Green flag 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET (moved up one hour due to forecasted afternoon winds)
Venue: Streets of Arlington (temporary street circuit), Arlington, Texas
Broadcast: FOX (national TV), FS1/FOX Sports App (practice & support series), INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls, TSN (Canada)
The NTT IndyCar Series makes history with its first-ever visit to the Lone Star State and the brand-new Streets of Arlington layout — a 2.73-mile temporary street circuit that winds through the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District, incorporating AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers). This is only the third race of the 2026 season, and the inaugural event on this unique course promises massive passing opportunities, strategic pit gambles, and potential chaos from the wind.
Track Details
- Length & Configuration: 2.73-mile temporary street circuit (14 turns). Race distance: 70 laps / ~191 miles.
- Key Features: Longest straight in the series at approximately 0.9–0.94 miles (back straight leading into Turn 10), where speeds will exceed 180 mph. Unique “horseshoe” carousel (Turns 5-6-7) that wraps around stadium seating — a high-g, double-apex complex unlike anything else on the calendar. Additional overtaking zones at Turn 1, heavy-braking Turn 10, Turn 12, and Turn 14. Double-sided pit lane (similar to Detroit) for ultra-fast stops and strategy swings. The track passes under hospitality suites in two spots and features modern flow with a mix of low-speed technical sections and high-speed straights.
- Type: Street circuit with stadium integration; demands precise braking, tyre management, and downforce balance. Exposed sections will be heavily affected by wind. No prior IndyCar history here — completely new for everyone.
Weather Conditions
Sunny and breezy with a wind advisory in effect from 7:00 AM CT.
- Air temperature: 68–80°F (high around 80–82°F during the race window).
- Winds: South 20–35 mph sustained, gusts up to 37–50 mph (strongest in the afternoon — reason for the earlier green flag).
- Sky: Mostly sunny to clear; 0% rain chance.
- Track temp: Expected 95–110°F early, dropping slightly with wind. Gusts will make the long straight and exposed corners tricky for aero and handling — drivers have already noted the track will feel “exposed.” Perfect dry conditions otherwise, but wind is the big variable.
Current 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Standings (after St. Petersburg & Phoenix)
- Josef Newgarden (Team Penske Chevrolet) – 78 pts (1 win)
- Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global Honda) – 73 pts
- Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske Chevrolet) – 66 pts (1 pole)
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) – 63 pts
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) – 59 pts (1 win, crashed Phoenix)
Penske and Andretti Global lead the way early; four drivers (Newgarden, Kirkwood, McLaughlin, O’Ward) have top-10 finishes in both races so far.
Recent Driver Forms (First Two Races of 2026)
- Josef Newgarden: Winner at Phoenix; consistent and fast on ovals/streets. Strong contender on any layout.
- Kyle Kirkwood: Two straight top-5s; Andretti Hondas looked excellent in Arlington practice.
- Pato O’Ward: Top-10 both races; Arrow McLaren has street-course pedigree.
- Alex Palou: St. Pete winner but crashed out at Phoenix; still lurking in 5th and a proven street-circuit ace.
- Scott McLaughlin: Pole at one of the early races; Penske cars have raw speed but McLaughlin crashed in qualifying here.
- Marcus Ericsson: Qualified on pole (first career IndyCar pole) — huge momentum boost for Andretti.
- Others to watch: Alex Palou (front row with Ericsson), Scott Dixon (Ganassi veteran), Christian Lundgaard, and rookies like Dennis Hauger showing flashes.
Race History at Streets of Arlington
Inaugural event — zero prior IndyCar races or data at this track. Teams and drivers are starting from scratch after just two practice sessions and qualifying. The unique stadium integration and long straight make it unlike Long Beach, Detroit, or Toronto. Expect high strategy variance and possible multi-car incidents in the tight horseshoe section.
Key Driver Matchups
- Ericsson (pole) vs. Palou (front row): First-time pole sitter Ericsson vs. four-time champion Palou — both in Hondas that dominated practice.
- Newgarden vs. Kirkwood: Points leader (Penske Chevy) against the hottest consistent performer (Andretti Honda).
- O’Ward vs. McLaughlin: Two street specialists battling for early-season momentum.
- X-Factor: The wind-exposed long straight and horseshoe carousel — drivers who manage tyre wear and downforce best will shine. Double-sided pits open massive strategy plays (early stops or long stints).
Betting Trends
- Street-circuit favorites dominate early: Palou and Kirkwood have the best recent street form and Honda power looked strong in practice.
- Pole position strong but not decisive: Ericsson’s first pole is historic, but new tracks and wind often produce chaotic races — history on similar debuts shows 40–50% chance the pole sitter wins.
- Wind & strategy key: Gusts will reward drivers who save tyres and adapt (long straight becomes a drafting battle). Overs on lead changes and cautions expected due to 14 tight turns and the horseshoe.
- Value on mid-tier: Newgarden (+600 range) offers solid each-way value as the points leader; underdogs like Ericsson or Lundgaard at big prices for top-5 props given the unknown layout.
- Honda edge: Early practice suggested Honda advantage on this power-sensitive street course.
DRIVER ODDS
Alex Palou – 145
Pato O’Ward + 450
Kyle Kirkwood + 500
Marcus Ericsson + 850
Will Power + 1100
Josef Newgarden + 1200
David Malukas + 1500
Felix Rosenqvist + 2000
Marcus Armstrong + 2500
Christian Rasmussen + 2500
Scott McLaughlin + 3000
Scott Dixon + 3000
Christian Lundgaard + 4000
Alexander Rossi + 4000
Santino Ferrucci + 6000
Louis Foster + 7000
Romain Grosjean + 10000
Mick Schumacher + 15000
Kyffin Simpson + 15000
Rinus Veekay + 20000
Nolan Siegel + 20000
Dennis Hauger + 20000
Caio Collet + 20000
Graham Rahal + 25000
Sting Ray Robb + 50000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, March 14, 2026
