Arie Luyendyk, Tony Stewart and Roberto Guerrero also got to beat Bryan Herta's preexisting track record, which had been already beaten by Buddy Lazier in a private test.

[5] Guthrie, Vélez and Jourdain Jr. passed their tests, while Gardner, hampered by an engine failure, and DeLorto, who topped at 119 mph in 27 laps, were not approved.

[7] Starting with the Phoenix test, the team was known as Byrd-Treadway Racing, switching to Firestone tires because of "performance issues", and keeping Arie Luyendyk.

Project Indy stayed in the IRL, but their only IndyCar World Series outing would be at the Grand Prix of Long Beach with Dennis Vitolo.

[8] On March 8, the Phoenix entry list was released, with the additions of Michel Jourdain Jr., Jim Guthrie and Dan Drinan with the teams they had tested for.

The newly renamed Team Scandia appointed Fermín Vélez, their IMSA GT champion, to sub for Eliseo Salazar, who had not recovered in time from the injuries sustained at Walt Disney World.

[12] One week later, a revised entry list featured Silver Crown competitor Paul Durant, driving for a new team, ABF Motorsports.

On Saturday, USAC allowed the Buick and the Menard-branded engines to increase their boost pressure from 55 to 60 inches, something they had approved on some cars at Walt Disney World, to make the field more competitive, although they would have to turn it down at some stages during the race.

[22] Arie Luyendyk, the most experienced driver at Phoenix alongside Scott Brayton with 11 starts, upped his speed to lead the morning practice with a 182.454 mph lap, in front of Richie Hearn and Tony Stewart.

At 19 years, 5 months and 19 days, Jourdain would become the third-youngest driver ever to contest an Indy car race at the time, behind compatriot Josele Garza and Troy Ruttman.

Lyn St. James could not qualify due to her primary chassis being destroyed, but was able to get out on track on the afternoon practice with her back-up car, and was allowed to start the race at the back of the field despite lapping at just 150 mph.

After the restart, Luyendyk was unable to open a gap, his car reportedly being loose, which allowed the top 4 to run closely for a few laps.

By Lap 27, Tony Stewart and Richie Hearn had overtaken Luyendyk and Guerrero, who would also pass the Dutch shortly after, despite an issue with the brake cooling.

[25] On Lap 33, Michel Jourdain Jr., taking the inside lane of Turn 3 in heavy traffic, lost control of the car and crashed, bringing out the second yellow.

On Lap 73, Brayton, running seventh, crashed heavily on Turn 4, and required the use of an stretcher to get into an ambulance, but he suffered no major injuries.

Pit stops under caution followed for the Foyt trio and Stewart, who stalled his car and fell to sixth place, as the last driver on the lead lap.

Jim Guthrie, running in 15th and last place at the time, had a sizeable crash exiting Turn 2 on Lap 128, bringing a caution that would determine the fate of the race.

In his second Indy car race, Johnny O'Connell had a steady drive, and finished in the top 5 despite serving a Stop & Go on Lap 138 for running over a fuel hose.

Albeit seven laps down, Buzz Calkins' sixth-place finish allowed him to remain as the Indy Racing League points leader heading to the Indianapolis 500.