IndyCar is set to make its long‑awaited comeback at Phoenix Raceway on March 13, 2027, after a five‑year absence, as part of a doubleheader that will also feature the NASCAR Cup Series on the following day.
A revived rivalry at the desert track
The arrangement mirrors the successful format that debuted last year, when the two series shared a weekend that drew strong attendance and television numbers, prompting the series organizers to repeat the experiment.
The 2027 IndyCar season will open with three consecutive race weekends at St. Petersburg, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and Arlington, Texas, a schedule shift designed to dovetail with NASCAR’s calendar and to accommodate the timing of the Super Bowl.
Schedule reshuffles to fit the Super Bowl
Series officials have tweaked the order of events to align the opening weekend with the Daytona 500, a move that reflects the growing overlap between the two racing calendars.
Newgarden’s perspective on the collaboration
Josef Newgarden, who captured the 2023 IndyCar victory at Phoenix and also won the 2018 edition, said the collaboration creates added value for fans, noting that the two series complement each other rather than compete.
He added that the doubleheader not only enriches the weekend experience for spectators but also provides teams with a unique testing ground for setups and strategies.
Implications for the 2027 season
The return to Phoenix marks a symbolic homecoming for IndyCar, which last raced on the 1.5‑mile desert oval in 2019 before a hiatus that ended this year.
Fans can expect a packed schedule, with the IndyCar races on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series events on Sunday, a pattern that has proven popular with both live audiences and broadcast partners.
The upcoming season’s early stretch is designed to build momentum heading into the summer circuit, and the alignment with NASCAR’s marquee event underscores a strategic effort to maximize viewership.
Overall, the 2027 doubleheader at Phoenix illustrates a broader trend of cross‑series scheduling that aims to deepen fan engagement and expand the commercial reach of both championships.