The NTT INDYCAR SERIES officially began its first-ever weekend on the streets of Arlington with an energetic opening practice session Friday, and one driver in particular could hardly hide his excitement.
Scott McLaughlin topped the timing charts in the first practice session for the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, but for the Team Penske driver the biggest takeaway was not just his lap time – it was the track itself.
“That is instantly my most favorite street circuit ever,” McLaughlin said after stepping out of the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet. “That is such a blast. The car feels great. It’s just an absolute ball to drive. I’m like a little kid again.”
McLaughlin’s fastest lap of 1:34.8926 placed him at the top of the leaderboard during the 80-minute session, as drivers got their first competitive experience on the brand-new temporary street circuit built around AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and Globe Life Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.
The event marks a historic moment for the series, as IndyCar makes its debut on the 14-turn, 2.73-mile circuit designed specifically for the Arlington race weekend.
A Circuit That Drivers Immediately Enjoyed
From the moment cars rolled onto the track, the layout appeared to deliver exactly what organizers had hoped for.
The Arlington street circuit combines long straights with a mix of flowing and technical corners, creating multiple overtaking opportunities while still demanding precision from drivers navigating the tight confines of a street course.
McLaughlin, who secured pole position in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, quickly adapted to the new layout and led the field by the end of the session.
But he was far from the only driver impressed by the new venue. Felix Rosenqvist, who finished fifth in the session, also praised the circuit despite experiencing a late scare when his car snapped sideways and brushed the concrete barriers near the final turn.
“The track is a little rougher than we expected,” Rosenqvist said. “But it’s good fun. They did a great job on the layout.”
The surface characteristics and evolving grip levels added another layer of complexity for drivers still learning the circuit.
Street circuits often require multiple sessions before drivers fully understand the limits of the track, and Arlington proved no different.
Behind McLaughlin, reigning and four-time series champion Alex Palou delivered an encouraging performance as he looks to bounce back from a difficult race in Phoenix. Palou finished the session second fastest with a lap time of 1:34.9513 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The Spaniard entered the weekend eager to recover from a frustrating outing at Phoenix Raceway, where contact forced him into the wall and left him with a disappointing 24th-place finish. Friday’s practice offered a promising start to that rebound effort.
Competitive Field as Teams Explore the Circuit
Another experienced driver looking for a turnaround is Will Power, who ended the session third fastest with a lap of 1:35.3051 in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda. The former IndyCar champion currently sits 22nd in the championship standings after two races, making Arlington an important opportunity to regain momentum early in the season.
Pato O’Ward also showed strong pace during the session, finishing fourth for Arrow McLaren with a time of 1:35.3641. The Mexican star continues to position himself as a consistent contender in the early stages of the 2026 campaign.
One of the most striking aspects of the session was the competitiveness across the field. Less than one second separated the top eight drivers, highlighting the tight margins typical of IndyCar competition.
Even more notable was the variety of teams represented near the front. Drivers from seven different teams filled the top 10 positions, with Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global and Arrow McLaren each placing two drivers inside that group.
The strong parity suggests that qualifying for the Arlington race could be especially unpredictable.
Newgarden Takes a Conservative Approach
Series leader Josef Newgarden ended the session 16th overall with a best lap of 1:36.3108. However, the Team Penske driver appeared more focused on gathering data than chasing a headline lap time.
Newgarden arrives in Arlington carrying significant momentum after his victory at Phoenix Raceway, where he passed Kyle Kirkwood in the closing laps to win the Good Ranchers 250. That win moved the two-time IndyCar champion to the top of the championship standings heading into the third race of the season.
With the series debuting at a brand-new venue, Friday’s practice session served primarily as a learning opportunity for teams and drivers.
Among the rookies, Dennis Hauger delivered another strong performance. The 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone champion finished 10th overall with a lap time of 1:36.0528, making him the fastest rookie in the field.
Hauger’s performance continues a promising start to his IndyCar career after he also impressed during the opening rounds of the season.
Incidents Interrupt the Session
The session was interrupted twice by red flags as drivers pushed the limits of the unfamiliar track.
The first stoppage came 15 minutes into the session, when Sting Ray Robb made contact with the wall in Turn 1 while driving the No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet. Robb was uninjured in the incident, though the car required recovery from the circuit.
The second red flag occurred roughly 23 minutes later, when Robb’s teammate Rinus VeeKay ran into the runoff area at Turn 10 after smoke began pouring from the rear of his car. The issue brought another brief pause to the session as teams and drivers continued adapting to the new circuit.
Friday’s session was only the beginning of a packed schedule for the Arlington race weekend.
Drivers will return to the track for a second 80-minute practice session Saturday morning, before preparing for qualifying later in the afternoon.
Qualifying for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, with coverage available on FS2, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio.
The race itself will take place Sunday afternoon. The 70-lap event, a joint venture between INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and be broadcast live on FOX.
written by Philipp Kraus // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
