FOX interest helping to put IndyCar international races back in play

Australia. Brazil. Colombia. Japan. Spain – IndyCar is looking at making a return to international competition in the coming years as its owners at Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation seek to expand the series’ footprint.

RACER understands an ambitious plan driven by Penske and FOX Sports would bring IndyCar back to racing outside of North America for the first time since 2013 when it traveled to the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Of the interesting venues under consideration, a road race at Circuit Barcelona-Catalonia – the home venue for reigning and four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou – has been mentioned.

The Barcelona circuit was the home of Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix before that event was moved this year to the new Madring street circuit in Madrid. While its renamed Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is set to alternate with the Belgian GP through 2032, the Barcelona circuit is newly available for a top-tier open-wheel series to headline, which would suit the American-based championship led by the Barcelona-born Palou.

Previous efforts to bring IndyCar back to the international stage involved the holding of pre- or post-season non-championship events, but according to Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles, the new focus is to make any international stops a full part of the championship, and to place those races within the traditional confines of the calendar.

If successful, the first new global venue for IndyCar – a road race – could join the schedule in 2027, but 2028 is more likely for any of the international street racing options.

“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 you look at our calendar, starting the year earlier, that's not one of the conversations that we're having. Not about beginning before March. But if you note that in both the spring and the summer, we have room for one or more additional events. So we'd have to do it in a way where the logistics work, and we're not in any way jeopardizing any of our North American events. We think that could be possible.”

The series is also, at present, not looking to push the season later into the year while the NFL takes precedence on FOX.

IndyCar made its last trip to Australia with the Surfers Paradise street race in 2008. Its final visit to Japan came in 2011 at the Honda-owned Motegi road course; the oval has been dismantled, but IndyCar’s official engine partner is keen to have the series back and racing at the property. The Brazilian road course in Goiana is on the series’ radar, and an envoy from the Colombian city of Barranquilla paid a visit to the Indianapolis 500 in May where the concept of an IndyCar street race was presented to Miles.

In an update from Penske Corporation President Bud Denker this week, next year’s IndyCar calendar will contain 17 races, but a handful of events await confirmation before the complete calendar is released.