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2027 IndyCar Series Preview
The 2027 season of the IndyCar Series is the 32nd season under the current sanction and the 116th official championship, with the season getting underway in Florida in early March. Its showcase event will be the 111th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Firestone continues as the tyre supplier under a long-term extension agreed in 2024, while the Fox Sports TV contract was also extended following Fox Corporation's acquisition of a one-third stake in Penske Entertainment in 2025.
Which Bookie is Best for IndyCar? To help answer this question, we have created an article that looks at The Guide to Motorsport Betting Sites in the UK, so head over to that. We also have a Motor Racing Betting Advice article, which you may also find helpful.
If you are interested in other motor racing, then we have other blogs that may be of interest to you:
- NASCAR Cup Series Betting Guide
- Who will win the F1 Drivers' Championship
- Constructors Championship Betting Guide
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Past IndyCar Series Champions
The most successful driver under the current sanctioning body (since 1996) is New Zealander Scott Dixon, who has won six championships. Spaniard Álex Palou is now second on that list, having taken his fifth title in 2026, one clear of British driver Dario Franchitti, who won four between 2007 & 2011.
Palou's 2026 success was his fourth in a row, making him the first driver to win four consecutive championships in the modern era, surpassing the three-in-a-row runs achieved by both Franchitti (2009-2011) and himself previously.
The only other three drivers to record multiple championships are American drivers Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002 & 2006), Josef Newgarden (2017 & 2019) and Australian Will Power (2014 & 2022).
If you look at everything as a whole, then A. J. Foyt is the most successful driver, having won seven championships, all of which came during the USAC era (1956-79).
If you are planning on having a bet on who will be the next champion, then make sure to visit our Best Betting Sites in the UK to find yourself a bookie.
| Year | Driver | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10. Álex Palou (29yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2025 | 10. Álex Palou (28yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2024 | 10. Álex Palou (27yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2023 | 10. Álex Palou (26yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2022 | 12. Will Power (41yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2021 | 10. Álex Palou (24yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2020 | 9. Scott Dixon (40yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2019 | 2. Josef Newgarden (28yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2018 | 9. Scott Dixon (38yo) Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda |
| 2017 | 2. Josef Newgarden (26yo) Team Penske | Chevrolet |
As well as the drivers' championship, there are other awards given out each season. The IndyCar Rookie of the Year is awarded to the first-year driver who collects the most points. For the 2026 season, drivers who had not featured in more than four IndyCar races in a previous season, or who had featured in fewer than eight races in their career, were considered rookies.
Last Five IndyCar Rookie of the Year Winners
| Year | Driver |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Dennis Hauger |
| 2025 | Louis Foster |
| 2024 | Linus Lundqvist |
| 2023 | Marcus Armstrong |
| 2022 | Christian Lundgaard |
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Past IndyCar Series Manufacturers Champions
When it comes to the IndyCar Series, it is a straight battle between Chevrolet and Honda for this championship.
Chevrolet won six back-to-back championships between 2012 & 2017; Honda then won four on the bounce between 2018 & 2021 before Chevrolet ended that run in 2022 and backed it up in 2023 & 2024. Honda has since returned to the top, taking the title in both 2025 and 2026.
Since the start of the IndyCar Series in 1996, Chevrolet leads the way with ten championships to Honda's eight.
| Year | Manufacturer | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Honda | 1,481 |
| 2025 | Honda | 1,550 |
| 2024 | Chevrolet | 1,475 |
| 2023 | Chevrolet | 1,437 |
| 2022 | Chevrolet | 1,510 |
| 2021 | Honda | 1,401 |
| 2020 | Honda | 1,122 |
| 2019 | Honda | 1,436 |
| 2018 | Honda | 1,467 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet | 1,489 |
2027 IndyCar Series Schedule
Phase One of the 2027 schedule was announced in August 2026 and confirms the first eight rounds. The opening stretch largely mirrors 2026, with the season again launching on three consecutive weekends across St. Petersburg, Phoenix and Arlington – only the fifth time in the series' history that a campaign has opened this way.
The main change in this opening phase is that Barber Motorsports Park moves back to its traditional early-April date. The remainder of the calendar, including the season finale, is due to be confirmed in a second phase and will be added here once released.
Remember, we have a Motor Racing Betting Tips page where you can see predictions across various motorsports, and our Best Motor Racing Tipsters page details profitable tipsters on OLBG.
Confirmed 2027 Rounds
| Round | Race |
|---|---|
| Round 1 Sunday 7th March | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Streets of St. Petersburg |
| Round 2 Saturday 13th March | Grand Prix of Phoenix Phoenix Raceway |
| Round 3 Sunday 21st March | Grand Prix of Arlington Streets of Arlington |
| Round 4 Sunday 4th April | Alabama Indy Grand Prix Barber Motorsports Park |
| Round 5 Sunday 18th April | Grand Prix of Long Beach Streets of Long Beach |
| Round 6 Saturday 15th May | Sonsio Grand Prix Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course |
| Round 7 Sunday 30th May | Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| Round 8 Sunday 6th June | Detroit Grand Prix Streets of Detroit |
IndyCar Series Driver Standings
Here are the driver standings for the 2027 IndyCar Series, which will be updated after each event. Pole sitters, except at the Indy 500, are awarded one point; drivers who lead at least one lap of a race are also awarded one point, and the driver who leads the most laps of a race is awarded two points.
Until the 2027 season gets underway at St. Petersburg on 7th March, the table below shows the final standings from the 2026 season.
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Round 1)
Where is the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The race will take place in St. Petersburg, Florida.
When is the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 7th March 2027.
Who won the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? The 2026 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 100 laps, which were a total distance of 180 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 52 minutes, and 22 seconds at an average speed of 96 mph.
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Marcus Ericsson (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Grand Prix of Phoenix (Round 2)
Where is the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The race will take place in Avondale, Arizona.
When is the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The race is scheduled for Saturday, 13th March 2027.
Who won the Grand Prix of Phoenix? The 2026 Grand Prix of Phoenix was won by Josef Newgarden for Team Penske and powered by Chevrolet. The 250 laps, which were a total distance of 256 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 51 minutes, and 14 seconds at an average speed of 135 mph.
Grand Prix of Phoenix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Phoenix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2018 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2017 | Simon Pagenaud (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2016 | Scott Dixon (Chevrolet) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2005 | Sam Hornish Jr. (Toyota) Team Penske |
Grand Prix of Arlington (Round 3)
Where is the Grand Prix of Arlington? The race will take place in Arlington, Texas.
When is the Grand Prix of Arlington? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 21st March 2027.
Who won the Grand Prix of Arlington? The 2026 Grand Prix of Arlington was won by Kyle Kirkwood for Andretti Global and powered by Honda. The 70 laps, which were a total distance of 191 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 55 minutes, and 43 seconds at an average speed of 99 mph.
Grand Prix of Arlington Past Winners
Below are the last 1 winners of the Grand Prix of Arlington.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
Alabama Indy Grand Prix (Round 4)
Where is the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The race will take place in Birmingham, Alabama.
When is the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 4th April 2027.
Who won the Alabama Indy Grand Prix? The 2026 Alabama Indy Grand Prix was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 90 laps, which were a total distance of 214 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 45 minutes, and 58 seconds at an average speed of 117 mph.
Alabama Indy Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2022 | Pato O'Ward (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren SP |
Grand Prix of Long Beach (Round 5)
Where is the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The race will take place in Long Beach, California.
When is the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 18th April 2027.
Who won the Grand Prix of Long Beach? The 2026 Grand Prix of Long Beach was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 90 laps, which were a total distance of 177 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 9 seconds at an average speed of 97 mph.
Grand Prix of Long Beach Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2025 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
| 2024 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Autosport |
| 2022 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Sonsio Grand Prix (Round 6)
Where is the Sonsio Grand Prix? The race will take place in Speedway, Indiana.
When is the Sonsio Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Saturday, 15th May 2027.
Who won the Sonsio Grand Prix? The 2026 Sonsio Grand Prix was won by Christian Lundgaard for Arrow McLaren and powered by Chevrolet. The 85 laps, which were a total distance of 207 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 55 minutes, and 40 seconds at an average speed of 108 mph.
Sonsio Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Sonsio Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Christian Lundgaard (Chevrolet) Arrow McLaren |
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Colton Herta (Honda) Andretti Autosport with Curb Agajanian |
Indianapolis 500 (Round 7)
Where is the Indianapolis 500? The race will take place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana.
When is the Indianapolis 500? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 30th May 2027.
Who won the Indianapolis 500? The 2026 Indianapolis 500 was won by Felix Rosenqvist for Meyer Shank Racing and powered by Honda. The 200 laps, which were a total distance of 500 miles, were completed in 3 hours, 5 minutes, and 10 seconds at an average speed of 162 mph.
Indianapolis 500 Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Indianapolis 500.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Felix Rosenqvist (Honda) Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2025 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2024 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2023 | Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
| 2022 | Marcus Ericsson (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
Detroit Grand Prix (Round 8)
Where is the Detroit Grand Prix? The race will take place in Detroit, Michigan.
When is the Detroit Grand Prix? The race is scheduled for Sunday, 6th June 2027.
Who won the Detroit Grand Prix? The 2026 Detroit Grand Prix was won by Álex Palou for Chip Ganassi Racing and powered by Honda. The 100 laps, which were a total distance of 165 miles, were completed in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 8 seconds at an average speed of 83 mph.
Detroit Grand Prix Past Winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Detroit Grand Prix.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2025 | Kyle Kirkwood (Honda) Andretti Global |
| 2024 | Scott Dixon (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2023 | Álex Palou (Honda) Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 2022 | Will Power (Chevrolet) Team Penske |
Contributor Information
Andy Powell manages all of our Motor Racing content and follows the sport closely outside of Formula 1, bringing a solid understanding and a careful, research-led approach to his previews and betting analysis, as well as managing the Motor Racing Tips and the tipsters in the competition.
About the author & editor
