IndyCar’s announcement earlier this week of inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington set for 2026 has introduced a excessive degree of widespread anticipation, with the road circuit format additionally getting everybody’s consideration.
A collaborative effort between Penske Leisure, the Dallas Cowboys, and REV Leisure, the official occasions associate of the Texas Rangers, the IndyCar Collection will return to the Lone Star State following a two-year absence in 2024-25. North America’s premier open-wheel championship beforehand ran at Texas Motor Speedway, based mostly close by in Fort Value, from 1997-2023.
Whereas the collective group of companions will play a big half in elevating the occasion to heights the game is striving for, the principle attraction nonetheless stays on observe with the 14-turn, 2.73-mile avenue circuit. For reference, the longest avenue circuit the collection raced on this previous season was the 1.968-mile format in Lengthy Seashore.
The total unveiling of the observe format happened on Tuesday at Texas Dwell!, an leisure heart positioned between AT&T Stadium, residence of the Cowboys, and Globe Life Subject, residence of the Rangers.
The circuit, which was designed by IndyCar’s longtime avenue observe architect Tony Cotman, definitely raised loads of eyebrows with a contemporary movement that rivals that of System 1’s Miami Grand Prix, which wraps across the stadium of the Miami Dolphins.
Arlington Grand Prix observe map
Picture by: Penske Leisure
The Arlington avenue course includes a straightaway that extends .9-mile, which is more likely to see drivers push over 180 mph earlier than being challenged with an attractive braking earlier than a hard-braking level of a right-hander in Flip 10. There are different apparent passing zones in Flip 1, Flip 12 and Flip 14, whereas additionally presenting a novel “horseshoe” carousel that makes up Flip 6. A double-sided pit lane, comparable to what’s presently used for the Detroit avenue race, may even be highlighted. Moreover, the observe will go beneath hospitality and suites in two completely different areas.
Staff Penske’s Josef Newgarden was amongst these in attendance on the unveiling in Arlington, together with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci.
Arlington Grand Prix observe map
Picture by: Penske Leisure
Newgarden, the two-time defending winner of the Indianapolis 500 and a two-time IndyCar Collection champion, shared his ideas on the observe and how much racing may very well be anticipated.
“Yeah, it’s sort of bought every part,” Newgarden informed Motorsport.com. “It’s bought the everyday low-speed sections that you’d discover on a avenue course, however then it has some complicated double apex corners that sort of wrap across the stadium seating, in order that will likely be actually distinctive for followers. It’s bought one fairly high-speed nook that leads onto the longest straight. After which the straightaways are very lengthy, so I believe understanding effectivity with downforce goes to be a subject right here that’s not essentially a subject on different avenue circuits. So, that may very well be an fascinating factor.
“How are you going to remain out entrance for those who’re main this factor? I believe you’re going to be uncovered round a observe like this. So, it may very well be very entertaining to look at. It may very well be a draft fest on that lengthy straightaway. So yeah, that’s what you’re going to be coping with and we’ll determine it out as we do.”
