O’Ward sees Arlington race as a check for the way forward for the IndyCar expertise

There are many 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, 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 companion of Main League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. The two.73-mile non permanent road circuit, will run round Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and Rangers’ Globe Life Area, in addition to via the sports activities and leisure district that sells greater than 1.6 million tickets to spectators for numerous occasions yearly. To this point, it has obtained loads of reward, with a number of drivers within the paddock noting its similarities to one thing seen in Components 1. 

The Lone Star State is acquainted territory for O’Ward, who’s a local of Monterrey, Mexico, but in addition grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He additionally received his first profession IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in 2021. IndyCar competed at TMS from 1997-2023.

Total, O’Ward is hoping the occasion will push the game to new heights. 

Arlington Grand Prix observe map

Photograph by: Penske Leisure

“I feel that occasion goes to be an enormous check to what new markets and what we will finally attain by way of a bit extra upscale than a number of the different tracks, different occasions that now we have on the calendar,” O’Ward instructed Motorsport.com. 

“The venue seems to be actually cool. Jerry Jones (Cowboys proprietor) is a really well-known identify and he owns one of the vital insane franchises within the NFL; one of many groups within the NFL that clearly attracts numerous eyes, numerous public (curiosity). I don’t know, man. Till we try this first occasion, we’ll actually see what that may finally convey 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 feel it’ll be enormous for the sequence but in addition a check on simply having an thought on how a lot additional we will go by way of experiences, what are folks prepared to pay for that have?”

And the fee issue is the place O’Ward, who has seven profession IndyCar victories, stays apprehensive.

“I feel there’s numerous inquiries to be requested if that occasion is an enormous success and I feel that may finally elevate the sequence to a unique stage,” O’Ward stated. “However, there’s at all times the potential of having it the opposite method and that’s undoubtedly one thing we don’t need. I’m a bit nervous on the pricing of all the things. I’ve spent hundreds of {dollars} of my very own cash to create experiences for folks and generally numerous 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 undoubtedly is the market to do this as a result of folks pay $10,000 to $15,000 in Components 1, however can we faucet into that market? I don’t know.”