The NTT IndyCar Series has confirmed that it is taking its popular open wheel championship overseas for the 2027 season.
The series will compete at the Barcelona Circuit in Spain, the first time IndyCar has raced in the country.
News of the deal was first reported by El Periodico earlier in the week, and was confirmed on Friday with an announcement from IndyCar.
IndyCar will travel to Spain for a race on July 18, in the middle of a traditionally busy summer season, for the first of what is described as a multi-year deal with the track.
“This is a monumental day for our sport,” Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles said.
“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.
“We cannot wait to see the NTT IndyCar Series compete at one of the world’s most recognizable motorsports venues set against the backdrop of a very historic and breathtaking international destination like Barcelona.”
Returning to the international stage
IndyCar competes almost exclusively inside the United States, with recent years only featuring a single international race across in the border in Canada.
Talks have taken place over the past few years about a new event featuring in Mexico, Brazil, or even Argentina, but all have stalled before a deal could be completed.
Mark Miles even went on record roughly one year ago saying that any future international events outside of North America would likely be non-championship rounds conducted in the offseason.
IndyCar has found a way to make the logistics work, however, and will be making the trip in the middle of the season.
The series’ newest five-time champion Alex Palou hails from Spain, and his recent success undoubtedly helped get IndyCar’s newest international endeavor off the ground.
IndyCar last raced outside North America in 2013, a race in Sao Paolo Brazil that James Hinchcliffe won for Andretti.
Other international events were held relatively frequently in the 1990s and 2000s, including races at Surfer’s Paradise, Australia and Twin Ring Motegi, Japan.
In the past 13 years, however, IndyCar has stayed within the confines of North America.
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