Finlay McSporran
Published: 18:32 23 October 2026
For the first time in 20 years IndyCar will race in Europe, as they take advantage of a circuit Formula 1 chose to leave behind.
IndyCar is finally returning to Europe!
The series will head to the land of it’s reigning champion Alex Palo, as Spain will host an IndyCar race for the very first time.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host round 12 of the 2027 IndyCar season, which was announced in it’s totality earlier today.
“This is a monumental day for our sport,” said Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp.
“We are pleased to be able to take our ultra-competitive brand of wheel-to-wheel racing to Europe and thrilled that we can showcase INDYCAR in Alex Palou’s hometown.
“We have seen Alex’s remarkable skill and talent for several years and know his fans in Spain have been clamoring to watch him race in person.”
This is big news.
The last time IndyCar ventured outside of North America was in 2013, when James Hinchcliffe won at Sao Paulo.
Before that, when the series was still known as Champ Car, they held a race at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, which was won by Sébastien Bourdais
That was the last time they raced in Europe, almost 20 years ago!
“It means so much to me to have a race at home in Barcelona, it’s hard to put into words,” said Palou.
“I know the fans are going to love it, and I think we are going to put on a great show. We’re going to try hard with the team at Chip Ganassi Racing to bring home the trophy in July.”
IndyCar has always been seen as a rival to the giant that it Formula 1, perhaps it’s biggest rival.
However, it’s ability to steal F1 fans away had been limited by it’s decision to stay exclusively in North America. That is, until now.
With Formula 1 at it’s weakest, given the universal dislike of the current cars, there is no better time for IndyCar to try and attract a slice of the F1 fanbase.
And it would appear the organisers have also realised this.
The fact that they chose Barcelona, a circuit F1 chose to put on rotation each year, is telling.
F1’s replacement Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid this year was largely uneventful, and with many fans fed up of the direction the sport is taking with new circuits and regulations, the allure of a high-speed, open-wheel spec series, on an old school race track might be tempting.
The race is scheduled to take place on the 18th of July, which falls in between the Austrian and Belgian Grand Prix.
Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board of Fira de Barcelona, said: “The arrival of INDYCAR is a major milestone and an exciting challenge for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
“Bringing one of the most prestigious and spectacular championships in global motorsport to our venue strengthens our international positioning, connects us with new audiences and markets, and reinforces our strategy of diversifying the circuit’s activity through world-class events.
“We are working with a long-term vision to make INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona a benchmark event on the international racing calendar for years to come.”
Full 2027 IndyCar calendar:
| Round | Date | Venue |
| 1 | Sunday, March 7 | Streets of St. Petersburg |
| 2 | Saturday, March 13 | Phoenix Raceway |
| 3 | Sunday, March 21 | Streets of Arlington |
| 4 | Sunday, April 4 | Barber Motorsports Park |
| 5 | Sunday, April 18 | Streets of Long Beach |
| 6 | Saturday, May 15 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course |
| 7 | Sunday, May 30 | The 111th Indianapolis 500 |
| 8 | Sunday, June 6 | Streets of Detroit |
| 9 | Sunday, June 13 | World Wide Technology Raceway |
| 10 | Sunday, June 27 | Road America |
| 11 | Sunday, July 4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
| 12 | Sunday, July 18 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya |
| 13 | Sunday, Aug. 1 | Portland International Raceway |
| 14 | Sunday, Aug. 15 | Streets of Markham |
| 15 | Saturday, Aug. 28 | Milwaukee Mile Race 1 |
| 16 | Sunday, Aug. 29 | Milwaukee Mile Race 2 |
| 17 | Sunday, Sept. 5 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
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