McLaughlin, Palou Rave About New Arlington Street Circuit: “Sick,” “Super Fun”
Arlington, TX – Drivers Scott McLaughlin and Alex Palou enthusiastically praised the new 2.73-mile, 14-turn street circuit at AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, following Friday’s first practice session. McLaughlin described the track as “sick,” a term he suggested “Gen Zs will get,” although Palou simply called it “super fun.” Both drivers highlighted the circuit’s challenging corners and multiple passing zones, with McLaughlin calling it the best street circuit he’s ever raced on, even compared to those in his Supercars career in Australia. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will continue with a second practice session Saturday morning, followed by qualifying. Sunday’s 70-lap race will air live on FOX. Drivers anticipate a deep dive into data analysis tonight to optimize their performance for the remainder of the weekend, noting the variety of approaches teams will likely take to navigate the track’s unique characteristics. Palou, notably, has won the past two series races held on new non-oval courses.
New Arlington Circuit Earns Rave Reviews From INDYCAR Stars
Scott McLaughlin described driving on the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES circuit hosting this weekend’s inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington as “sick,” suggesting that a younger audience would best understand the term.
Palou and McLaughlin Praise Challenging Track Design
Alex Palou, who understands the sentiment, joined McLaughlin as one of the fastest drivers in Friday’s first practice session. McLaughlin led the way with a lap time of 1 minute, 34.8926 seconds. Both drivers celebrated the enjoyment of the 14-turn, 2.73-mile circuit, which features AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field.
“Love it,” four-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou said. “It’s super fun to drive.”
He elaborated on the track’s unique characteristics, noting the varying levels of grip and bumps. “It’s just a lot more fun than I thought just how the car feels. There’s so many different corners. Like, there’s corners that you can attack so much, and you perceive like a superhero. There’s other corners where you need to back off because the grip is very different. Very bumpy. A lot more bumpy than I thought, which makes it super challenging.”
“But super fun. Super fun.”
McLaughlin Declares Arlington the Best Street Circuit
McLaughlin stated that the circuit is “hands down” the best street circuit he has competed on, even compared to those in Australia during his Supercars championship run. “I’m not just saying this because you probably think I’m getting paid to say it,” the Team Penske driver said. “It’s got a huge straight, a bump straight, (it’s) very hard to test your brake point into Turn 10.”
He continued, highlighting the track’s blend of technical and daring corners. “Then, there are so many corners that are technical, but then also daring. It’s an absolute blast. It was honestly a pleasure to learn it and obtain better and better.”
Wide Track Promises Exciting Racing
Palou emphasized the track’s width, anticipating numerous passing opportunities during the race. “Yeah, and super wide, which I think for the race is going to be great. It’s going to be awesome. There’s so many different passing zones. It’s not that there’s only a front stretch. I feel like, yeah, you have Turn 10, Turn 11.”
Teams Anticipate Data Analysis and Strategy Refinement
McLaughlin predicted extensive data analysis among teams as they prepare for the remainder of the weekend. A second practice session is scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET (FS1), followed by qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2:30 p.m. (FS2). He believes dissecting different approaches to each corner will be crucial.
“There will be guys doing a corner a little bit different to you, and is it good or bad, and just trying to dissect that a little bit,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like a strength of mine has been learning new tracks, even since I was a kid. I really enjoy this side of it. I’ll do a deep dive into the data tonight and be ready for (the rest of the weekend).”
It’s important to note that Palou has won the past two series races held on new non-ovals, the street race in Detroit in 2023 and the road course at The Thermal Club in 2025.
Palou Highlights the Track’s Demanding Nature
When asked about the type of driving the track rewards, Palou offered a concise answer. “Everything,” the Chip Ganassi Racing driver said.
Did you know?
The Arlington circuit is 2.73 miles long and features 14 turns, making it a challenging track for drivers.
Pro Tip
Understanding tire management will be critical at Arlington, as drivers must balance speed with durability over the 70-lap race.
Broadcast Information
Sunday’s 70-lap race will air live at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes the Arlington circuit unique? It’s a 2.73-mile, 14-turn street circuit featuring a mix of high-speed straights, technical corners, and bumpy sections.
- Who are the early favorites for the race? Alex Palou and Scott McLaughlin have shown strong pace in early practice sessions.
- Where can I watch the race? The race will be broadcast live on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app, and INDYCAR Radio.
Stay tuned to 247sports.new for continued coverage of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and all the latest INDYCAR news.