In the vast world of motorsports, IndyCar, by most relevant metrics, plays third fiddle to the growing global superpower of F1 and the deeply-rooted-in-American-culture NASCAR. While a few million might tune into the Indianapolis 500, we’re willing to bet half that audience couldn’t tell you last year’s champ. That said, North Texas certainly didn’t receive such a dismissive memo when the area played gracious hosts during this past weekend’s Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. With temps in the low 80s — sneaking in right before our current cold front — locals flooded the area around AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field to the tune of 80,000 people to watch open-wheeled cars break 200 mph on Randol Mill Road. Despite lacking a Brad Pitt-starring blockbuster and the bumper-to-bumper duels of stock cars, the March 15 race proved IndyCar is alive and well in FWD.

 

A major reason for the race’s success, won by Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood after overtaking last year's series champ Alex Palou, is the Arlington location. A perfect middle ground for the metroplex as a whole, one can travel to and from the suburban city with relative ease without favoring a particular part of a compass rose — north, south, east, or west within the metropolis. Despite its low population density compared to Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington has taken the mantle as the area’s pivot point — where each distinct part of North Texas seems to coalesce. Seeking an audience of Dallasites, Dentonites, Planoites, and Fort Worthians? Arlington’s your spot.