The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and the NTT IndyCar Series race was held in front of a sellout crowd March 15.
What happened
The event, with the backdrops of AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium, sold out the grandstand and had a standing-room-only crowd throughout the Arlington Entertainment District, according to a news release.
According to officials, ticket sales spanned all 50 states and 20 different countries. In addition, its merchandise sales were the most for a non-Indianapolis 500 event.
The 2.73-mile track featured 14 turns and a new IndyCar layout with split pit lanes, with teams on the east and west side of the track.
Quote of note
“This weekend proved that Arlington is built for world-class racing,” said Bill Miller, president of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, in a news release. “We set out to deliver an amazing experience for guests, teams, and competitors. Our goal was to redefine the guest experience. From the record-setting fan turnout to the incredible energy across the entertainment district, the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington exceeded expectations and set a powerful foundation for future events.”
The details
The event was announced in 2024 through a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, REV Entertainment and Penske Entertainment.
The Grand Marshals were Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, a former Texas Rangers catcher and DeMarcus Ware, a former defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.
The duo delivered the “Drivers, start your engines” call before the NTT IndyCar Series race March 15. Both are members of their respective sports' Hall of Fame and spent a majority of their playing careers in the Dallas area.
Ware is a Southlake resident, and his son, DeMarcus Ware Jr., plays football for the Carroll Dragons. Ware previously operated 3 Volt Fitness in Trophy Club, according to previous reporting.
What else?
There were a variety of races throughout the weekend. On March 14, the Toyota Gazoo Racing GP Cup held two races in identical Toyota GR86 cars. The IndyCar NXT series race was held before the IndyCar series race March 15.
The race time slot was moved up due to weather concerns with the wind later in the afternoon March 15. High winds led to the cancellation of a scheduled T-Pain concert.
Kyle Kirkwood won the inaugural NTT IndyCar race, and Max Taylor won the IndyCar NXT race.
