Roger Penske's leadership teases possibility of IndyCar races in Denver and Mexico

Roger Penske has been under the gun from many, including Michael Andretti, who have claimed that the IndyCar owner isn't expanding or investing enough in the series. Now, the CEO of Penske Entertainment, Mark Miles has come out and teased the possibility of a race in Denver and/or Mexico.

A new race was confirmed for the 2026 calendar as a deal was signed for the Grand Prix of Arlington. Rumors of a race in Denver, Colorado, and Mexico have also come up as IndyCar looks to expand its calendar. McLaren CEO Zak Brown and Pato O'Ward expressed the desire for an IndyCar race in Mexico at the 2024 F1 Mexican GP.

AUTO: MAY 27 NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Champion - Source: Getty

Mark Miles, when asked about the possibility of adding Denver or Mexico to the calendar, suggested that it's a work in progress (via Motorsport).

“A new race isn't added until everything's done right, contracted for and all of that follows on us being convinced that we would have the right partnerships or promoters in the right markets.”

“It's too early to declare victory on any of the possibilities that you mentioned, but it is true that both of those markets are a work in progress. Look, if we land one of the two for as early as 2026 that'd be terrific, along with Arlington.”

The last IndyCar race in Mexico was held in the mid-2000s when the open-wheel series raced at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The series currently only races in the US and Canada in the North American continent.

Fox Sports will be broadcasting the 2025 IndyCar races after acquiring the rights from NBC Sports as the exclusive broadcaster. Fox has already begun the promotion of the upcoming IndyCar season during the off-season and will be doing cross-promotions during other sports events broadcasted by the channel.

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“All part of an announced strategy”: Penske Entertainment CEO on Fox partnership being part of a bigger plan for IndyCar

Roger Penske bought IndyCar and IMS in 2019 and since then has invested $30-$35M alone on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indycar has started the development of the new chassis in partnership with Dallara which is proposed to be introduced for the 2027 season. The Fox partnership is part of a bigger plan which includes the new chassis and other changes incoming in the future.

The CEO of Penske Entertainment, Mark Miles said:

“I think the Fox news was probably one of the biggest things, but it's all part of an announced strategy where we decided we're prepared to promote more races ourselves — we want to be opportunistic about that, but where it's important and allows us to get into a market sooner than it might happen otherwise.”

“We've said we look forward to opportunities to partner with really strong partners like the Cowboys and the Rangers. We've said we want to be in some more hot, new urban markets.”

Fox is reportedly considering F1TV host Will Buxton for the presenter role as Leigh Diffey, the former IndyCar announcer, has decided to stay with NBC. Former IndyCar drivers James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell are also reported targets.