Scott McLaughlin had a word to describe driving on the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES circuit hosting this weekend’s inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington.

“Sick,” he said.

McLaughlin suggested asking a 20-something for an explanation.

“Gen Zs will get that,” he said.

Alex Palou, whose birth date puts him in the category, gets it. Yes, he joined McLaughlin as one of the fastest drivers in Friday’s first practice – McLaughlin led the way with a lap time of 1 minute, 34.8926 seconds -- but they also the way in celebrating the enjoyment of the 14-turn, 2.73-mile circuit that features AT&T Stadium (home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home to Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers).

“Love it,” four-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou said. “It's super fun to drive.

“It’s just a lot more fun than I thought (it would be) just how the car feels. There's so many different corners. Like, there's corners that you can attack so much, and you feel like a superhero. There's other corners where you need to back off because the grip is very different. Very bumpy. A lot more bumpy than I thought, which makes it super challenging.

“But super fun. Super fun.”

McLaughlin said it’s “hands down” the best street circuit he has competed on, and that includes scads of them in Australia during his time as a three-time Supercars champion.

“I’m not just saying this because you probably think I'm getting paid to say it,” the Team Penske driver said of the circuit his boss, Roger Penske, pushed so hard for. “It’s got a huge straight, a bump straight, (it’s) very hard to test your brake point into Turn 10.

“Then, there are so many corners that are technical, but then also daring. It's an absolute blast. It was honestly a pleasure to learn it and get better and better.”

Said Palou: “Yeah, and super wide, which I think for the race is going to be great. It's going to be awesome. There's so many different passing zones. It's not that there's only a front stretch. I feel like, yeah, you have Turn 10, Turn 11.”

McLaughlin said the new aspects experienced Friday will lead to long discussion within the various teams as they prepare for the rest of the weekend. A second practice session is set for Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET (FS1) in advance for qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2:30 p.m. (FS2).

Sunday’s 70-lap race will air live at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

“There will be guys doing a corner a little bit different to you, and is it good or bad, and just trying to dissect that a little bit,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like a strength of mine has been learning new tracks, even since I was a kid. I really enjoy this side of it. I'll do a deep dive into the data tonight and be ready for (the rest of the weekend).”

It’s important to note that Palou has won the past two series races held on new non-ovals (the street race in Detroit in 2023 and the road course at The Thermal Club in 2025).

Asked what type of driving this track rewards, Palou didn’t mince words.

“Everything,” the Chip Ganassi Racing driver said.