Now that the 2026 INDYCAR season has come to an end, there’s plenty of things to discuss. However, there would be no racing at all if it wasn’t for the tracks. This year, INDYCAR saw the addition of three brand new street tracks. These tracks brought the series back to Texas for the first time since 2023 and led them to a new city in Markham, Canada. INDYCAR also made history as the first major series to race through the streets of Washington, D.C.
Today, The Girls Who – Motorsport will be reviewing the three new street tracks. From the biggest successes to their biggest challenges. This is the 2026 Street track review.
Java House Grand Prix of Arlington
Laps: 70 | Distance: 2.73 miles | Winner: Kyle Kirkwood
The first of the three new tracks took place on the streets of Arlington, Texas. INDYCAR raced in Texas three years ago in Forth Worth at the TExas Motor Speedway. This track mark’s the series’ return to the Lone Star State. Arlington’s street circuit went past iconic venues such as AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field.
The horseshoe section near the stadium along with a series of technical corners lead to a handful of cautions throughout the race.
The Arlington GP came to an end under caution but there were no DNFs or significant car damage done to anyone despite the amount of race incidents. Kyle Kirkwood won the race from seventh on the grid, beating Álex Palou by 0.314 seconds. A combination of the city’s landmarks and thrilling racing lead to a worthwhile event that represents INDYCAR’s future with Texas.
Biggest Success: Arlington generated a lot of interest both at the track and at home. The grandstands sold out and Fox reported reaching 1.56 million viewers during the race. This marked the first time since 2008 that the opening three races of the INDYCAR season averaged over one million viewers.
Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham
Laps: 90 | Distance: 2.19 miles | Winner: Marcus Ericsson
After spending more than 40 years in Toronto, the Canadian race moved to Markham, introducing the second brand new track of the year. The 12-turn circuit in the heart of Markham’s downtown area featured long straights, a unique hairpin and a double-sided pit lane. The inaugural race was completely unpredictable with eight DNFs and constant yellow flags.
Ultimately it was Marcus Ericsson who took the top step in Markham. He made a late pass on Romain Grosjean to secure his first win in 63 races, this was his fifth INDYCAR career win. While Markham didn’t have the same history behind it as Toronto, the track layout lead to constant overtakes and excitement. Fans filled the grandstands and stopped by to watch along hilltops making the event packed with supporters of the series.
Biggest Success: Markham kicked off the first race of a five-year contract that the city has with INDYCAR. The track consisted of a freshly paved surface which brought in positive reviews from the drivers. Viewership reached a peak of just over 1 million and is the second most watched Canadian INDYCAR race after the 2012 Toronto race at Exhibition Place.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
Laps: 147 | Distance: 1.7 miles | Winner: Kyle Kirkwood
The final new street venue took place on the streets of Washington, D.C., where the drivers spent the afternoon racing through the nation’s capital. The circuit was originally created to celebrate 250 years of American independence. With the race’s total distance being 249.9 miles it was substantially longer than all previous street track lengths.
Washington, D.C. placed an emphasis on tire management and pit strategy. Drivers had to work their way through a track that was mainly made up of straights. The Freedom 250 relied heavily on endurance and nailing down their exits and entries into the turns. It was very easy for drivers to lose momentum and go into the wall if they weren’t careful but the wider corners also made for prime overtake sections.
Biggest Success: INDYCAR was able to solidify a legacy as being the first motor race to ever be held around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue. With an average of 3.2 million viewers on Fox, the Freedom 250 became the most-watched race outside of the Indy 500 since 1995.
The first time racing on a new track is always full of surprises and constant learning. It will be a treat to see how the teams take on these tracks during the 2027 season.