By: Spencer Neff
March 13, 2026

Practice 1 Results

Staking his claim as the leader of the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice on the Streets of Arlington, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin started the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on a high note.

McLaughlin, who started on the pole and finished second two weeks ago on the streets of St. Petersburg, posted a best lap of 1m34.8926 (103.570 mph) on the 2.73-mile, 14-turn street circuit in Arlington, Texas.

Less than a week after crashing in the Phoenix race and finishing 24th, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou rebounded and posted the second-fastest lap of the afternoon, .0587 of a second back of McLaughlin. Palou is looking for his second win of the season after winning the first round on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Andretti Global’s Will Power followed in third, with Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist competing the Top Five. O’Ward (1m35.6861seconds-102.711 mph) led the 40-minute “full-field” session before McLaughlin’s fastest lap during the first 12-minute group session. Palou (1m34.9513-103.506 mph) was fastest during the second group session.

Caio Collet of A.J. Foyt Racing was the fastest rookie in 13th (1m36.2632-102.095 mph), while McLaughlin’s teammate and points leader Josef Newgarden was 16th (1m36.3108-102.045 mph) six days after his win at Phoenix Raceway.

Aside from David Malukas’ drive-through penalty for improper pit exit, the first 15 minutes on track were run cleanly and without incident. Shortly thereafter, Sting Ray Robb made contact with the outside wall in Turn 1, resulting in significant damage to the right-front of his Juncos Hollinger Racing entry.

Nearly a half-hour later, Robb’s JHR teammate Rinus VeeKay slid off course by Turn 10 following the backstretch, which is the fastest section of the course.

Those incidents are the only unscheduled stoppages during the opening session.

Up Next

Here is the remaining on-track schedule for the weekend. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media for the latest on the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

At-track schedule (All Times Local/Central Time):

Saturday, March 14
8:35-9:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (split group format), FS1
1:35-3:10 p.m. – NTT P1 Award qualifying (two rounds of knockout qualifying followed by Firestone Fast Six single-car pole showdown), FS2 
Sunday, March 15
9:05-9:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1
11:30 a.m. – FOX Pre-Race Show on air
12:10 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
12:17 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (70 laps/191.1 miles), FOX (Live)

Heard Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR