INDYCAR HEADS TO TEXAS FOR THE NEW ARLINGTON GRAND PRIX - Motorsportsclicks

The 2026 IndyCar season continues with a major new event: the Arlington Grand Prix, a brand-new street race that brings the series back to Texas after three years away. The championship previously raced at the Fort Worth oval, but this time the action moves to Arlington, near Dallas.

The circuit runs around AT&T Stadium and nearby sports facilities. It is 4.3 km long with 14 corners, making it the longest street track on the IndyCar calendar. The layout mixes tight corners with fast sections, including a straight where cars could reach around 300 km/h, while the bumpy street surface will add an extra challenge for drivers.

In the championship standings, Josef Newgarden now leads after winning the race in Phoenix. His victory ended Alex Palou’s 622-day run at the top of the standings. Palou retired after contact with Rinus VeeKay, dropping to fifth place and 19 points behind the leader. Kyle Kirkwood, Scott McLaughlin, and Pato O’Ward are also now ahead of him, tightening the title battle.

David Malukas arrives in Texas with strong momentum after taking his first pole position and his first podium with Team Penske in Phoenix. He currently sits sixth in the standings, only 22 points behind Newgarden.

Meanwhile, experienced drivers are looking to improve their seasons. Will Power, now racing for Andretti, showed strong pace in Phoenix but lost a potential win after contact with Christian Rasmussen and is currently 22nd in the standings. Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, is 13th and could rely on strategy to perform well on the new track.

Rookie Mick Schumacher has had a difficult start with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and has not scored points yet, though his fourth place in Phoenix qualifying showed promising speed. Among the newcomers, Dennis Hauger has been the most consistent so far with Dale Coyne Racing.

The first Arlington Grand Prix will be run over 70 laps. Qualifying will feature a new format, with the Fast 6 drivers completing individual Superpole runs, starting in reverse order from the previous qualifying session.