INDYCAR’s expanded presence on network television in 2019 through its new partnership with NBC Sports Group will not only include the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500, along with other action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, but also the IndyCar Series’ new season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California.
Eight of this year’s 17 IndyCar Series races will air on NBC, representing a 60 percent increase of network television exposure over a season ago. NBCSN, entering its 12th consecutive year telecasting INDYCAR events, will air nine races. The television schedule for IndyCar Series qualifying sessions will be announced later.
All INDYCAR on-track action will be available through NBC Sports, with nearly 350 hours available between linear television and digital streaming coverage. NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer streaming product, will offer a package – INDYCAR Pass – that will feature live IndyCar Series practice and qualifying sessions, same-day race airings and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires events. Details on how to sign up for INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold will be announced soon.
This year marks the first season for NBC Sports Group as the exclusive home of INDYCAR.
“This will be the most complete and robust season of INDYCAR viewing for our fans,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Hulman & Company, which owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Fans can not only see everything that happens on the track, they can see races at their convenience on the same day via INDYCAR Pass, which until now had not been available.”
The Indianapolis 500 will air on NBC for the first time this year. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the largest single-day sporting event in the world, will receive special promotion with inclusion in NBC Sports’ “Championship Season” marketing campaign, a May-to-July spotlight of high-profile championship events airing on NBC Sports platforms such as horse racing’s Triple Crown, the NHL Stanley Cup Final, French Open tennis, and the Tour de France endurance cycling race.
INDYCAR coverage on NBC begins with the INDYCAR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Following the Indianapolis 500 from the iconic IMS oval on Sunday, May 26, NBC will carry both races on Detroit’s Belle Isle street circuit (Saturday-Sunday, June 1-2) and permanent road course races at Road America (Sunday, June 23), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Sunday, July 28), Portland International Raceway (Sunday, Sept. 1) and the finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Sunday, Sept. 22). The races in Portland and Monterey represent a final push to crown the IndyCar Series champion live on network television.
The 2019 IndyCar Series season kicks off on NBCSN with the street race in St. Petersburg, Florida (Sunday, March 10). INDYCAR’s inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas (Sunday, March 24) also will be on NBCSN.
NBCSN will also telecast three IndyCar Series oval-track races on Saturday nights: at Texas Motor Speedway (Saturday, June 8), Iowa Speedway (Saturday, July 20) and Gateway Motorsports Park (Saturday, Aug. 24).
“As the exclusive home for INDYCAR, NBC Sports will provide fans with more INDYCAR coverage than ever before in 2019,” said Jon Miller, president of programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN. “From centralized, seamless coverage on NBC and NBCSN to unparalleled support surrounding the 103rd Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious events in all of sports, NBC Sports will super-serve INDYCAR Nation through its best-in-class television, digital, production and marketing assets.”
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