Here is the thing, as Speedcafe reports: IndyCar could finally be heading back outside of North America. Word coming out of Spanish outlet El Periodico suggests a multi-year agreement has already been struck to bring the American open-wheel series to the former home of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. That initial report even pointed to a July date for 2027, with claims floating around that an official announcement could drop as soon as this week.
Naturally, those exciting claims have faced some adjustment. A report out of the United States from Racer has tempered the timeline a bit, suggesting that a deal is actually more likely to land for 2028 rather than 2027. That same U.S. report also pushed back on the idea that pen has fully been put to paper, though it acknowledged that a formal signature could still happen soon.
If this whole thing pulls through, the timing couldn't make more sense. A European stop would fully capitalize on the massive success of Spain’s only IndyCar champion Alex Palou. Should the machines hit the track there, it would mark the first time IndyCar has raced outside of North America since 2013, when the series last visited the streets of Sao Paulo in Brazil.
There is also a very clear local hunger for this. Racing in Catalonia would help fill the massive void left behind by Formula 1 shifting the Spanish Grand Prix over to Madrid. With the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya now put on rotation with the Belgian Grand Prix, securing IndyCar has reportedly served as a major motivation for both the Catalonia government and the circuit owner.
Thankfully, this wouldn't just be an exhibition race for the fans either. The visit to Spain would pay full points and officially count toward the championship, unlike the series' non-championship trip to Australia back in 2008. Now we just wait to see if the signatures become reality.
