IndyCar Drivers Praise Arlington Street Race as 'Setting a New Standard'

Packed grandstands, record merchandise sales, and rave reviews from drivers help make the Texas street race an instant series showcase.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:12am

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The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, a new IndyCar street race in Texas, has been widely praised by drivers and team owners as setting a new benchmark for the series. The event featured packed grandstands, record merchandise sales, and an electric atmosphere that left participants eager for an encore performance.

Why it matters

The success of the Arlington street race highlights IndyCar's growing popularity and the series' ability to attract large, enthusiastic crowds to new markets. The race's professional presentation and fan engagement could inspire more cities to host similar high-profile IndyCar events, further expanding the sport's reach.

The details

The Arlington street race, set against the backdrop of AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, and Choctaw Stadium, scored record merchandise sales for a non-Indianapolis 500 event and boasted the largest premium hospitality program outside of the Indy 500. Drivers from across the IndyCar paddock raved about the event, with many saying it has 'set a new standard' for what IndyCar races should look like.

  • The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington took place on March 17, 2026.

The players

Dan Towriss

CEO of TWG Motorsports, who recognized the wild popularity of the event among drivers and fans.

Will Power

Driver for Andretti Global, who said the event 'is setting a new standard of what our events should look like.'

Alex Palou

Driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, who said the event 'has exceeded by 10 times' his high expectations.

Pato O'Ward

Driver for Arrow McLaren, who said the event 'has set a new standard on what IndyCar races should look like every single weekend.'

Jerry Jones

Owner of the Dallas Cowboys, whose team and stadium were involved in hosting the event.

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What they’re saying

“This is setting a new standard of what our events should look like. Every stand was full. It was totally, totally full. The track looked amazing. It just looked like a big event. I can't thank Penske Entertainment, the Cowboys, the Rangers [enough].”

— Will Power, Driver, Andretti Global

“My expectations were high, but this has exceeded by 10 times, this event in general. By far this is the best street course race I've been a part of. The energy was incredible. I cannot wait to be back here next year. It's been a 10 out of 10. There's nothing you can say that this was bad. The attendance was incredible. The fans were incredible. Everybody was just there, being happy. It's incredible to be part of this.”

— Alex Palou, Driver, Chip Ganassi Racing

“I've had such a great weekend driving around this place, and everyone here and involved in this event deserves the sold-out crowd that I saw today. They've set a new standard on what IndyCar races should look like every single weekend.”

— Pato O'Ward, Driver, Arrow McLaren

What’s next

The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is expected to return to the IndyCar calendar in 2027, with the series and organizers hoping to build on the success of the inaugural event.

The takeaway

The overwhelming success of the first-year Java House Grand Prix of Arlington demonstrates IndyCar's ability to attract large, passionate crowds to new markets, setting a new benchmark for the series and inspiring hopes of more high-profile street races in the future.