IndyCar News: McLaughlin Fastest in Practice 1 For Java House GP of Arlington
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES kicked off its inaugural Java House GP of Arlington on Friday, as Scott McLaughlin laid down the fastest lap in the first practice session on the brand-new 1.73-mile temporary street course in Arlington, Texas.
The New Zealand star, piloting his No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet, clocked a blistering 1m34.8926 to edge out the field and set an early benchmark on the challenging 14-turn layout. McLaughlin’s time showcased the Kiwi’s trademark precision and aggression.
Right on his heels was championship contender Alex Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, who posted a strong 1m34.9513—just 0.0587 seconds apart—to claim second. The defending series champ looked comfortable and quick, hinting at another strong weekend for the Ganassi squad.
Will Power rounded out the top three with a time of 1m35.3051 in the No. 26 TWG AI Andretti Global entry. The Australian veteran, known for his street-course mastery, was only 0.4125 off the pace despite the unfamiliar track.
Pato O’Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, slotted into fourth with a 1m35.3641, showing solid early pace from the papaya squad. At the same time, Felix Rosenqvist completed the top five in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Texas A&M Meyer Shank Racing entry with a 1m35.6274.
The session marked the first on-track action for the full field on this brand-new circuit—built around the Arlington Entertainment District with long straights, tight hairpins, and high-speed sections that promise dramatic passing and potential chaos on race day.
Drivers hit the track for the first time, dialing in setups, learning bumps and surface changes, and building confidence lap by lap. Contrary to any early skepticism, the feedback from the paddock has been overwhelmingly positive.
- Graham Rahal talks with media at 2026 Java House Grand Prix of Arlington Austin, TX Photo courtesy IMS Photo by Travis Hinkle
Veterans and rising stars alike are calling this one of the best street courses IndyCar has seen in years. Graham Rahal praised the event: “This is as top-tier as we’ll ever get.”
It’s beautiful,” said Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood. “I think this is one of the best track builds I’ve ever seen for IndyCar. This is what IndyCar racing should look like”.
Scott Dixon echoed the sentiment, describing it as “the new standard” for how street races should be activated and presented.
With a long straight leading into a sharp 90-degree turn, high-commitment corners, and an electric atmosphere around AT&T Stadium, the circuit is already living up to the hype as both a fan spectacle and a true driver’s track.
Practice 2 hits the streets Saturday morning, followed by qualifying—where a special Fast Six format tweak could shake up the grid even more. The stage is set for an unforgettable debut weekend in Arlington.
Jave House GP of Arlington Practice 1 Results
| Pos | No | Name | Time | Behind | Gap | Speed | Engine | Laps | Team |
| 1 | 3 | Scott McLaughlin | 1m34.8926s | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 103.570 | Chevy | 18 | Team Penske |
| 2 | 10 | Alex Palou | 1m34.9513s | 0.0587 | 0.0587 | 103.506 | Honda | 14 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 3 | 26 | Will Power | 1m35.3051s | 0.4125 | 0.3538 | 103.121 | Honda | 19 | Andretti Global |
| 4 | 5 | Pato O’Ward | 1m35.3641s | 0.4715 | 0.0590 | 103.058 | Chevy | 19 | Arrow McLaren |
| 5 | 60 | Felix Rosenqvist | 1m35.3775s | 0.4849 | 0.0134 | 103.043 | Honda | 15 | Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb‑Agajanian |
| 6 | 28 | Marcus Ericsson | 1m35.6274s | 0.7348 | 0.2499 | 102.774 | Honda | 15 | Andretti Global |
| 7 | 20 | Alexander Rossi | 1m35.6693s | 0.7767 | 0.0419 | 102.729 | Chevy | 17 | Ed Carpenter Racing |
| 8 | 7 | Christian Lundgaard | 1m35.6898s | 0.7972 | 0.0205 | 102.707 | Chevy | 19 | Arrow McLaren |
| 9 | 9 | Scott Dixon | 1m35.9943s | 1.1017 | 0.3045 | 102.381 | Honda | 14 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 10 | 19 | Dennis Hauger | 1m36.0528s | 1.1602 | 0.0585 | 102.319 | Honda | 20 | Dale Coyne Racing |
| 11 | 15 | Graham Rahal | 1m36.1392s | 1.2466 | 0.0864 | 102.227 | Honda | 18 | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 12 | 12 | David Malukas | 1m36.2588s | 1.3662 | 0.1196 | 102.100 | Chevy | 20 | Team Penske |
| 13 | 4 | Caio Collet | 1m36.2632s | 1.3706 | 0.0044 | 102.095 | Chevy | 26 | A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
| 14 | 18 | Romain Grosjean | 1m36.2944s | 1.4018 | 0.0312 | 102.062 | Honda | 17 | Dale Coyne Racing |
| 15 | 27 | Kyle Kirkwood | 1m36.3057s | 1.4131 | 0.0113 | 102.050 | Honda | 14 | Andretti Global |
| 16 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | 1m36.3108s | 1.4182 | 0.0051 | 102.045 | Chevy | 19 | Team Penske |
| 17 | 21 | Christian Rasmussen | 1m36.4479s | 1.5553 | 0.1371 | 101.900 | Chevy | 13 | Ed Carpenter Racing |
| 18 | 66 | Marcus Armstrong | 1m36.5043s | 1.6117 | 0.0564 | 101.840 | Honda | 16 | Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb‑Agajanian |
| 19 | 45 | Louis Foster | 1m36.5075s | 1.6149 | 0.0032 | 101.837 | Honda | 16 | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 20 | 6 | Nolan Siegel | 1m36.9776s | 2.0850 | 0.4701 | 101.343 | Chevy | 18 | Arrow McLaren |
| 21 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | 1m37.3287s | 2.4361 | 0.3511 | 100.977 | Honda | 19 | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
| 22 | 14 | Santino Ferrucci | 1m37.5303s | 2.6377 | 0.2016 | 100.769 | Chevy | 13 | A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
| 23 | 8 | Kyffin Simpson | 1m38.4198s | 3.5272 | 0.7570 | 99.858 | Honda | 14 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 24 | 76 | Rinus VeeKay | 1m38.4434s | 3.5508 | 0.0236 | 99.834 | Chevy | 10 | Juncos Racing |
| 25 | 77 | Sting Ray Robb | 1m39.7726 | 4.8800 | 0.8167 | 98.504 | Chevy | 5 | Juncos Racing |