert Double Race at Phoenix: TV Channel, Streaming, Time The 2026 INDYCAR season will feature a high-octane doubleheader at Phoenix Raceway as part of the Desert Double event, with the second race of the year set for Saturday. The Good Ranchers 250 will take place at 3 p.m. ET on FOX, with live coverage also available on FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and the FOX Sports website. This event marks the first of two motorsports races on FOX this weekend, with the NASCAR Cup Series set to race on Sunday. The 2026 INDYCAR season officially kicks off with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a street race in Florida, before returning to Phoenix for the second race. Alex Palou, who secured his fourth INDYCAR championship in 2025, continued his dominance by winning the season-opening race at St. Petersburg. The victory solidifies his position as a top contender for the 2026 title. INDYCAR’s last appearance at Phoenix Raceway was in 2018, when Josef Newgarden claimed victory. Since 2005, the series has only raced at the one-mile desert track three times—2016, 2017, and 2018. The return to Phoenix is expected to draw significant attention, given the track’s unique challenges and the competitive nature of the series. The next INDYCAR race of the 2026 season will be the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, a street race in Texas set for Sunday, March 15, at 12:30 p.m. ET. This event will also air on FOX and FOX One. Throughout the season, every INDYCAR race will be broadcast live on FOX, including the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. For viewers without cable, live-streaming options include the FOX Sports website, FOX One, and the FOX Sports app. Additional services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV carry FOX content.#fox #phoenix_raceway #indycar #alex_palou #java_house_grand_prix_of_arlington
