The engines are roaring back to North Texas this weekend as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone debut on the brand-new Streets of Arlington. From March 13–15, the area surrounding Arlington’s iconic sports district will transform into a high-speed, 2.73-mile battleground.
While INDYCAR has a deep history in the Lone Star State, this inaugural event marks a fresh chapter on a 14-turn temporary street course. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the green flag.
The Track and the Stakes
The counterclockwise circuit spans 2.73 miles and weaves through the heart of Arlington. This is the second of six street courses on the 2026 calendar, following Alex Palou’s season-opening victory in St. Petersburg.
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NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 70 Laps | 191.1 Miles
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INDY NXT by Firestone: 27 Laps | 73.71 Miles (or 55 minutes)
A New Way to Qualify
Arlington will witness the debut of the Firestone Fast Six Pole Showdown. While the first two knockout segments remain the same, the final battle for the pole position shifts to a high-stakes, single-car, single-lap format. Drivers will be released one by one from pit lane to post their best time, ensuring all eyes are on one car at a time as they chase the NTT P1 Award.
Storylines to Watch
Newgarden’s Texas Dominance
Current points leader Josef Newgarden arrives in Arlington with a massive target on his back. Fresh off a thrilling win at Phoenix Raceway, Newgarden is looking to extend his “Texas Streak,” having won the last two INDYCAR races held in the state (2022 and 2023 at Texas Motor Speedway).
Historic Milestones
Several legends and rising stars are hitting major career benchmarks this weekend:
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Scott Dixon: Extending his all-time record with his 422nd start and his 358th consecutive start.
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Rinus VeeKay: Set to make his 100th career start.
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Josef Newgarden: Needs to lead 58 laps to surpass Dario Franchitti for 9th on the all-time laps led list.
Lone Star Ties
Though the field lacks a native Texan, the “local” connections are strong:
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Santino Ferrucci lives in Dallas and drives for the legendary A.J. Foyt.
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Pato O’Ward grew up in San Antonio and attended the Texas Military Institute.
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Will Power’s wife, Liz, is a native of nearby Plano.
At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time):
Friday, March 13
12:30 p.m. USF Pro 2000 Practice
2-2:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, FS2
3:05-4:25 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (split group format), FS2 McLaughlin sets pace, speeds
6:15 pm USF Pro 2000 Qualifying
Saturday, March 14
8:35-9:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (split group format), FS1 Kirkwood fastest, speeds
10:15-11 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, FS2
11:25 p.m. USF Pro 2000 Race No. 1, Streaming: YouTube
1:35-3:10 p.m. – NTT P1 Award qualifying (two rounds of knockout qualifying followed by Firestone Fast Six single-car pole showdown), FS2 Pole: Marcus Ericsson, Starting Grid
3:30-4 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (two groups, 12 minutes each), FS2
5:55 p.m. USF Pro 2000 Race No. 2, Streaming: YouTube
Sunday, March 15
9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Arlington (27 laps/73.71 miles/55 minutes), FS1 (Live)
10:45 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (70 laps/191.1 miles ), FOX (Live)
Technical Specs
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Push-to-Pass: INDYCAR drivers get 200 total seconds (20s max per hit); INDY NXT drivers get 65 seconds.
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Hybrid Power: Unlimited activation is permitted, with a maximum deployment of 530 kJ per lap.
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Tires: Teams have five sets of Primary (black) and five sets of Alternate (red) Firestone tires. One set of Primary and two sets of Alternate must be used during the race.
