IndyCar Unveils 2027 Season Opener, Maintains Early Schedule Structure

The open-wheel racing series has confirmed the first eight events of its 2027 calendar, preserving the season’s launch sequence established for the current year. The schedule begins in early March and continues through June, featuring a mix of street circuits, road courses, and oval racing.

Broadcast rights for these initial races remain with Fox Corporation, continuing the media partnership that covers the season’s first half. The season commences on Sunday, March 7, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The following weekend, the series shifts to Phoenix Raceway for a Saturday night oval event, which will again run as a doubleheader with the NASCAR Cup Series.

The schedule maintains a condensed early-season footprint. After the Phoenix event, the series travels to Arlington, Texas, on March 21. April features stops at Barber Motorsports Park on the 4th and the iconic Long Beach street course on the 18th. May is highlighted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event on the 15th, followed by the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30. The announced portion of the calendar concludes with the Detroit Grand Prix on June 6.

Series executives emphasized continuity in the scheduling strategy. Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles noted that the current year provided a successful proof of concept for an expanded presence at marquee venues. IndyCar President Doug Boles also highlighted the value of the three-race season kickstart, stating that the pace of the 2026 opening set a strong precedent for 2027.

While the spring and early summer segments are set, the latter half of the 2027 schedule remains unfinished. Organizers have yet to determine dates for several races, including the potential return of the World Wide Technology Raceway event and the status of Nashville Superspeedway as a possible season finale. Additionally, the future of the Washington, D.C. street race remains uncertain, as city officials have pushed for a recurring event despite the series initially labeling it as a one-time occurrence.

Shares of Fox Corporation were trading at $61.83 on Tuesday, down approximately 0.64% from the previous close. The company has a market capitalization of roughly $26.03 billion and operates within the communication services and entertainment sectors.

What to watch

• Announcement of the remaining 2027 schedule dates and venues.
• Viewership ratings for the IndyCar broadcasts on Fox.
• Official decision regarding the potential return of the Washington, D.C. race.

Source: original release