The next round of the NTT IndyCar Series gets underway this weekend with the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington in Texas. The streets of Arlington, a 2.73-mile, 14-turn, temporary street course (counterclockwise) will see drivers compete over 70-laps starting at 12:17pm Sunday 15 March 2026, local time (7:17am Mon 16 March NZ time).
‘WHAT TO LOOK FOR’ AT ARLINGTON:
New points leader Newgarden aims to continue Texas win streak: One week after taking the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points lead with his thrilling win at Phoenix Raceway, Josef Newgarden heads to Texas in hopes of keeping his dominance in the state. Newgarden won the last two INDYCAR SERIES races in the state – claiming oval wins at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022 and 2023.
Pole Showdown debuts in Texas: INDYCAR will use an updated race qualifying format on the streets of Arlington, Texas. For NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying, while the “knockout” format of Segments 1 and 2 will remain unchanged, the Firestone Fast Six segment will be adjusted to single-car, single-lap qualifying beginning with the sixth-fastest qualifier from Segment 2 and working toward the fastest from the previous round.
During the Firestone Fast Six at Arlington, drivers will leave pit lane and get an opportunity for one lap – starting and ending at the alternate start/finish line. Once the car enters pit lane following that driver’s attempt, the next car will be released for its attempt. Tire allotments and tire rules will remain unchanged throughout the event.
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:
The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will be the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the streets of Arlington. However, it’s not the first time that INDYCAR SERIES cars have raced in Arlington, Texas. Arlington Downs Racetrack, a 1-mile dirt oval whose site is less than a half-mile from the current racetrack, held three points-paying races and two non-championship sweepstakes races from 1947 to 1950.
The Streets of Arlington is the fourth road or street circuit to debut on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar since 2021. Chip Ganassi Racing drivers won the previous three debut races. Marcus Ericsson won the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville in 2021. Alex Palou won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear when it debuted its new course in downtown Detroit in 2023 and at The Thermal Club in 2025.
The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is the second of six temporary street course races on the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Alex Palou won the first street race of the season at St. Petersburg on March 1. The other street course events are scheduled for the Streets of Long Beach on April 19, Streets of Detroit on May 31, the Streets of Markham, Ontario, on Aug. 16 and the Streets of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23.
Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 422nd INDYCAR SERIES start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record. Dixon has made 358 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, which is the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Rinus VeeKay is scheduled to make his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start in Arlington…Josef Newgarden needs to lead 58 laps to pass Dario Franchitti for ninth on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time laps led list.
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