IndyCar Drivers Praise New Grand Prix of Arlington Event

The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is being hailed as 'the new standard' of IndyCar racing.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:27pm

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The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, a new 70-lap, 191.1-mile IndyCar race held on a temporary 2.73-mile, 14-turn street course around AT&T Stadium, is receiving high praise from the series' top drivers. Pato O'Ward said he 'wouldn't be shocked to see it be the second-biggest race of the season', while Scott Dixon called the facility 'the new standard' and Scott McLaughlin said it's 'hands down the best street circuit personally that I've driven on'.

Why it matters

The Grand Prix of Arlington represents a unique collaboration between IndyCar, Fox Sports, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers, aiming to create a world-class motorsports event in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The race's success could set a new benchmark for future IndyCar street circuit events.

The details

The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will be a 70-lap, 191.1-mile race contested on a temporary street course around AT&T Stadium. The event is the result of a partnership between Penske Entertainment, Fox Sports, the Cowboys, and the Rangers' REV Entertainment. Drivers have praised the high-quality facilities, hospitality, and overall course design.

  • The Grand Prix of Arlington will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • The race is the start of a multi-year deal to host the event in North Texas.

The players

Pato O'Ward

An IndyCar driver who said he 'wouldn't be shocked to see it be the second-biggest race of the season'.

Scott Dixon

An IndyCar driver who said he is 'blown away by this facility' and that it is 'the new standard'.

Scott McLaughlin

An IndyCar driver who said the Grand Prix of Arlington course is 'hands down the best street circuit personally that I've driven on'.

Roger Penske

The owner of Team Penske, who said 'To have this as our playground, you might call it, for a weekend is amazing.'

Jerry Jones

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who said 'This thing has been done first class. And no detail has been spared.'

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What they’re saying

“I wouldn't be shocked to see it be the second-biggest race of the season. I think it's going to be close to maybe what we expect at Long Beach, so I'm really curious to see what Saturday and Sunday look like. It deserves to be sold out because it really does look like a world-class course.”

— Pato O'Ward

“I'm blown away by this facility. I'm blown away by the activation and just what they've done with hospitality. I think this is the new standard.”

— Scott Dixon

“It's hands down the best street circuit personally that I've driven on”

— Scott McLaughlin

“To have this as our playground, you might call it, for a weekend is amazing. We don't have this kind of commitment any place that we go as we do here.”

— Roger Penske, Team Penske owner

“This thing has been done first class. And no detail has been spared.”

— Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner

What’s next

The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, kicking off a multi-year deal to host the event in North Texas.

The takeaway

The Grand Prix of Arlington has set a new standard for IndyCar street circuit events, with drivers praising the high-quality facilities, hospitality, and course design. This unique collaboration between IndyCar, media, and local sports franchises could serve as a model for future marquee motorsports events in major metropolitan areas.