Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward sees loads of positives with the IndyCar series returning to Texas in March 2026 with the inaugural Arlington Grand Prix, nevertheless it's also not without concerns.
The event was announced by the series earlier this month in partnership with the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the official entertainment partner of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers. The 4.7-kilometer temporary street course will run around AT&T Stadium, Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Globe Life Field, in addition to through the sports and entertainment district, where greater than 1.6 million event tickets are sold to spectators annually. It has received quite a lot of praise up to now, with several drivers within the paddock noting its similarities to something seen in Formula 1.
The Lone Star State is familiar territory for O'Ward, who’s originally from Monterrey, Mexico, but additionally grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He also won his first profession IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in 2021. IndyCar competed at TMS from 1997–2023.
Overall, O'Ward hopes this event will take the game to recent heights.
Arlington Grand Prix track map
Photo: Penske Entertainment
“I think this event will be a big test of what new markets and what we can ultimately achieve in terms of a slightly more upscale track than some of the other tracks and other events that we have on the calendar,” O'Ward told Motorsport.com.
“The place looks very nice. Jerry Jones (owner of the Cowboys) is a really famous name and the owner of certainly one of the craziest franchises within the NFL; certainly one of the teams within the NFL that obviously attracts quite a lot of eyes, a big audience (interest). I don't know, man. Until we do this first event, we'll really see what it will probably ultimately bring to the series. Texas is a large market. We missed this market and I'm glad it's back on the calendar. “I think it's going to be huge for the show, but also a test of how far we can go in terms of experiences and how much people are willing to pay for that experience?”
The cost factor is why O'Ward, who has seven IndyCar wins, stays apprehensive.
“I think there are a lot of questions to be asked about whether this event will be a huge success, and I think ultimately it could take the series to another level,” O'Ward said. “But there’s at all times the likelihood that it can be the opposite way around, and we definitely don't want that. I'm a bit concerned in regards to the prices of all the things. I even have spent hundreds of dollars of my very own money to supply experiences for people and sometimes quite a lot of them find yourself being a loss because within the IndyCar market people will not be willing to pay over $1,000 for a paddock ticket. And there's definitely a marketplace for it because people pay $10,000 to $15,000 in Formula 1, but can we capitalize on that market? I don't know.”
