ARLINGTON — Remember when the World Series paraded through Arlington’s Entertainment District last November?
Imagine an open-wheel race car going 180 miles per hour instead of a slow-moving pickup truck laden with Rangers-celebrating luggage. The new Arlington Grand Prix course, which will be previewed Tuesday on Texas Live!, will hit much of the same pavement in March 2026 that the World Series champions trudged on last year. The race will feature the Rangers, Cowboys and Penske Entertainment.
“You have to pinch yourself,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on stage during the celebratory announcement at Tuesday’s event. “We jumped at the chance to be a part of this.”
I definitely jumped. The event was announced Tuesday with a nifty video that included Michael Irvin’s exclamation, vivid animation of the proposed circuit, and a racing helmet with a Cowboys star on one side and a Rangers “T” on the other. announced, but many details have not yet been finalized.
With that in mind, here are five things you should know about this event.
RELATED: IndyCar Grand Prix takes over Arlington streets for 2026 event
When?
March 2026, but the date is still being finalized. Officials said it would not affect the Rangers’ potential season opener. The 2026 baseball schedule has not yet been finalized, but the Rangers will open their third consecutive season at home on the last weekend in March in 2025.
The IndyCar Series has opened in recent years at The Streets of St. Petersburg and The Thermal Club in Thermal, California. These events are scheduled for February 28th to March 2nd and March 21st to 23rd, respectively, in 2025. The 2026 schedule has not yet been finalized.
How many fans can the truck accommodate?
Renderings of the truck show seats, but IndyCar officials said they are still working on final logistics. Other large markets attracted a total of 150,000 spectators over the three-day event. Officials are optimistic that Arlington could fall within that range.
What stands out about this truck?
The 4.43-mile track, which winds around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field and also passes through Randle Mill Road between Choctaw Stadium and Texas Live!, includes 1.5 straight miles. It is designed to be the longest on IndyCar’s schedule, and drivers should be able to accelerate to over 180 mph.
“It’s going to be fun and fast,” said three-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou. “If I can race next week, that’s what I’d like to aim for. I might reach 180 or more on that straight.”
When was the last time the IndyCar Series was held in North Texas?
The IndyCar Series held its annual event at Texas Motor Speedway from its inception in 1997 until 2023. It was removed from the 2024 schedule after the speedway and IndyCar could not agree on a date. This race was often the first race after the Indianapolis 500, but it has been moved to March 20 in 2022 and April 2 in 2023. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Joseph Newgarden won each of the last two races at Texas Motor Speedway. .
what the driver is saying
“I think the Arlington Grand Prix is going to be one of those iconic events that you want to mark on your calendar and win. We know it’s going to be tough.” – IndyCar at Texas Motor Speedway -Joseph Newgarden, who won the last two races in the series.
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