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Scott McLaughlin Calls Arlington 'My Most Favorite Street Circuit Ever'
The New Zealand driver topped opening practice for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:50pm
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Scott McLaughlin, the 32-year-old New Zealand driver for Team Penske, was thrilled with his experience on the new 14-turn, 2.73-mile temporary street circuit that makes up this weekend's inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington. McLaughlin led opening practice with a lap time of 1m34.8926s, calling the circuit "instantly my most favorite street circuit ever" and "an absolute blast" to drive.
Why it matters
The Grand Prix of Arlington marks the first time IndyCar has raced on a temporary street circuit in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, expanding the series' footprint in a major market. McLaughlin's positive feedback on the new circuit layout suggests it could become a popular addition to the IndyCar calendar if the inaugural event is a success.
The details
McLaughlin praised the circuit's mix of a long straightaway, technical corners, and big braking zones, saying it required a unique car setup. He felt the track would continue to improve as more rubber was laid down over the course of the weekend, allowing drivers to find additional speed.
- McLaughlin topped the opening practice session on Friday, March 13, 2026.
The players
Scott McLaughlin
A 32-year-old New Zealand driver competing for Team Penske in the 2026 IndyCar Series.
Team Penske
The racing team for which McLaughlin drives in the IndyCar Series.
What they’re saying
“That is instantly my most favorite street circuit ever. That is such a blast. Yeah, the DEX Imaging Chevy feels great, like it's just an absolute ball to drive. I'm like a little kid again. You know, this is great and just having a blast and so lucky that we were able to do it.”
— Scott McLaughlin
“I'm not just saying this because you probably think I'm getting paid to say it, but it's hands down the best street circuit personally that I've driven on. So far it's got a huge straight, bumpy straight, very hard to test your brake point into Turn 10 there. Then there are so many corners that are technical, but then also daring.”
— Scott McLaughlin
What’s next
With another practice session on Saturday morning ahead of qualifying, McLaughlin and the rest of the IndyCar field will continue learning the new Arlington circuit and looking to find additional speed.
The takeaway
McLaughlin's enthusiastic feedback on the new Arlington street circuit suggests it could become a popular addition to the IndyCar calendar if the inaugural event is a success, providing an exciting new challenge for drivers and an engaging experience for fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
