O’Ward sees Arlington race as a test for the future of the IndyCar experience

The Arrow McLaren driver is hopeful for the next level of IndyCar for fans, but that it also remains accessible for the fans new and old.

There are plenty of positives Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward sees with the IndyCar Series returning to Texas in March 2026 with the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, but it's also not without its 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 2.73-mile temporary street circuit will run around Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and Rangers’ Globe Life Field, as well as through the sports and entertainment district that sells more than 1.6 million tickets to spectators for various events annually. So far, it has received plenty of praise, with several drivers in the paddock noting its similarities to something seen in Formula 1.

Overall, O’Ward is hoping the new event will push the sport to new heights. 

“I think that event is going to be a big test to what new markets and what we can ultimately reach in terms of a bit more upscale than some of the other tracks, other events that we have on the calendar,” O’Ward told Autosport. 

“The venue looks really cool. Jerry Jones (Cowboys owner) is a very well-known name and he owns one of the most insane franchises in the NFL; one of the teams in the NFL that obviously draws a lot of eyes, a lot of public (interest). I don’t know, man. Until we do that first event, we’ll really see what that can ultimately bring to the series.

"Texas is a huge market. We were missing out on that market and I’m glad that it’s back on the calendar. I think it’ll be huge for the series but also a test on just having an idea on how much further we can go in terms of experiences, what are people willing to pay for that experience?”

The Lone Star State is familiar territory for O’Ward, who is a native of Monterrey, Mexico, but also grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He also won his first career IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in 2021. IndyCar competed at TMS from 1997-2023. And the cost factor is where O’Ward, who has seven career IndyCar victories, remains apprehensive.

“I think there’s a lot of questions to be asked if that event is a massive success and I think that can ultimately elevate the series to a different level,” O’Ward said. “But, there’s always the possibility of having it the other way and that’s definitely something we don’t want. I’m a bit worried on the pricing of everything.

"I’ve spent thousands of dollars of my own money to create experiences for people and sometimes a lot of those do come out at a loss because in IndyCar's market, people aren’t willing to pay over $1,000 for a paddock ticket. And there definitely is the market to do that because people pay $10,000 to $15,000 in Formula 1, but can we tap into that market? I don’t know.”