There are many positives Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward sees with the IndyCar Sequence returning to Texas in March 2026 with the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, nevertheless it’s additionally not with out its considerations.
The occasion was introduced by the sequence earlier this month, in partnership with the Nationwide Soccer League’s Dallas Cowboys and REV Leisure, the official leisure associate of Main League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. The two.73-mile short-term road circuit, will run round Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and Rangers’ Globe Life Subject, in addition to by the sports activities and leisure district that sells greater than 1.6 million tickets to spectators for numerous occasions yearly. To date, it has obtained loads of reward, with a number of drivers within the paddock noting its similarities to one thing seen in System 1.
The Lone Star State is acquainted territory for O’Ward, who’s a local of Monterrey, Mexico, but additionally grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He additionally gained his first profession IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in 2021. IndyCar competed at TMS from 1997-2023.
General, O’Ward is hoping the occasion will push the game to new heights.
Arlington Grand Prix monitor map
Picture by: Penske Leisure
“I believe that occasion goes to be an enormous check to what new markets and what we are able to finally attain when it comes to a bit extra upscale than among the different tracks, different occasions that we’ve on the calendar,” O’Ward informed Motorsport.com.
“The venue seems to be actually cool. Jerry Jones (Cowboys proprietor) is a really well-known title and he owns probably the most insane franchises within the NFL; one of many groups within the NFL that clearly attracts plenty of eyes, plenty of public (curiosity). I don’t know, man. Till we do this first occasion, we’ll actually see what that may finally carry to the sequence. Texas is a big market. We have been lacking out on that market and I’m glad that it’s again on the calendar. I believe it’ll be big for the sequence but additionally a check on simply having an concept on how a lot additional we are able to go when it comes to experiences, what are folks prepared to pay for that have?”
And the price issue is the place O’Ward, who has seven profession IndyCar victories, stays apprehensive.
“I believe there’s plenty of inquiries to be requested if that occasion is an enormous success and I believe that may finally elevate the sequence to a unique stage,” O’Ward stated. “However, there’s all the time the potential for having it the opposite approach and that’s positively one thing we don’t need. I’m a bit frightened on the pricing of every little thing. I’ve spent 1000’s of {dollars} of my very own cash to create experiences for folks and generally plenty of these do come out at a loss as a result of in IndyCar’s market, folks aren’t prepared to pay over $1,000 for a paddock ticket. And there positively is the market to try this as a result of folks pay $10,000 to $15,000 in System 1, however can we faucet into that market? I don’t know.”
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