IndyCar Brings First International Race in Over a Decade to Alex Palou’s Spanish Homeland

Clear Facts

• The NTT IndyCar Series will race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on July 18, 2027, marking its first race outside North America since 2013.
• Alex Palou, the five-time defending champion, is a native of Spain and will compete on home soil for the first time in his IndyCar career.
• The Barcelona race replaces the Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway on the 2027 schedule.

The NTT IndyCar Series is returning to international competition for the first time in fourteen years. The second phase of the 2027 schedule includes a race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on July 18.

This marks the first time IndyCar has held an event outside North America since 2013. It is also the first international race since the 2007 season that preceded the merger of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League.

“This is a big deal, and it’s great to see the series taking advantage of a generationally talented driver like Palou to help expand the series abroad.”

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a proven venue already used by Formula 1 and MotoGP. The track flows from corner to corner with limited heavy braking zones, which reduces passing in open-wheel cars but suits IndyCar’s racing characteristics.

“IndyCars are not F1 cars. They’re better when it comes to on-track overtakes, and I think we’ll get to see some great racing all around the track.”

To accommodate the new Spanish date, the series will not return to Nashville Superspeedway in 2027. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, originally announced as a one-time event, is therefore off the calendar for next year.

The move gives American race fans a rare opportunity to see IndyCar compete on European soil with its most dominant driver leading the way.

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