Warm up results
Arlington Starting Tire Selections
Race Day at Arlington
A reminder that the green flag and broadcast windows have been moved up. The revised schedule\:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup 9:30-10:30 a.m. Eastern FS1. The session is from 9:50-10:10 am ET.
INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Arlington 10:30-11:30 am ET FS1. Green flag 10:45 a.m. ET (30-minutes).
FOX Pre-race show 11:30 a.m. ET
Java House Grand Prix of Arlington green flag 12 Noon ET, FOX
From yesterday:
Winds are predicted to be near or above 20 mph from the Northwest with gusts as high as 50 mph during the race. Had the race started at its original time, the winds would be stronger.
My pick for today is Alex Palou, who will also retake the points lead.
If you are at the track, stay safe.
Grand Prix of Arlington Revised Race Day Schedule
Below is the revised schedule for Sunday. All times eastern.
From IndyCar on FOX
Note: Warmup and IndyNXT race have been shortened to accommodate the schedule.
Ericsson Takes Arlington Pole
NOTE: Tomorrow’s Java House Grand Prix of Arlington has been moved up on hour. FOX will be on the air at 11:30 am Eastern time with the green flag at Noon Eastern. The change is due to predicted high winds later in the afternoon.
It has been 13 years since Marcus Ericsson won a pole position for a race. Today that streak ended as Ericsson won the pole in a new format for tomorrow’s IndyCar race at Arlington, Texas. Ericsson had the advantage of running his single Fast Six lap on warm tires, and his time stood up to a challenge by Alex Palou, the last driver on track.
“I’ve waited long enough; I can tell you that,” a jubilant Ericsson said. “I think 2013 was the last pole I had. I feel like this is a giant thing for me because of that. Two-hundredths of a second away at St. Pete.”
Ericsson’s winning margin was a bit less than half a second over the defending series champion.
Team Penske had won the pole in each of the first two races, with Scott McLaughlin in the top spot at St. Petersburg and David Malukas in first after qualifying at Phoenix. Today was not the team’s best day. While all three cars were very fast, Josef Newgarden hit the wall in morning practice, forcing him to go to a backup car. In qualifying Scott McLaughlin also made wall contact in Round 1. Malukas couldn’t quite find the speed he had earlier. No Penske car made the Fast Six.
Another pole favorite, Kyle Kirkwood, also missed the Fast Six. His teammates, Ericsson and Will Power, did get to the final round. Kirkwood starts seventh tomorrow.
For Power, today marks his first sign of success with the team after a difficult morning in which he made contact Scott Dixon.
Meyer Shank Racing put both of their cars in the Fast Six. Felix Rosenqvist will star fifth, and Marcus Armstrong rolls off sixth.
The New Fast Six
I didn’t hate it, but I can’t say I was thrilled by it. I think the Fast Six format has potential with some tweaking. A better television presentation might have helped hold my interest more also.
Rule Changes: Ericsson seemed to have a big advantage going first since his tires were still warm from the end of Round 2. There are ways to remedy this. Here are some suggestions, not necessarily meant to be implemented as a group
- A 10 minute break allowing everyone’s tires to cool. OR
- The leader of Round 2 gets to choose when he makes his run. OR
- Tire warmers which must come off when the car on track is two corners from the alt. start line.
- Limit use of this format to tracks shorter than Arlington. I thought the length of the track contributed to some of the dullness of the shootout.
FOX could help viewer interest by providing sector times with comparison to where the leader was at a particular point on track. Showing times in green and red was a halfway job of marking progress. I want to know how much slower or faster t6he car is to the leader on the board. A map tracker would also help for the entire run.
Results
Qualifying Groups Set After Wild Practice 2
Photo by Chris Jones, Penske entertainment
Kyle Kirkwood served notice that he is still the King of the Streets, leading today’s prequalifying practice period.
This morning’s Java House Grand Prix of Arlington practice 2 was not the smoothest of sessions. Red flags abounded, including one for a collision between Scott Dixon and Will Power.
Dixon spun, and he was backing his car up to turn around when Power rounded the blind corner and collided with he six time champion. The aftermath was much milder than their collision at road America in 2024. Still, it was Power’s fourth incident of the young season. Both cars were able to make repairs and return to the track.
Power finished with the fourth best lap while Dixon ended up 15th.
Josef Newgarden made contact with the right, sustaining damage which prevented his return to action. Newgarden, Friday’s leader, settled for 12th in practice.
As the green flag waved to start the first group portion of the session, the red flag came out as cars reached pit exit. Servers had somehow rolled a catering cart out onto the track at pit out. I’m sure this was a first year event issue, but how access even got to that point is puzzling.We have a new definition of fast food.
Qualifying begins at 2:30 pm Eastern on FS2.
Results
Arlington Practice 1 Complete
From earlier
Results
Arlington Preview
Can the momentum be sustained? After a wildly successful event in the desert IndyCar races at a new venue for the second straight week.. Unlike Phoenix, which was a reconfigured track where the series has raced previously, the track at Arlington debuts as a completely new event with a brand new track. Photos from media on the scene yesterday reveal a massive track with some interesting corners. Turn 10 looks fascinating as a passing zone.
The facility looks better than several of the other newer street courses. It doesn’t appear to have any narrow straights or a route through alleys hidden from the spectators. The course still includes the trendy big dipper shape, this time with an appendage. .
I’m not sure how the track will race, but I think there is a potential for some good action here. I love the long backstretch, which is about 700 feet longer than the front stretch at Monza, according to Kyle Kirkwood.
The highlight of the weekend will be the new qualifying format in which the drivers who make to the Firestone Fast Six will take single car one lap runs to determine the pole sitter. I like the idea, and I think it will add some excitement to the end of qualifying.
One issue I have heard some people express is that the first car out will have an advantage because that car will still have warm tires from the Fast 12, and the last car out will have been sitting for several minutes. Perhaps the series could provide a longer between the end of Round 2 and the start of the Fast Six to allow all cars to have cold tires or maybe mandate a tire change for the final round. I’m sure if this format continues, there will be tweaks to it.
The race will see the usual suspects battling for the lead. Andretti Global will return to their street dominating form, and Team Penske will be in the mix as well. My pick to win is Kyle Kirkwood, who has been the king of the streets over the last two years. Will Power shakes off his early season troubles with his first podium for Andretti.
IndyCar practice begins at 4 pm Eastern today on FS2.
Java House Grand Prix of Arlington Fast Facts
Fr4om IndyCar. My preview will be up tomorrow morning.
| Race weekend: Friday, March 13-Sunday, March 15Track: Streets of Arlington, a 2.73-mile, 14-turn, temporary street course (counterclockwise) in Arlington, Texas Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | Race distance: 70 laps / 191.1 miles (NTT INDYCAR SERIES) | 27 laps / 73.71 miles / 55 minutes (INDY NXT by Firestone) Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: 65 seconds of total time Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 530 kilojoules (kj) per lap Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and two sets of alternate tires for at least two laps in the race. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend, with one new set used for qualifying. Another new set may be used during the race. Two carryover sets from the St. Petersburg event may be used during the prequalifying practices. X: @Arlington_GP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #GPArlington, #INDYCARInstagram: @arlington_gp, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #GPArlington, #INDYCARFacebook: @arlingtongp, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #GPArlington, #INDYCARTikTok: @IndyCar, #INDYCAR YouTube: @INDYCAR, @arlington_gp Event website: www.gparlington.com/ INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com 2025 race winner:Inaugural Event Qualifying record:Inaugural Event FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Warmup Show/Final Practice, 10 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1; Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, 12:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 11 a.m.. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race, 11 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter. INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young and Jake Query are the turn announcers. Alex Wollf, Ryan Myrehn, DJ Clark and Jonathan Grace are the pit reporters. The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates,SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA .At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time): Friday, March 13 2-2:45 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 1, FS23:05-4:25 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1 (split group format), FS2 Saturday, March 14 8:35-9:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (split group format), FS1 10:15-11 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, FS2 1:35-3:10 p.m. – NTT P1 Award qualifying (two rounds of knockout qualifying followed by Firestone Fast Six single-car pole showdown), FS2 3:30-4 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (two groups, 12 minutes each), FS2 Sunday, March 15 9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1 10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Arlington (27 laps/73.71 miles/55 minutes), FS1 (Live) 11:30 a.m. – FOX Pre-Race Show on air 12:10 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines” 12:17 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (70 laps/191.1 miles ), FOX (Live) ‘WHAT TO LOOK FOR’ AT ARLINGTON: New points leader Newgarden aims to continue Texas win streak: One week after taking the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points lead with his thrilling win at Phoenix Raceway, Josef Newgarden heads to Texas in hopes of keeping his dominance in the state. Newgarden won the last two INDYCAR SERIES races in the state – claiming oval wins at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022 and 2023 .Pole Showdown debuts in Texas: INDYCAR will use an updated race qualifying format on the streets of Arlington, Texas. For NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying, while the “knockout” format of Segments 1 and 2 will remain unchanged, the Firestone Fast Six segment will be adjusted to single-car, single-lap qualifying beginning with the sixth-fastest qualifier from Segment 2 and working toward the fastest from the previous round. During the Firestone Fast Six at Arlington, drivers will leave pit lane and get an opportunity for one lap – starting and ending at the alternate start/finish line. Once the car enters pit lane following that driver’s attempt, the next car will be released for its attempt. Tire allotments and tire rules will remain unchanged throughout the event. Lone Star Links: Even though there aren’t any native Texans in the field for the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, there are several ties to Texas throughout the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field .Santino Ferrucci lives in Dallas and races for Lone Star State legend A.J. Foyt.Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and his family moved to San Antonio when he was a boy, and he lived there through high school, attending Texas Military Institute in San Antonio. Will Power is a Texan by marriage, as his wife, Liz, hails from Plano. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes: The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will be the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the streets of Arlington. However, it’s not the first time that INDYCAR SERIES cars have raced in Arlington, Texas. Arlington Downs Racetrack, a 1-mile dirt oval whose site is less than a half-mile from the current racetrack, held three points-paying races and two non-championship sweepstakes races from 1947 to 1950.The Streets of Arlington is the fourth road or street circuit to debut on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar since 2021. Chip Ganassi Racing drivers won the previous three debut races. Marcus Ericsson won the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on the streets of Nashville in 2021. Alex Palou won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear when it debuted its new course in downtown Detroit in 2023 and at The Thermal Club in 2025.The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington is the second of six temporary street course races on the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Alex Palou won the first street race of the season at St. Petersburg on March 1. The other street course events are scheduled for the Streets of Long Beach on April 19, Streets of Detroit on May 31, the Streets of Markham, Ontario, on Aug. 16 and the Streets of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23. Milestones: Scott Dixon is expected to make his 422nd INDYCAR SERIES start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record. Dixon has made 358 consecutive starts heading into the weekend, which is the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Rinus VeeKay is scheduled to make his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start in Arlington…Josef Newgarden needs to lead 58 laps to pass Dario Franchitti for ninth on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time laps led list. INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:Lone Star State Return: INDY NXT by Firestone returns to Texas for the first time since 2019 with a race on the streets of Arlington. INDY NXT by Firestone has raced in the Lone Star State at both Texas Motor Speedway (2001-05) and Circuit of the Americas (2019). Local favorites: Neither Nicholas Monteiro nor Alessandro de Tullio are native Texans, but the young drivers might be the local favorites. Both youngsters race for one of the Lone Star State’s legendary figures – four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt. The man nicknamed “Super Tex” is a native of Houston, and his team’s headquarters is in Waller, Texas. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1967 and has numerous wins in his home state, including an INDY NXT by Firestone win with grandson A.J. Foyt IV at Texas Motor Speedway in 2002 .International flair: This weekend’s race will feature drivers representing nine countries. A total of 13 drivers represent the United States. There are three drivers from Australia, two from Mexico and one each from Brazil, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Scotland. |
Iconic Blue Envelopes Containing Indy 500 TicketsMailed to Fans Across Globe
From IMS:
INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 11, 2026) – Indianapolis 500 fans will watch their mailboxes after the highly anticipated blue envelopes featuring Race Day tickets were mailed Wednesday, March 11 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office.
AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet was on hand to assist with the initial mailing, which included shipments to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and 32 countries around the world as race fans eagerly await the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24.
“It’s really impressive,” Collet said. “To connect the drivers and make them closer to the public is unique and something that only INDYCAR does.”
Collet also took time to write notes and signatures on a few envelopes, with these special messages going to ticket buyers from his native country of Brazil. In addition, 26 signed Parkside trading cards were randomly placed in envelopes as a unique surprise for ticket buyers.
It takes approximately nine weeks to package all pre-ordered tickets for mailing, from orders the day after the previous year’s race up to current orders. Hard work from employees in the Ticket Office and other Penske Entertainment Corp. departments ensures the ticketing process runs smoothly and on schedule.
A few facts and figures about this year’s initial ticket mailing:
Number of tickets sent: More than 225,000 items (includes 173,000 Indy 500 Race Day tickets, parking, qualification and practice tickets, concert tickets, etc.)
Number of blue envelopes sent: More than 33,000
Number of U.S. Postal Service trays to accommodate envelopes: More than 720
Weight of all ticket envelopes and trays in first mailing: More than 6,800 pounds
Hours needed to fill envelopes by hand: More than 1,100 person-hours
Number of working days to package envelopes: 44
Number of Penske Entertainment employees who fill envelopes: 68
Number of states distributed: 50
Number of countries distributed: 32 (including United States)
Fans who have purchased Miller Lite Carb Day tickets will receive their blue envelopes once the concert artists have been announced.
Federal postal inspectors came to IMS with a large truck for the first mailing. Collet joined IMS and INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles and several IMS employees in helping to load the trucks
.“This is, if not the most important day of the year, certainly one of the most important as our fans can expect their Indy 500 tickets to show up in the mail,” Boles said. “Most people want that ticket because it means so much to them.”
Receiving an eagerly awaited blue envelope in the mail is a rite of spring for thousands of fans of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
But why are the envelopes blue? In the 1970s, Indianapolis 500 tickets were mailed in brown envelopes with the IMS return address in the upper left corner. In the 1980s, a heavier-stock, gray-colored envelope was introduced to mail the tickets, with just the IMS Post Office box number in the upper left corner. A computerized printer also was used for the first time in the 1980s to print ticket customers’ name and address on each envelope.
When the NASCAR Cup Series was added to the IMS schedule in 1994, the Ticket Office needed a way to distinguish between the envelopes containing tickets for the Indianapolis 500 and the annual NASCAR race, especially if the Postal Service returned the envelope as non-deliverable.
So, the IMS Ticket Office decided to color-code the ticket envelopes for each event. Indianapolis 500 ticket envelopes became blue, Brickyard Weekend envelopes became purple, Sonsio Grand Prix envelopes became green, and ticket envelopes for other IMS events use a variety of colors, including red, cream, gray and yellow.
Tickets for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24, the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 9 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 