IndyCar 2027 season schedule confirmed: 8 races
St. Pete to Detroit, the first eight rounds are locked in — and Rosenqvist's move to Arrow McLaren adds serious intrigue to the off-season picture.
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IndyCar 2027 season schedule confirmed: the eight rounds
IndyCar has confirmed the first eight races of the 2027 season as part of a multi-phased approach to releasing its next calendar. The dates run as follows:
- March 7 — Streets of St. Petersburg
- March 13 — Phoenix Raceway
- March 21 — Streets of Arlington, Texas
- April 4 — Barber Motorsports Park
- April 18 — Streets of Long Beach
- May 15 — Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
- May 30 — Indianapolis 500
- June 6 — Detroit Grand Prix
This will be the 17th time IndyCar has started a season at St. Petersburg. Consistency is the point. The series knows what works and is not in the mood to experiment with a formula that is clearly delivering results.
Building on a 16% increase in television viewership this year, its highest audience numbers since 2008, IndyCar announced Phase One of the 2027 schedule on Wednesday. That figure is not a coincidence. It is the direct product of aggressive scheduling and an all-FOX broadcast deal that removes the barrier of a cable subscription for millions of American fans.
Why the IndyCar 2027 season schedule confirmed formula works
IndyCar will open 2027 by racing three straight weekends, and this will be the second straight year and only the fifth time in IndyCar’s 118 years that a season starts with races on three consecutive weekends. Three races in three weeks is brutal for crews. It is also exactly what casual viewers need: no time to forget the series exists between rounds.
Teams head to the desert for a Saturday night clash at Phoenix Raceway in a joint showcase with NASCAR. The 1-mile oval returned to the schedule in 2026, delivering a track-record 565 on-track passes. That number tells you everything about why Phoenix is staying. Pure oval racing at its most intense.
For the third consecutive season, all NTT IndyCar Series races will be broadcast on FOX, with three additional appearances scheduled during the two days of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 and coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles was direct about the intent. “We are pleased to confirm Phase One of next year’s championship alongside another accelerated start with races in St. Petersburg, Phoenix and Arlington. 2026 has been proof of concept that our sport is fueled by an expanding presence across marquee events and destinations.”
The second half of the calendar is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Phase Two will be the one to watch, that is where summer ovals and any new additions will surface.
Rosenqvist’s exit from Meyer Shank Racing changes everything
The schedule news arrives against a backdrop that Michael Shank cannot entirely enjoy. When Meyer Shank Racing made the strategy call that put Felix Rosenqvist in the frame for a 2026 Indianapolis 500 win, the Swede sealed the deal with a classic last-lap move. But just weeks later, Rosenqvist announced he’d be moving from MSR to Arrow McLaren for the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series.
Rosenqvist drove the No. 60 car past David Malukas at the finish line to win the Indy 500 by the closest margin in history. He then walked straight into one of the biggest free-agent markets the paddock had seen in years. Hard to blame him for picking up the phone.
MSR was seemingly not quick enough to engage in contract talks, so the Swede answered calls from his former team to come back onboard. Rosenqvist said: “I’m excited to return to Arrow McLaren next season and reunite with Pato, of course, and also Tony, Zak and the crew and engineers I worked with previously.”
Arrow McLaren confirmed the arrival of Scott Dixon and Rosenqvist as teammates to Pato O’Ward to form its three-car Chevy-powered roster starting in 2027. They replace Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel. That is a brutal reshuffle for two drivers who did nothing demonstrably wrong.
What the Dallara DW12 farewell season means for 2027
The series confirmed two official tests for the field of Dallara DW12s as they enter the final season of competition, with a return to Phoenix Raceway for pre-season testing on Feb. 23-24. The Indianapolis 500 Open Test will occur May 4-5.
The DW12’s farewell season is a story that does not get enough attention inside the IndyCar 2027 season schedule confirmed conversation. The chassis has been the backbone of the series since 2012. Every driver lining up on March 7 in St. Petersburg will know this is the last time they do so in that car. That adds a layer of competitive urgency that no press release can manufacture.
For the first time since Takuma Sato left Andretti Autosport for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing after the 2017 season, the reigning Indy 500 winner will not be back with the same team in an attempt to defend his title. Meyer Shank will be competing against their own former champion in 2027. That subplot alone makes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race in May one of the most compelling in years.
Catch up on Rosenqvist’s full 2026 story in his driver profile on rnt-motorsports.com, and follow the latest IndyCar standings and results on our IndyCar race reports page.
