NASCAR News: Two-time Indy 500 winner 'excited' for 2026 Cup Series link-up

Two-time IndyCar and Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden has issued his verdict on the open-wheel racing series linking up with NASCAR for 2026.

Both NASCAR and IndyCar will race at the same venue on the same weekend once again this season, marking the first time that they have done so since at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2023.

This time around, the event is set to take place at Phoenix Raceway in Arizona, with IndyCar racing on March 7 along with NASCAR's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, while the Cup Series will then race the following day at the track on March 8.

Newgarden previews NASCAR link-up

Previewing the event, Team Penske IndyCar star Newgarden has admitted he is excited, and says he hopes to see more weekends like it in the future.

"I'm super excited to be teamed up with NASCAR and have a double weekend," he explained on IndyCar's YouTube channel. "People want more of that. This is a good addition.

"The last time we had it was obviously at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but I look forward to sticking around that weekend, watching the Cup event, and you know, the Cup guys love coming over, checking out what we're doing over the weekend.

"So if we could get a couple more of those, I'd be all for it."

Excitement shared by NASCAR

Newgarden's excitement is also shared by 2023 Cup Series champion and fellow Team Penske stablemate Ryan Blaney.

Speaking back in September when the IndyCar-NASCAR joint weekend was announced, Blaney said: “I loved when we had the doubleheader with them at Indy, just kind of being right there and going over and hanging out and watching practice in their box and stuff like that.

“It was cool, and I think it’s going to be fantastic. And I like that IndyCar’s going back to Phoenix. It’s been a while since they’ve run in Phoenix, and I think it’ll put on a really good show.

"So I’m looking forward to that in the spring, and yeah, it’ll be fun to watch those guys run about six seconds at least faster than us around that place, and I’m looking forward to going and standing like in (turns) one and two. Those guys just haulin’ butt around on there will be pretty amazing to see.

"I think it’s great for both series, IndyCar and on the NASCAR side.”