2026 INDYCAR Odds: Josef Newgarden New Favourite for Desert Double in Phoenix

[ad_1] The 2026 INDYCAR season began off just about how the final one ended — with Alex Palou on high.

No, Alex Palou did not win the final race of the 2025 season, however he did win the INDYCAR championship final 12 months, his third consecutive and fourth general.

Final weekend within the first race of the 12 months, the sector was no competitors for Palou on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete, as he led 59 laps and acquired into Winner's Circle.

Will the weekend in Phoenix show that Palou may be overwhelmed when the drivers take the observe for the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, FOX)?

Listed below are the percentages at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 7.

This web page could include affiliate hyperlinks to authorized sports activities betting companions. For those who join or place a wager, FOX Sports activities could also be compensated. Learn extra about Sports activities Betting on FOX Sports activities.

INDYCAR Sequence: Good Ranchers 250 2026

Josef Newgarden: 9/5 (guess $10 to win $28 complete)David Malukas: 3/1 (guess $10 to win $40 complete)Alex Palou: 7/2 (guess $10 to win $45 complete)Pato O'Ward: 8/1 (guess $10 to win $90 complete)Scott McLaughlin: 10/1 (guess $10 to win $110 complete)Mick Schumacher: 14/1 (guess $10 to win $150 complete)Graham Rahal: 14/1 (guess $10 to win $150 complete)Alexander Rossi: 16/1 (guess $10 to win $170 complete)Scott Dixon: 22/1 (guess $10 to win $230 complete)Kyle Kirkwood: 25/1 (guess $10 to win $260 complete)Rinus Veekay: 25/1 (guess $10 to win $260 complete)Christian Rasmussen: 30/1 (guess $10 to win $310 complete)

Marcus Ericsson: 40/1 (guess $10 to win $410 complete)Marcus Armstrong: 40/1 (guess $10 to win $410 complete)Will Energy: 40/1 (guess $10 to win $410 complete)Christian Lundgaard: 50/1 (guess $10 to win $510 complete)Nolan Siegel: 60/1 (guess $10 to win $610 complete)Louis Foster: 70/1 (guess $10 to win $710 complete)Kyffin Simpson: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Felix Rosenqvist: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Dennis Hauger: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Sting Ray Robb: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Santino Ferrucci: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Romain Grosjean: 100/1 (guess $10 to win $1,010 complete)Caio Collet: 500/1 (guess $10 to win $5,010 complete)

New Favourite: Josef Newgarden opened as an in depth second to Palou, however after qualifying second at 174.548, he moved into the highest spot on the oddsboard. Final week at St. Pete, he completed seventh, after main just one lap the whole day. Nonetheless, he began the race twenty third, so beginning higher at Phoenix might put him in a extra favorable ending place on Saturday.

Josef Newgarden certified second for the Desert Double in Phoenix.

One to Beat: Alex Palou can't be stopped, it appears. St. Pete gave him his ninth win in his final 18 races, and he did so in dominant trend. Along with main 59 out of 100 laps, his margin of victory over second-place Scott McLaughlin was 12.49 seconds.

Can Alex Palou get win No. 2 of the 2026 season?

One to Watch: Pato O'Ward left St. Pete with a fifth-place end, and he heads into Phoenix considerably annoyed that INDYCAR is operating on Saturday and NASCAR on Sunday. In 2025, he received two races and earned six podiums. Will Pato work out a few of that frustration at observe this weekend and cross the end line first?