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. It’s going to come from those teams who have decided to either take on new partners, or when they decide that they’re ready to leave the NTT IndyCar Series, there’s some value and something beyond the assets that’ll allow them to transition to a new team ownership.”
No team has been sold since IndyCar introduced its charter system. Any new team looking to drive in the series full-time would need to partner with an engine manufacturer or purchase one of the 10 existing chartered teams.
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar to require a charter for non-Indy 500 races beginning in 2027
Reporting by Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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