By John Sturbin | Raceday San Antonio
INDYCAR superstar Alex Palou officially will add to his international bona fides when the NTT IndyCar Series competes at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain next summer.
North America’s premier open-wheel series confirmed the expansion of its global footprint on Friday, Oct. 23, with the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona set for Sunday, July 18, as the centerpiece of Phase Two of the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series schedule.
The event will take INDYCAR to Spain for the first time, setting the stage for a well-deserved homecoming for Barcelona native and five-time/reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
“This is super-special. I never thought that this could even be an option; I obviously always dreamed about it because that is where I’m from,” Palou said during an interview provided by CGR Media. “I think there’s not really anything more special than racing at home and feeling the love from the fans at home.”
Recall that Palou, now 29 and a family man, left Spain to pursue his racing career.
“I feel like I am very lucky that a lot of people in the U.S. are showing me the love that I would receive at home,” Palou said. “I have some family members who are a little bit older, or they are not able to travel and they have never been able to see me race. It will be super-cool to bring it there and to a lot of friends, as well.”
The multi-year agreement with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya marks the series’ first race outside North America since 2013, when Canadian James Hinchcliffe won on the Streets of São Paulo, Brazil. The event also signals a European return for INDYCAR, which last competed on the continent in 2007 at the TT Circuit Assen in The Netherlands.
“This is a monumental day for our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President/CEO Mark Miles said in a statement from Indianapolis. “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.”
Palou secured his fifth NTT IndyCar Series championship in 2026, becoming just the second driver to win four consecutive titles, joining Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais (2004-07). With five championships in six years and 25 career victories, Palou is tied for 17th on the series’ all-time wins list. Only Houston native A.J. Foyt Jr. (seven) and Scott Dixon of New Zealand (six) have won more INDYCAR championships.
“It is an amazing opportunity,” said Palou, the winner of six races in 2026. “It means so much to me to have a race at home in Barcelona…it’s hard to put into words. I know the fans are going to love it and I think we’re 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.”
Located in Montmeló, just outside Barcelona, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been a fixture on the international motorsports stage since opening in 1991. The renowned 2.894-mile/4.657-kilometer/14-turn road-course has hosted some of the world’s most prestigious racing championships, including FIA Formula One and MotoGP, and is recognized for its combination of high-speed corners, technical sections and overall demanding layout.
Palou actually played a central role in bringing the deal together, participating in meetings with circuit officials and promoters that helped finalize the agreement. The Barcelona native grew up just 20 minutes from the track, where he spent countless afternoons and weekends watching some of the world’s best drivers.
For Palou, it was practically a second home. “My parents still live like 20 minutes from the track,” Palou said. “So, I grew up 20 minutes from the track going to every single practice session I could after school, and during the weekends that I was free.”
Palou believes the facility, which features infrastructure developed over decades of staging major international events, will set a new benchmark for INDYCAR. “The standards are huge,” said Palou, driver of CGR’s bright yellow No. 10 DHL Honda. “That track is incredible, all the amenities, everything is to another level. We don’t have any track on our current calendar that is even close to that. It will be good for us to learn and see what things we can implement in our tracks and see what’s worth it and what’s not.”
Despite his familiarity with the circuit, Palou acknowledged that success there has been elusive. “The track is incredible, although I have never had a lot of success there,” Palou said. “I will change that next year.”
The addition of Barcelona marks another milestone for INDYCAR as the series continues to introduce its high-speed, ultra-competitive brand of racing to new audiences and build upon its growing momentum.
“The arrival of INDYCAR is a major milestone and an exciting challenge for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya,” said Pau Relat, chairman of the board of Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit. “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.”
Indeed, the race will provide a rare international showcase for INDYCAR, which largely has confined its schedule to the United States and Canada for more than a decade. As noted, the series last raced outside North America in 2013 on the Streets of São Paulo, Brazil. INDYCAR’s international history also includes events in Japan, Australia and several other markets, although sustained expansion beyond North America has proven difficult.
The Barcelona agreement offers an opportunity to test whether INDYCAR can now build a lasting European presence, with Palou’s success providing a natural connection to Spanish motorsports fans.
Team-owner Chip Ganassi believes the timing is ideal. “With Alex being the champion, it’s a great opportunity for us to go to a place where they want us to race,” Ganassi said. “I think there are great motorsports fans in that country that want to see great racing.”
Ganassi added he supports a measured approach to international expansion rather than an aggressive overhaul of the schedule. “I think a few races to start with, a race or two to expand our footprint, is a good idea,” Ganassi said.
Mexico also has emerged as a likely expansion venue for INDYCAR, most notably at the urging of native son Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren.
Palou, meanwhile, sees an opportunity for INDYCAR to follow other American sports leagues that have successfully staged events overseas _ particularly the NFL, which has expanded its offering of international games this season.
“I think for the series it will be incredible to showcase our product, to test if going international is something that helps the series grow,” Palou said. “Even in the U.S., it will be cool for fans to see their drivers going to Europe or another market. Hopefully we have fans who will go to Spain for vacation and then also go to the race.”
Palou’s new teammate _ Christian Lundgaard of Denmark _ competed in Europe’s junior formula ranks before moving to INDYCAR. Lundgaard, formerly of Arrow McLaren, has logged extensive mileage at Barcelona in multiple racing categories.
“I think it will be awesome to go abroad,” said Lundgaard, a 25-year-old native of Hedensted, Denmark. “Obviously it’s been a long time since the series has gone outside the U.S., other than Canada, to pursue new opportunities.”
Lundgaard believes his familiarity with the circuit could prove valuable when INDYCAR arrives with cars that differ considerably from those typically raced at Barcelona. “I have a lot of laps around Barcelona in my life in various different series, so hopefully there will be some valuable information from that,” said Lundgaard, who has replaced Dixon in CGR’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda.
Lundgaard also credited INDYCAR’s growing television exposure via FOX Sports and Palou’s five championships with helping make the series more attractive to international markets. “I think we’re seeing the effect from FOX, Alex as well having now won five championships,” Lundgaard said. “That helps show off the series and taking us to see new places.”
The biggest unknown may be how enthusiastically Spanish fans embrace a series that never has raced in their country. Palou is betting his championship success and the novelty of an American racing series competing on Spanish soil will attract a substantial crowd on race weekend.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Palou said when asked what kind of reception he expects. “I think the last time I raced in Spain was in a junior series and I was 17 or 18, so it was a long time ago, 10 years or so. Hopefully, it’s huge.”
INDYCAR’s inaugural race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is the centerpiece of Phase Two of next year’s NTT IndyCar Series schedule. The summer lineup includes a mix of weekends leading to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California, where the 2027 champion will hoist the Astor Challenge Cup.
For the third consecutive season, all races will be broadcast on FOX in the United States, with three additional telecasts scheduled during two days of qualifying for the 111th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT IndyCar Series remains the only premier motorsports series in North America with all races broadcast on network television.
“The 2027 season will build off a record-shattering and landmark year for the NTT IndyCar Series,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President/CEO Mark Miles said. “The sport’s growth has been immense, driving incredible viewership gains, reaching new fans in younger demos and attracting increased commercial interest from emerging and long-term partners.
“Our relationship with FOX Sports continues to set an industry standard, and this schedule will help us build on all of these gains and take things to the next level.”
After announcing Phase One of the 2027 schedule in August, Phase Two of the 17-race championship picks up Sunday, June 13, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., outside St. Louis. In 2026, the race on the challenging 1.25-mile oval featured 17 lead changes, wheel-to-wheel action throughout the field and an INDYCAR track-record 268 passes for position.
Two weeks later, the series will head to picturesque Elkhart Lake, Wis., for its 37th race at historic Road America on Sunday, June 27. Known for its sweeping corners, long straightaways and 4-mile layout, the historic road-course remains one of the fastest and demanding circuits on the schedule.
Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has become a Fourth of July holiday tradition for INDYCAR, and it will continue Sunday, July 4. The technical, 2.258-mile/13-turn circuit, known for its elevation changes and tight corners, will host its 44th INDYCAR race in 2027 _ the longest-running road-course event on the schedule.
Following the inaugural international showcase in Barcelona, the series will return to the Pacific Northwest for its annual stop at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1. The 1.97-mile/12-turn road-course is known for its challenging opening chicane and history of thrilling finishes. In 2026, four different race teams were represented among the top-four finishers.
The series will then cross the border into Canada for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham on Sunday, Aug. 15, on the Streets of Markham. The 2.19-mile temporary street circuit, which debuted in 2026, features 12 turns, a double-sided pit lane and technically challenging sections. The 2026 race produced 258 on-track passes, the most of any street circuit last season.
The 2027 championship will enter its final stretch with a return to The Milwaukee Mile for a pivotal double-header Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29. The historic 1-mile oval, which opened in 1903, features relatively flat corners that demand precision and offers drivers two opportunities to earn valuable championship points in one weekend. Last year’s first 250-lap race saw a season-high 696 on-track passes and track records for passes for position, passes in the top-10 and passes in the top-five.
The final round of the 2027 season is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 5, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The iconic 2.238-mile natural-terrain road-course features 11 turns, dramatic elevation changes and the world-famous Corkscrew Turn complex. It’s a combination that provides a fitting showcase for the final race of the 17-event championship, presentation of the Astor Challenge Cup, the engine manufacturer award and Rookie of the Year award. This will be the 13th time the legendary circuit on California’s Central Coast will host the INDYCAR season-finale.
“One of the things that makes INDYCAR so special is that winning a championship requires drivers and teams to be competitive on every type of racetrack,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement from Indianapolis. “From high-speed ovals to tight street circuits and challenging road- courses, they face a different test almost every weekend. The 2027 schedule continues that tradition, featuring the 111th Running of the Indianapolis 500, alongside some of the most iconic racetracks in North America, and the historic addition of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
“With 25 full-time entries battling for a championship and every race broadcast on FOX, our fans have an incredible season of racing to look forward to.”
TV tune-in times for next season’s events will be announced at a later date. The 2027 schedule for INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s developmental series, also will be announced in the coming weeks.
2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES FULL SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 7 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Saturday, March 13 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Sunday, March 21 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas
Sunday, April 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.
Sunday, April 18 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif.
Saturday, May 15 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course
Sunday, May 30 _ The 111th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval
Sunday, June 6 _ Streets of Downtown Detroit
Sunday, June 13 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.
Sunday, June 27 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Sunday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Sunday, July 18 _ Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
Sunday, Aug. 1 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway
Sunday, Aug. 15 _ Streets of Markham, Canada
Saturday, Aug. 28 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis.
Sunday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis.
Sunday, Sept. 5 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.
Note _ All races televised live on FOX Sports; start times TBA
