INDYCAR Drivers Excited for Inaugural Arlington Race

New street course features a mix of surfaces and a unique qualifying format tweak

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

INDYCAR drivers are eager to compete in the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, a 2.73-mile street course that winds around the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers stadiums. The new circuit features a mix of old asphalt, new asphalt, concrete, and painted concrete, presenting a unique challenge for drivers. INDYCAR has also introduced a change to the qualifying format for the final session, where the top six drivers will take the track one at a time for a single lap, rather than the traditional six-minute session with multiple laps.

Why it matters

The Grand Prix of Arlington marks the first time INDYCAR has raced on the streets of Arlington, adding a new and exciting event to the series' calendar. The unique track layout and qualifying format changes are expected to provide an engaging experience for both drivers and fans, as INDYCAR continues to innovate and evolve its racing product.

The details

Drivers have praised the new Arlington circuit, with Scott McLaughlin calling it his "most favorite street circuit ever." The course features several technical sections, as well as a long 0.9-mile straightaway. INDYCAR made some minor adjustments to the track based on driver feedback, such as reducing the height of a curb that could have caused cars to become airborne. The different racing surfaces have also presented a challenge for teams in setting up their cars, as the grip levels vary significantly across the course.

  • The inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington will take place on Sunday, March 16, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
  • Drivers participated in their first day of practice on the new circuit on Friday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

Scott McLaughlin

An INDYCAR driver who topped the speed charts after the first day of practice on the new Arlington circuit, which he called his "most favorite street circuit ever."

Scott Dixon

A six-time INDYCAR series champion who praised the level of detail and preparation that went into the new Arlington course.

Alex Palou

A four-time INDYCAR series champion who has won the last two points races on new circuits, and described the Arlington course as "insane" and "super fun to drive."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That is instantly my most favorite street circuit ever.”

— Scott McLaughlin

“It's insane. It's super fun to drive. It's just a lot more fun than I thought just how the car feels. There's so many different corners.”

— Alex Palou

“Even the detail of how much work they put into grinding spots [to make them smooth] — we've never seen to that level before. So it's really, really nice to see.”

— Scott Dixon, Six-time INDYCAR series champion

What’s next

The new qualifying format for the final session, where the top six drivers will take the track one at a time for a single lap, will be tested for the first time during Saturday's qualifying session.

The takeaway

The inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington is shaping up to be an exciting and innovative addition to the INDYCAR calendar, with drivers praising the unique track layout and the series' willingness to experiment with the qualifying format. This event could become a new fan favorite on the INDYCAR circuit.