Key takeaways
- Mayor claims 2028 race: Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char announced an April 2028 IndyCar street race, claiming a 4.3 km layout alongside the Magdalena River was already being designed.
- IndyCar denies finalized deal: IndyCar clarified that a deal is far away, stating officials have not yet visited the proposed city site in person.
- International expansion interest: The series continues analyzing potential international venues, including discussions for a return to South America with a proposed 2027 race in Goiânia, Brazil.
IndyCar has officially refuted claims made by Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char regarding a proposed street race in Colombia for April 2028, clarifying that conversations remain in the early exploratory phases.
Char publicly declared that Barranquilla had secured an agreement to host the series’ first race outside North America since 2013. The mayor detailed a 4.3 km street circuit incorporating the Gran Malecón and Vía 40, citing former IndyCar champion Juan Pablo Montoya as a key ambassador driving the project forward.
However, IndyCar management swiftly tempered those claims. In a statement released to IndyStar, series officials confirmed preliminary meetings took place during the Indianapolis 500, but emphasized that no formal site visit or agreement had occurred.
“We are frequently approached by parties interested in discussing hosting IndyCar races internationally,” the series stated to IndyStar. “We met with representatives from Barranquilla in Indianapolis, but we have not yet visited the city in person. While the city is interested in hosting an IndyCar race in 2028, we are in the early stages of feasibility analysis for this and other potential projects. We are far from an agreement, and any assumption to the contrary is premature.“
The development comes as IndyCar evaluates international expansion strategies, including ongoing talks for a 2027 event in Goiânia, Brazil. Meanwhile, the 2026 championship battle reaches a critical phase, with Álex Palou holding match-point at the Milwaukee doubleheader and Chip Ganassi Racing unveiling a Zanardi tribute livery for Laguna Seca.
The IndyCar Series continues this weekend with the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader (Rounds 16 & 17) in West Allis, Wisconsin. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session. Follow all updates on our news page.
IndyCar Championship Standings (Top 5 ahead of Milwaukee)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
| 1 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 553 |
| 2 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | Honda | 462 |
| 3 | Christian Lundgaard | Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 443 |
| 4 | David Malukas | Team Penske | Chevrolet | 411 |
| 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 399 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Has IndyCar confirmed a race in Barranquilla, Colombia for 2028?
No. IndyCar stated that rumors of a finalized deal are premature and that discussions remain in early feasibility phases without an official site visit yet.
2. When did IndyCar last race outside of North America?
IndyCar last raced outside North America in 2013, when the series held the São Paulo Indy 300 on the Anhembi Street Circuit in Brazil.
3. When is the next race on the 2026 IndyCar calendar?
The 2026 IndyCar Series continues with the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader on August 29–30 in West Allis, Wisconsin.
