1,078 days.
That’s how long the drought will have lasted since the IndyCar Series raced in the Lone Star State; from the checkered flag at Texas Motor Speedway on April 2, 2023, to the long-awaited return of the green flag for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15, 2026.
Despite the inaugural event still 87 days away, Grand Prix of Arlington president Bill Miller already has firm belief the event can not only hold a special place on the schedule but also serve as an opportunity to chart a new path on creating them.
“It can be a signature marquee event on the IndyCar calendar for years to come,” Miller told Motorsport.com. “And it can help propel the way we’re looking at doing temporary circuit street races, as it goes from an IndyCar standpoint and takes them to a higher level.”
Grand Prix of Arlington rendering
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
That confidence undoubtedly comes from the organizational partners involved, with it being a joint effort between Penske Entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the official events partner of the Texas Rangers.
In the days since the announcement on October 7, 2024, the event has also built momentum with several notable companies coming onboard. In addition to title sponsor Java House, among the list of foundational partners includes Electrolit, PepsiCo, Toyota, and WinStar World Casino & Resort.
“Partnerships aren’t about quantity, they’re about quality and delivering value and back to the guest,” Miller said. “They’re a part of it because they want to touch the guests. Whether it’s the individual consumer, whether it’s a company coming in, whether it’s the national audience, if we can provide a platform that adds value to them, we welcome them aboard.
“We also want partners that add value back to us, and that guest experience. What are the things that they can bring from interactive guest experiences and things like that? And those are the things that we’re working on together to change it.”
There are still a few items left to learn on the 14-turn, 2.73-mile temporary street circuit, such as the race distance, trophy reveal, and even who will be the performer(s) headlining the concert.
What is known, though, is the event is only 40 percent away from goal on ticket sales (with kids 12 and under getting in free), with paddock passes also still available.
The one area sure to be popular, according to Miller, is the WinStar Winners Club, a premium hospitality suite offering exclusive trackside views, paddock access, gourmet food and drinks, and VIP access.
“That is one of our club hospitalities where it’s basically, at the pit area (and) start/finish going into Turn 1 that has a portion of their club where the cars will go underneath the track,” Miller said.
“One of the things that we want to do, essentially you got Winstar Winners for the casino, we put the Winners Circle platform – unique to the industry – as part of this club. People in the club will be able to go out onto the victory platform, take pictures with the trophy, get their pictures on the podium throughout the entire three days they’re there, and when you have your races on Sunday, they will be part of that celebration.
“You’re going to have the people build around it; when they’re shooting champagne, it’s going to get on them. I think that’s cool. That’s about fan engagement, about fan interaction. And so how do you create those things relevant to partnerships? Any partner that we can bring on adds value to their brands, adds value to the guest experience, we want them. And if we can create that, let’s go for it.”
GP Arlington track map
Photo by: Grand Prix of Arlington
The operations side has also been busy with a variety of tasks that span road improvements to getting the 2,805 barriers in place. Additionally, almost all necessary product has already been received.
“Now, you get into the sequencing of the build out; when things are shipped, when things arrive, when you start implementing,” Miller said. “That starts the first week of February, plus or minus as things come in and then you start building out, most of which is done on private lots initially and then you roll into the public roadways of 2,805 barriers that are used to build and line the 2.73-mile circuit.
“You start laying those things out and from the trucks, as much as transportation has evolved over the years, still no matter what, you get four barriers on a truck, it goes whether they’re delivered here or as we go. So, it’s going to be a rotation of trucks going through, loading them out, moving them out, unloading them onto the track and reversing that to put it back.”
And that is one of the challenges of a temporary venue as the organization of that requires constant communication with the community to be as least disruptive as possible. Miller noted “very open and proactive conversations with the neighbors that are surrounding the circuit” to listen and address any concerns.
“We work with them on how employees get to work or people to walk down this street,” Miller said. “And then it starts to happen and you want to just keep reiterating that; call it the communication plan and how that goes. Now, it’s about selling and executing.”
For Miller, who also previously served as president of California Speedway during his more than three decades in the motorsports industry, there’s a contagious feeling of optimism as the event – his first time overseeing a street circuit – looms.
“An inaugural race only happens once, so I’d love for people to come out and see it,” Miller said. “It’s always cool being part of the first one.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: motorsport.com
