AUSTIN – The announcement that IndyCar will race on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the discuss of the Method 1 paddock forward of the USA Grand Prix, however opinions about its affect on the American sequence are blended.
The IndyCar Collection introduced that it has signed a multi-year contract to host a global occasion in Spain, with the primary race scheduled for July 18, 2027. It represents the game’s first journey outdoors of North America since 2013, when it hosted an occasion in Brazil.
IndyCar ‘particular to US market’ says Fernando Alonso
Talking to media, together with Motorsport Week, forward of the US Grand Prix, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ambassador and Aston Martin racing driver Fernando Alonso claimed the occasion can be an excellent one for Spain and IndyCar, although he remained skeptical in regards to the worth it may present to the American sequence.
“IndyCar may be very particular to the US market,” he defined. “One of many issues that’s extra penalising in F1 for the drivers and for the groups — the prices go very excessive whenever you journey around the globe. So it has some advantages and a few downsides.
“I believe they should hold it someway within the US and have one or two one-off races. I don’t suppose they are going to hold going elsewhere.”
Will Buxton bullish on IndyCar in Spain
But in an unique chat with Motorsport Week earlier than the race’s official affirmation, Will Buxton has taken a a lot totally different view.
“I believe that the thought is great,” Buxton mentioned. I’m all for it. “I believe that, if it occurs, it could possibly solely be a constructive for the championship [and] great for Alex Palou as a five-time champion and plain GOAT of his period to have the ability to have a house race and have fun his success in entrance of his dwelling followers.”
Buxton, a former Method 1 presenter turned lead commentator for the IndyCar Collection on FOX, pushed again in opposition to the sentiment that the American championship can be unable to search out its footing overseas.
“You’re going have individuals who say, ‘Why are we doing this? We’re an American championship, our sponsors are primarily American,’” Buxton mentioned. “I believe it’s value remembering there’s a world viewership of IndyCar that exists and a fanbase that exists for IndyCar globally — and drivers from all the world, so many from Europe.
“Roughly 25 % of our world viewers exists in Europe. How great to have the ability to give them a race that they will attend, a race that they will come and watch.”
Per Buxton, IndyCar’s return-on-investment is tied particularly to the quantity of people that view its FOX broadcast in a given weekend. Ought to the sequence head overseas, the curiosity would nearly actually be related to an elevated viewership.
“We’re getting a number of the finest viewership figures each single yr because the Break up at quite a lot of the tracks that we’re going to, which I believe exhibits the power of the partnership between FOX and IndyCar,” Buxton defined.
Buxton pointed to IndyCar’s most audacious race of the 2026 season, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, as proof {that a} new occasion in a high-profile location can break boundaries. That race attracted a peak of virtually 3.5 million viewers, in response to the sequence, which made it the most-watched IndyCar race since 1995, per The Athletic.
However not each race attracts anyplace close to these stratospheric numbers. RACER reviews that August’s race at Portland drew a median of 677,000 viewers, whereas Might’s Indianapolis Grand Prix solely managed 656,000. IndyCar could also be an American sequence, nevertheless it’s clear that a few of its American races have didn’t ship.
Each Buxton and Alonso agree on one factor, although: The Spanish followers would flip up for the race.
“That’s the good thing about having a everlasting circuit; you may have that chance to check any day of the yr, but additionally to host races right here and there,” Alonso mentioned, mentioning WEC’s current occasion in Barcelona and MotoGP’s annual go to to the circuit. “Once we evaluate avenue circuits to the traditional, standard circuits, that’s the most important benefit, and that’s why Barcelona is so essential for motorsport in Spain. We can not survive with out Barcelona for the youthful classes. You need to have a circuit which you could go there.
“And with this IndyCar, it’s one other instance of how fortunate we’re.”
For Buxton, IndyCar would fill a niche within the calendar of the native Barcelona-Catalunya followers who will discover themselves with no Method 1 Grand Prix for the primary time since 1990 — and who would have a neighborhood champion to cheer for within the type of five-time title holder Álex Palou.
He informed Motorsport Week: “I believe it’s incredible for the fanbase, who’re used to paying $400 or $500 a weekend to return and watch Method 1. IndyCar is a really totally different value level, sure, and provides a really totally different weekend expertise.
“However clearly Barcelona gained’t be internet hosting a Method 1 Grand Prix subsequent yr, and what a beautiful alternative for these followers in Barcelona, who gained’t be getting [an F1] race of their yard, to have the ability to have an IndyCar race and go and cheer on their dwelling champion.”
IndyCar’s Spanish tour has been confirmed, and Palou will race in entrance of his dwelling crowd in 2027. Its success, although, can solely be evaluated after the chequered flag falls.
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