IndyCar’s global push could change everything
Fox Corporation's ownership stake is the key force pushing IndyCar toward international races for the first time since 2013.
IndyCar’s international races global push is back on the table, and this time there is serious money and media power behind it. According to a report by RACER, IndyCar‘s co-owners Penske Entertainment and Fox Corporation are actively exploring a return to racing outside North America. It is the biggest strategic shift the series has seen in years.
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Why Fox is driving IndyCar’s global push now
Fox Corporation acquired a one-third interest in Penske Entertainment, the parent company of IndyCar and the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That deal, struck in July 2025, changed everything. Fox is not a passive investor. It wants IndyCar to grow globally, and it has the broadcast reach to make that happen.
IndyCar intensified its efforts in 2026 to reach global audiences, with international broadcast partners bringing the series to more than 200 countries and territories. But broadcast coverage is just the beginning. The next step is putting actual races on the ground overseas.
The Fox deal also included a multiyear extension of IndyCar’s media rights with Fox Sports. That long-term commitment gives both sides the confidence to plan ambitious events far into the future.
Which countries are in play for IndyCar international races?
IndyCar is looking at a return to international competition in the coming years, with an ambitious plan driven by Penske and Fox Sports that 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.
The list of potential destinations is exciting. Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, and Spain are all reportedly under consideration. That is a genuinely global spread of markets, each with strong motorsport cultures.
IndyCar’s 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 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 Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles.
IndyCar’s international races global push: what the 2027 plan looks like
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.
This is important. Previous efforts to bring IndyCar back to the international stage involved 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. That is a major upgrade in ambition from what came before.
Next year’s IndyCar calendar will contain 17 races, but a handful of events await confirmation before the complete calendar is released. So there is still room for surprises.
How Palou could be IndyCar’s biggest global weapon
One of the most interesting destinations on the list is Spain. A road race at Circuit Barcelona-Catalonia, the home venue for reigning and four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, has been mentioned as an option.
The Barcelona circuit was the home of Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix before that event moved to the new Madring street circuit in Madrid. The Barcelona circuit is now newly available for a top-tier open-wheel series to headline, which would suit the American-based championship led by the Barcelona-born Palou.
Palou racing on home soil in a championship event would be a marketing dream. He is already one of the sport’s biggest stars. A Barcelona race would make him a hero to an entirely new audience. You can read more about his recent dominance in our Nashville race report.
It is also worth noting that IndyCar already features a truly international driver lineup. Mick Schumacher has been making waves this season, which is another reason why a European race makes so much sense for the series right now.
What this means for the series going forward
The IndyCar international races global push is more than just a scheduling exercise. It is a statement of intent. The investment is expected to supercharge a new era of growth for the NTT IndyCar Series, described as the most competitive and dynamic motorsport on the planet.
Fox brings promotional firepower that IndyCar has never had before. This year’s Indianapolis 500 on Fox averaged 7.01 million viewers, a 41 percent increase over the previous edition and a 17-year high. Those are the kind of numbers that open doors internationally.
For fans of open-wheel racing, this is genuinely exciting news. If you enjoy following global motorsport stories like this, check out our piece on why Malaysia is set to replace Bahrain on the F1 calendar, which shows just how much the global racing landscape is shifting right now.
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