INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 24: Alex Palou 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Honda races through turn two during the NTT IndyCar, Indy Car, IRL, USA Series Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 24, 2026, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 24 NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon116260524037500

Jul 25, 2026, 5:49 PM CUT

Roger Penske & Co. turn to new international venue amid Alex Palou's historic IndyCar run

Those of us who have a little bit of gray on top of our heads will remember that IndyCar was once an international racing series, as it used to head to Japan, Germany, Brazil, and Australia, among others.

According to a report from RACER, Roger Penske and FOX Sports are exploring a return to international racing for IndyCar, with Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya emerging as one of the leading venues under consideration.

Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles told the publication that discussions are focused on championship races rather than exhibition events.

"Our current conversations do not involve any non-championship race prospects," Miles told RACER. "Yes, we are having some conversations about the possibility of one, maybe someday two events that would be international, which could fit in the calendar and be part of the championship.”

If these plans move forward, a new international road course could be featured on the IndyCar calendar as early as 2027. However, the RACER report suggests that 2028 is the more realistic target.

The timing is interesting, considering that the track is also the home venue of reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who is having a historic season, as he leads the standings with 5 wins and 457 points in his tally.

July 20, 2026, Lebanon, Tennessee, USA: IndyCar, Indy Car, IRL, USA SERIES driver, ALEX PALOU 10 ESP of Barcelona, Spain, wins the Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in LEBANON, Tennessee. Lebanon USA - ZUMAa161 20260720_aaa_a161_060 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x

His success has boosted the series' profile in his home country, making Barcelona an attractive option as IndyCar seeks to expand its footprint.

The report from RACER further notes that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is now available to host another open-wheel championship, after Formula 1 shifted the Spanish Grand Prix to the new Madring street circuit. That said, Barcelona will continue to feature on the F1 calendar by alternating with the Belgian Grand Prix through 2032.

Not too long ago, Penske Corporation President Bud Denker also confirmed that next year's IndyCar calendar will feature 17 races. However, several events remain to be finalized before the complete schedule is officially announced.

What really prevents IndyCar from going global?

For IndyCar, expanding beyond North America is much more complicated than it is for most American sports, as the racing series would need to transport cars, equipment, and hundreds of crew members to every event. This makes it a huge logistical challenge.

This was further highlighted in a report from Cronkite News, which cited the example of NASCAR travelling to Mexico for the 2025 Viva México 250.

Teams traveled from Michigan in a 137-truck convoy, accompanied by police escorts. They then made another long journey to Pocono for the following race weekend.

Another challenge is the calendar itself. Since both NASCAR and IndyCar race almost every weekend during their respective seasons, adding international rounds would likely mean dropping existing races from the schedule.

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason