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IndyCar has unveiled the first portion of its 2027 schedule. On August 5, Phoenix Raceway announced that IndyCar would return for a second straight year in conjunction with the NASCAR Cup Series, which verified that IndyCar would begin 2027 with the same three races as 2026. Now, the series has confirmed that the season will start with the same eight races as 2026.
Here's how the start of the 2027 season will look, with each race being broadcast on Fox.
As the start of the season has been pushed back a week, IndyCar's 17th race at Barber Motorsports Park will be in April again. IndyCar wanted to return to Phoenix Raceway alongside NASCAR, which owns the track, while also wanting three straight race weekends to begin the season again. Pushing back the start of the season by a week allowed that to happen. With Memorial Day being a week later, both races at IMS are also a week later, causing the Detroit Grand Prix to be a week later.
"It has been another remarkable year of growth through our powerful partnership with Fox Sports, and we look forward to focusing on even greater opportunities through the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series schedule," Penske Entertainment CEO and president Mark Miles said in a news release. "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, and we look forward to carrying that momentum into 2027."
Said IndyCar president Doug Boles: "The start to this year’s 2026 season was action-packed, and it’s gratifying to know the stage is set for a return to that frantic pace in 2027. St. Pete has become an ideal host to begin our season, and the reaction to the series’ return to historic Phoenix Raceway made our partnership with NASCAR and Fox all the more special. To finish that stretch with a marquee event on the Streets of Arlington will be a fitting way to lead into another heated season-long battle for the NTT IndyCar Series championship."
There are several races and dates to be determined for the back half of the schedule. It's unclear if IndyCar will choose to race World Wide Technology Raceway a week after Detroit, as it did this year to end a grueling stretch, or if the race will fall later in the summer. The series must also decide if its race at Nashville Superspeedway will return as the season finale after being scheduled for July 19 (and raced on July 20 after a rain postponement) this year.
After the groundbreaking Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23, IndyCar will have to decide if it returns to the nation's capital. IndyCar's brass has repeatedly called it a one-time event, but D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has lobbied for it to become an annual race.
With much to be finalized regarding the second half of the 2027 season, IndyCar has solidified an early-season schedule that isn't too different from the start of 2026.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar announces first 8 races of 2027 schedule
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Here's how the start of the 2027 season will look, with each race being broadcast on Fox.
- Sunday, March 7: St. Petersburg, Florida (street)
- Saturday, March 13: Phoenix Raceway (oval)
- Sunday, March 21: Arlington, Texas (street)
- Sunday, April 4: Barber Motorsports Park (road)
- Sunday, April 18: Long Beach (street)
- Saturday, May 15: Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (road)
- Sunday, May 30: Indianapolis 500 (oval)
- Sunday, June 6: Detroit (street)
As the start of the season has been pushed back a week, IndyCar's 17th race at Barber Motorsports Park will be in April again. IndyCar wanted to return to Phoenix Raceway alongside NASCAR, which owns the track, while also wanting three straight race weekends to begin the season again. Pushing back the start of the season by a week allowed that to happen. With Memorial Day being a week later, both races at IMS are also a week later, causing the Detroit Grand Prix to be a week later.
"It has been another remarkable year of growth through our powerful partnership with Fox Sports, and we look forward to focusing on even greater opportunities through the 2027 NTT IndyCar Series schedule," Penske Entertainment CEO and president Mark Miles said in a news release. "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, and we look forward to carrying that momentum into 2027."
Said IndyCar president Doug Boles: "The start to this year’s 2026 season was action-packed, and it’s gratifying to know the stage is set for a return to that frantic pace in 2027. St. Pete has become an ideal host to begin our season, and the reaction to the series’ return to historic Phoenix Raceway made our partnership with NASCAR and Fox all the more special. To finish that stretch with a marquee event on the Streets of Arlington will be a fitting way to lead into another heated season-long battle for the NTT IndyCar Series championship."
There are several races and dates to be determined for the back half of the schedule. It's unclear if IndyCar will choose to race World Wide Technology Raceway a week after Detroit, as it did this year to end a grueling stretch, or if the race will fall later in the summer. The series must also decide if its race at Nashville Superspeedway will return as the season finale after being scheduled for July 19 (and raced on July 20 after a rain postponement) this year.
After the groundbreaking Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the streets of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23, IndyCar will have to decide if it returns to the nation's capital. IndyCar's brass has repeatedly called it a one-time event, but D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has lobbied for it to become an annual race.
With much to be finalized regarding the second half of the 2027 season, IndyCar has solidified an early-season schedule that isn't too different from the start of 2026.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar announces first 8 races of 2027 schedule
Continue reading...
