Ware, Rodriguez named co-grand marshals for INDYCAR’s Grand Prix of Arlington
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
Texas-centric Hall of Famers DeMarcus Ware and Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez will serve as Co-Grand Marshals for INDYCAR’s inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington street race on Sunday, March 15.
Ware and Rodríguez will deliver the command, “Drivers, start your engines!” ahead of Race No. 3 on the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series schedule, adding hometown star-power to open-wheel racing’s return to the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
Ware, a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker, built a Pro Football Hall of Fame career as the franchise’s all-time sack leader with 117.0 _ and two fumbles returned for touchdowns _ in 141 games with “America’s Team” from 2005 to 2013.
Ware spent the final three years of his career (2014-2016) with the Denver Broncos, appearing in another 178 games and finishing with 138.5 total sacks. A 43-year-old native of Auburn, Ala., Ware is a nine-time Pro Bowler and a seven-time All-Pro, including four first-team selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football HOF in Canton, Ohio, as a member of the Class of 2023.
Rodríguez, a former Texas Rangers catcher, anchored the team for more than a decade en route to induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2017, his first year of eligibility. Pudge was the leader of the Rangers team that made its first postseason appearance in the 1996 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.
Rodriguez logged two stints with the Rangers (1991-2002 and 2009). In 21 MLB seasons (1991-2011), Pudge earned 13 Gold Gloves and 14 All-Star selections _all capped by the 1999 American League Most Valuable Player Award.
A 54-year-old native of Manati, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez played for five other MLB franchises, retiring in 2011 after a two-year stint with the National League’s Washington Nationals and posting a record 2,427 games behind the plate.
“DeMarcus Ware and Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez represent the very best of North Texas _ championship-caliber excellence, unwavering pride and a deep connection to this community,” said Bill Miller, president of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. “Having these renowned Hall of Famers serve as our Co-Grand Marshals is incredibly meaningful and sets the tone for an unforgettable celebration of world-class racing right here in Arlington.”
The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will be contested on a 2.73-mile/14-turn temporary street circuit winding around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field in the popular Arlington Entertainment District. The weekend is a first-of-its-kind venture uniting three championship organizations _ INDYCAR, the NFL’s Cowboys and REV Entertainment, official events partner of MLB’s Rangers.
INDYCAR today confirmed a multi-year commitment from Chevrolet and Honda to continue as official Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of INDYCAR and the NTT IndyCar Series. Each OEM agreement will begin in 2027 and run for multiple years.
The new commitment with Chevrolet and Honda represents a significant financial investment in North America’s premier open-wheel series. It also is an endorsement of the momentum and continued growth of the series. Both manufacturers will be heavily involved in development of the new 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine with hybrid technology package and competition rules to be implemented with the next generation series car, which is expected to make is competition debut in 2028.
“This is a monumental day for INDYCAR, fueled by a massive and historic commitment from two of our best and most trusted partners,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement from Indianapolis. “Chevrolet and Honda have worked tirelessly with us over the last 12 months to get to this point, and both have made it very clear that they are fully committed to this sport and invested in continuing the positive momentum the series generated in 2025.”
In addition to commitments made in engine development, engine supply and promotion of the series, each manufacturer will be entitled to own a charter to be utilized beginning with the 2028 NTT IndyCar Series season.
“Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, successful relationship with INDYCAR as an engine manufacturer, and this extension paves the way for the NTT IndyCar Series to continue to grow and for us to further maximize technology transfer from race-to-road,” General Motors President Mark Reuss said. “The addition of a charter allows Chevrolet to join with other stakeholders to continue to make the series even stronger. INDYCAR produces consistently exciting racing on road and street courses as well as ovals, and we look forward to building on our INDYCAR legacy and put on a great show for our loyal Chevrolet fans.”
Indeed, the multi-year announcement extends Chevrolet’s current participation in INDYCAR. Chevrolet is a nine-time champion since its return to the sport 14 seasons ago in 2012. Including its 1988-93 and 2002 titles, Chevrolet has won 16 total INDYCAR manufacturer championships.
Honda began INDYCAR competition in 1994 and has been a continuous and key fixture on series grids as an engine supplier for over 30 years _ including six seasons as sole engine supplier. The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season marked its 11th manufacturers’ title in multiple manufacturer competition and the fifth in the last eight years.
“To our esteemed Honda fans, customers and associates, we are thrilled to announce our ongoing participation in the NTT IndyCar Series,” Honda Racing Corporation USA President David Salters said. “With a deep respect for the history and competitive spirit of INDYCAR racing, we are proud to continue our involvement after more than 30 years. This long-standing commitment strengthens our ability to allow us to further develop our people and technology at the pinnacle of open-wheel racing in North America.
“The partnership between INDYCAR and FOX continues to grow, bringing outstanding race coverage and elevating the experience for fans everywhere. The future of INDYCAR looks incredibly bright, and we at Honda are honored to play a critical role in its continued success.”
Boles acknowledged a key element in the new commitments entitles each manufacturer to own a charter. “As charter entrants in 2028,” Boles said, “Chevrolet and Honda now have a new and exciting opportunity to build on their incredible legacies across INDYCAR racing, while continuing their strong relationships with our current roster of teams and helping deliver an innovative and industry-leading new car in 2028.”
The INDYCAR charter system originally was announced in September 2024. Charters were extended to teams based upon full-time entries from the 2022-23 seasons, with a maximum of three awarded per team. NTT IndyCar Series teams with three charters are not eligible to utilize a fourth charter via an OEM.
Complete details of the powertrain parameters to be utilized with the new 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine with hybrid technology and introduced with the 2028 NTT IndyCar Series Dallara chassis will be announced at a later date.
The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season will begin on Sunday, March 1, at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg street race in Florida. Race-day coverage will begin at noon (ET) on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One and the FOX Sports app. Audio coverage will be available via the INDYCAR Radio Network on SiriusXM Channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
FOX SPORTS’ 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES RACE BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Note _ All times Eastern
Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., Noon
Saturday, March 7 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz., 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 19 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif., 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 24 _ 110th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval, 10 a.m.
Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill., 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., 2 p.m.
Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn., TBA
Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 16 _ Streets of Markham, Canada, Noon
Sunday, Aug. 23 _ Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., TBA
Saturday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis., 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis., 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., 2:30 p.m.
Note _ Dates and times subject to change.
