Ericsson Claims Pole for IndyCar's Java House Grand Prix

Arlington, Texas, buzzed with anticipation Saturday as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES held qualifying for its inaugural Java House Grand Prix, a 2.73-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit weaving around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, homes to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and MLB's Texas Rangers. The event marks IndyCar's return to the Dallas-Fort Worth area after a nearly three-year absence, the last race having been at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2023.

Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global secured the pole position with a lap of 1 minute, 34.3562 seconds at 104.158 mph, his first such honor since 2013. The Swedish driver, who struggled with confidence in 2025, credited the high-pressure Firestone Fast Six format—one lap per driver in single-car runs—for bringing out his best. "That's what I like with the 500 and qualifying there and racing into 500 is always when the pressure is high, I feel like I really perform my best," Ericsson said.

Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, the three-time defending champion, qualified second at 1:34.8180 and 103.651 mph. Palou noted the format's challenges, including limited time to warm tires and brakes between rounds. "I think tire time made a...