Alex Palou proudly displays the flag of Spain at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he won the pole for the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For the first time in two decades, the NTT IndyCar Series is heading to Europe for a race in Montmeló, in Catalunya, Spain on July 18, 2027. The race was officially announced at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on October 23 and marks the first time IndyCar has traveled across the Atlantic Ocean for a race since Champ Car competed at TT Circuit Assen in The Netherlands on September 2, 2007.
The marquee international event at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain will bring North America’s premier open-wheel racing series to Spain for the first time, setting the stage for a spectacular homecoming for Barcelona native and five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.
The start of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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IndyCar Leaves North America For The First Time Since 2013
The multiyear agreement with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya marks IndyCar’s first race outside North America since 2013, when James Hinchcliffe won on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil.
“This is a monumental day for our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. 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.”
Alex Palou’s Homecoming Race
It will also be a chance for one of the best drivers in the current generation of IndyCar to return to his home country as a hero.
Palou, a 29-year-old Spaniard who races for Chip Ganassi Racing, captured his fifth NTT IndyCar Series championship in 2026, becoming just the second driver in series history to win four consecutive titles, joining 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 A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six) have won more IndyCar Series championships.
Alex Palou celebrates after winning the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)
Lumen via Getty Images
“I’m so excited to be part of IndyCar’s first race in Barcelona,” Palou said. “It is an amazing opportunity, and 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 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 Heading To A Jewel Of A Racing Venue
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 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 demanding layout.
“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.”
Mercedes’ British driver George Russell competes during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on June 23, 2024 in Montmelo, on the outskirts of Barcelona. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Major Moment For IndyCar’s Mark Miles
The addition of Barcelona marks another significant 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.
Since Mark Miles first joined IndyCar as its CEO at the end of 2012, it has been a long-stated goal of taking IndyCar onto the international stage. It took 15 years, but that will finally happen when IndyCar arrives in Spain next July.
Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles during the public drivers’ meeting prior to the NTT IndyCar Series 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)
Lumen via Getty Images
The remainder of the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series schedule, which will include a listing of all races in next year’s championship, will be announced at 11 a.mEastern Time. That schedule will not include returns to Nashville Superspeedway or the “one-time-only” Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC. That event was created to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States in 2026. Tune-in times for next season’s events will be announced at a later date.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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