IndyCar’s return to North Texas via a groundbreaking Arlington street course isn’t just a new race—it’s a calculated move by Roger Penske and Jerry Jones to fuse premier motorsports with iconic sports venues, setting a bold template for urban racing while reenergizing a market hungry for major events.
The IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington debuts Sunday on a 2.73-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit weaving through the entertainment district between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, home of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. This inaugural event marks the first of three new street races on the 2026 schedule and the launch of a multiyear deal in North Texas—a partnership forged between 89-year-old Roger Penske, who acquired the series in 2020, and 83-year-old Jerry Jones, the three-time Super Bowl champion owner of the Cowboys.
Penske, celebrating 60 years as a team owner with over 650 major race wins, frames Arlington as an unprecedented “playground.” The investment extends beyond the track: a double-sided pit lane straddles the road connecting the stadiums, a horseshoe turn cuts through the Cowboys’ parking lot, and a 0.9-mile straight—where speeds could hit 190 mph—threads between the Rangers’ current and old ballparks, both hosted two World Series. For Jones, whose Cowboys play in the stadium nicknamed “JerryWorld,” this is about cementing Arlington as a year-round event hub, especially with nine World Cup matches set for AT&T Stadium later this year.
The synergy between Penske and Jones traces back to the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit, where Penske chaired the host committee—five years before Jones’ stadium opened. Their collaboration blends Penske’s motorsports empire with Jones’ flair for spectacle. “It’s iconic because we are here between the Cowboys and the Rangers real estate,” Penske said. “The investment by the partners along with IndyCar is amazing.” Jones echoed the sentiment: “There’s no way that you can present any better, any classier, with any more fan-friendly presentation that’s been put right out here.”
Return to the Metroplex: From High Banks to City Streets
This race revives IndyCar’s presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth market after a 30-mile exodus from Texas Motor Speedway, where the series ran 36 times from 1997 until Josef Newgarden won the last race there in April 2023. The high-banked oval, known for speeds exceeding 200 mph, hosted six consecutive season finales from 1998–2004. Now, the series trades sustained velocity for technical street circuit drama—a shift praised by drivers.
- Scott Dixon, six-time series champion and three-time winner at TMS, calls Arlington “the new standard” for IndyCar.
- Marcus Ericsson lauds the “attention to detail,” saying it “raises the standard of IndyCar racing.”
- Josef Newgarden, who won last week in Phoenix, admits selfish longing for both venues but applauds the execution: “I’m certainly really pleased with what they’ve put on here.”
The five drivers who combined to win the last 10 TMS races—including Dixon and Newgarden—are all competing in Arlington, blending legacy with this new chapter. For local fans, the switch from a speedway to a downtown street course transforms accessibility and atmosphere, tapping into the metroplex’s 8 million residents.
Why Arlington Matters Beyond Racing
Jones’ vision ties IndyCar to a broader calendar of mega-events. With the World Cup preparations ongoing inside AT&T Stadium—including a temporary grass field installation—this race serves as a high-profile test run for managing concurrent large-scale events. The track’s design incorporates nods to both NFL and MLB branding, creating a visual spectacle that resonates with the region’s sports culture.
Fan engagement is central: grandstands and hospitality areas line Arlington’s entertainment district, and the course’s proximity to I-30 makes it a drive accessible from both Dallas and Fort Worth. This isn’t just a race; it’s a festival anchored by two of the world’s most valuable sports franchises.
The World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium later this year—the most for any host market—underscore Arlington’s emergence as a global event destination. IndyCar’s arrival three months prior establishes a recurring spring fixture that could leverage the infrastructure built for soccer, from transit to lodging.
Critically, Penske’s commitment reflects a strategic pivot for IndyCar toward street circuits that generate urban buzz and sponsor appeal. After weathering pandemic-era challenges, the series is expanding into non-traditional markets, and Arlington—with Jones’ promotional muscle—offers a blueprint.
As the series embarks on three new street races this season, the Arlington template will be scrutinized. If execution matches the pre-race hype, this could catalyze similar partnerships in other major metros, where stadium districts offer ready-made infrastructure and built-in fan bases.
The convergence of auto racing, NFL, and MLB in one weekend also tests operational logistics—from track construction to security—that could inform future hybrid events. For now, the message from Penske and Jones is clear: Arlington is IndyCar’s new Texas-sized playground, and they’re playing to win.
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