By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio
ARLINGTON, Texas — A new era of open-wheel racing will hit the streets of North Texas this weekend as NTT INDYCAR SERIES makes its debut at the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington.
The three-day event will turn Arlington’s bustling sports and entertainment district into a temporary racing circuit, placing high-speed Indy cars on a 2.7-mile street course winding past two of the most recognizable venues in Texas, AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. When the green flag waves Sunday afternoon, the race will mark the first time INDYCAR has competed on the streets of Arlington.
It will also mark the first time since 2023 that INDYCAR has raced in Texas since they held their last event at Texas Motor Speedway in nearby Fort Worth. Instead of racing on the high speed oval at TMS, the Arlington event will bring a very different challenge that features tight corners, heavy braking zones and concrete barriers that are typical on a street racing course.
The 14-turn circuit blends long straightaways with technical sections that could reward drivers who adapt quickly to the layout. However, with no previous INDYCAR race data available, race teams will have to rely on practice sessions Friday and Saturday to dial in setups and identify passing opportunities for Sunday’s race.
The race will be the third event in the 2026 championship season. Reigning series champion Alex Palou enters the weekend among the early favorites after continuing his run of consistent performances for Chip Ganassi Racing. Palou won the season opener at the Streets of St. Pete in Florida three weeks ago.
Josef Newgarden, who is fresh off a victory last weekend in Phoenix, is a stronger contender. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner enters this weekend’s race as the current points leader and he is aiming to continue his Texas win streak. Newgarden won the last two INDYCAR SERIES races in the state – claiming oval wins at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022 and 2023.
All eyes will also be watching Pato O’Ward, the popular Mexican driver who often draws large crowds when the series races in Texas. O’Ward, who graduated from Texas Military Institute in San Antonio, has been one of the championship contenders in recent seasons and could be a factor on Sunday. He brings to Arlington a large fan base from Texas and Mexico.
Although there are not any native Texans in the field for the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, there are two other drivers that have ties to Texas. Santino Ferrucci lives in Dallas and races for Lone Star State legend A.J. Foyt and Will Power is a Texan by marriage, as his wife, Liz, hails from nearby Plano.
In addition to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, the weekend race card will also feature the INDY NXT by Firestone and other development series, which will showcase the next generation of open-wheel talent.
For a list of race times and to view the full schedule, click here.
