3/12/2026 | USA | sports | ✓ Verified - foxsports.com

Everything To Know For Inaugural INDYCAR Race Around Cowboys Stadium

#INDYCAR #Arlington Grand Prix #AT&T Stadium #street course #simulator #Alexander Rossi #Dallas Cowboys

📌 Key Takeaways

INDYCAR debuts a 2.73-mile street course around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Drivers lack experience on the new track, with simulators using only GPS data instead of surface scans, limiting preparation.
The event benefits from the marketing power of the Dallas Cowboys organization.
Alexander Rossi notes that teams will start from zero in determining brake points, grip levels, and track lines during the race weekend.

📖 Full Retelling

ARLINGTON, Texas — It’s typical to hear lots of screaming inside Jerry's World during Dallas Cowboys football games. This weekend, there will be the scream of INDYCAR engines around AT&T Stadium (home of the Cowboys) and Globe Life Stadium (home of the Texas Rangers) as drivers navigate a 2.73-mile course for the first time in series history. There are 14 turns — nine right-handers and five left-handers. The inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX) will present a challenge as no driver has experience on the course. It will also present an event with the marketing and branding force of the Cowboys behind it. Here’s what to know about the race: How Will Drivers Prepare? Typically, the drivers practice and determine setups in a simulator where the track surface has been scanned and then the data is supplemented from what teams learn on a race weekend. But there have been no scans of this track’s surface. So the simulator track is determined through GPS. That makes it difficult to recognize bumps. And until the walls were placed in the last few weeks, no one really knew their exact location. [POWER RANKINGS: Who is on top heading into Arlington?] Alexander Rossi, driver of the No. 20 car for ECR, answered my question during a Zoom this week on just how little he knows from the simulator. "The track scans are very high quality, but for a place like this that's brand new, you don't have a full surface scan," Rossi said. "You only have essentially a GPS scan with walls kind of placed around the perimeter. "Both Honda and Chevy have kind of the same track model, so you don't have any sort of the bumps modeled or grip differential depending on surfaces." So how does it help? "It’s a great tool to at least know what corner comes next," Rossi said. "But in terms of brake points and grip levels, how fast you can actually go, the line, where bumps are, that sort of thing — everyone will be figuring that out together kind of starting from zero." What Else Can Th

🏷️ Themes

Motor Sports, Event Debut

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This inaugural INDYCAR race around Cowboys Stadium represents a significant expansion of the series into new markets with major branding power. It matters because it brings premier open-wheel racing to a major metropolitan area with the marketing muscle of the Dallas Cowboys organization behind it, potentially attracting new fans and sponsors. The event affects INDYCAR teams and drivers who must adapt to a completely unknown circuit, local businesses in Arlington that benefit from tourism, and motorsports fans in Texas who gain access to top-tier racing without traveling to traditional venues. The success or failure of this event could influence whether INDYCAR pursues more temporary street circuits around major sports venues in other cities.

Context & Background

INDYCAR has historically raced at permanent road courses like Road America and street circuits like Long Beach, but this marks the first time the series has designed a course specifically around NFL and MLB stadiums
The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world ($9 billion valuation), giving this event unprecedented marketing resources compared to typical INDYCAR races
Texas has a rich motorsports history with events like the Texas Motor Speedway oval races, but this represents the first major open-wheel street circuit event in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
INDYCAR has been expanding its calendar in recent years with new events like the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, seeking to grow its audience beyond traditional markets
Temporary street circuits present unique challenges including surface variations, temporary barriers, and limited setup data compared to permanent facilities

What Happens Next

The race weekend will proceed with limited practice sessions where teams must quickly gather data on the new circuit's characteristics. Following the inaugural event, INDYCAR and local organizers will evaluate attendance, television ratings, and economic impact to determine if the race becomes an annual fixture on the schedule. Driver feedback about the circuit's safety and racing quality will influence potential modifications for future editions. If successful, similar stadium-based circuits could be developed in other cities with major sports franchises looking to host INDYCAR events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this track particularly challenging for drivers?

The track presents unique challenges because no surface scans exist, meaning simulators use only GPS data without modeling bumps or grip variations. Drivers must discover braking points, optimal lines, and surface characteristics during actual practice sessions rather than through extensive simulation preparation.

How does the Cowboys' involvement benefit this race?

The Dallas Cowboys' marketing power provides unprecedented promotional resources and brand recognition that most INDYCAR events lack. Their involvement likely helps secure corporate sponsorships, attracts casual sports fans, and ensures high production values for the inaugural event.

What makes this circuit layout unique?

The 2.73-mile course uniquely winds around two major sports venues—AT&T Stadium (Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (Rangers)—creating a distinctive urban circuit. With 14 turns (9 right, 5 left), it offers an asymmetrical challenge different from traditional road courses.

How will teams compensate for the lack of track data?

Teams will rely heavily on real-time data collection during practice sessions and make rapid setup adjustments. Engineers will monitor tire wear, suspension performance, and driver feedback more closely than at established circuits where they have historical data.

Could this become a model for other INDYCAR events?

If successful, this stadium-based circuit could inspire similar events in other cities with major sports franchises. The model offers potential for cross-promotion between motorsports and professional sports teams while utilizing existing infrastructure in urban areas.

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Original Source

              ARLINGTON, Texas — It’s typical to hear lots of screaming inside Jerry's World during Dallas Cowboys football games. This weekend, there will be the scream of INDYCAR engines around AT&T Stadium (home of the Cowboys) and Globe Life Stadium (home of the Texas Rangers) as drivers navigate a 2.73-mile course for the first time in series history. There are 14 turns — nine right-handers and five left-handers. The inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX) will present a challenge as no driver has experience on the course. It will also present an event with the marketing and branding force of the Cowboys behind it. Here’s what to know about the race: How Will Drivers Prepare? Typically, the drivers practice and determine setups in a simulator where the track surface has been scanned and then the data is supplemented from what teams learn on a race weekend. But there have been no scans of this track’s surface. So the simulator track is determined through GPS. That makes it difficult to recognize bumps. And until the walls were placed in the last few weeks, no one really knew their exact location. [POWER RANKINGS: Who is on top heading into Arlington?] Alexander Rossi, driver of the No. 20 car for ECR, answered my question during a Zoom this week on just how little he knows from the simulator. "The track scans are very high quality, but for a place like this that's brand new, you don't have a full surface scan," Rossi said. "You only have essentially a GPS scan with walls kind of placed around the perimeter. "Both Honda and Chevy have kind of the same track model, so you don't have any sort of the bumps modeled or grip differential depending on surfaces." So how does it help? "It’s a great tool to at least know what corner comes next," Rossi said. "But in terms of brake points and grip levels, how fast you can actually go, the line, where bumps are, that sort of thing — everyone will be figuring that out together kind of starting from zero." What Else Can Th
            

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