IndyCar to require a charter for non-Indy 500 races beginning in 2027
IndyCar will no longer accept non-chartered teams in most races starting in 2027, impacting future team entries.
Beginning in 2027, IndyCar will no longer accept entries from non-chartered teams in races except the Indianapolis 500 , the series confirmed to IndyStar on Saturday. There will be 25 full-time IndyCar entries in 2027 before that number returns to 27 in 2028 with Honda and Chevrolet each receiving a chartered entry as part of their agreement to re-sign as engine manufacturers. “Beginning with the 2027 IndyCar series season, entry fields at all races outside of the Indianapolis 500 will be limited to chartered teams only," IndyCar said in a statement.
"This decision was reached after thoughtful consideration with key stakeholders and, in particular, series suppliers who are making plans for the upcoming season as all parties look to build the series’ health and on-track competition. ” IndyCar began its charter system, which NASCAR introduced in 2016, ahead of the 2025 season. IndyCar made 25 of its 27 full-time entries chartered, making them eligible for the Leaders Circle program, which compensated the 22 highest finishing chartered entries in the standings.
Prema Racing, which was in its inaugural IndyCar season in 2025, was the only team not to have its two entries chartered last year. This year, every full-time entry in the series has been chartered due to Prema Racing being unable to compete while DC Racing Solutions, Prema Racing's parent company, looks to sell the team or secure a significant investor. That has kept the full-time field at its 25 chartered cars.
When IndyCar announced that Honda and Chevrolet would get chartered entries in 2028 — the year IndyCar is set to debut its first new car since 2012 — IndyCar president Doug Boles said he expected only chartered entries to compete in the series full-time. “If we limit the number where we are in charters, it’s going to add some value to our team owners, who have invested millions of dollars over time,” Boles said in February. “So really, I think that’s where it’s going to come from.