Fox Sports Debut IndyCar Race Attracts 1.4M Viewers

Fox Sports' debut broadcast of the IndyCar race, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, drew 1.417 million viewers, marking a 45% increase from the previous year's event on NBC, which garnered 974,700 viewers. This was the most-watched non-Indianapolis 500 event since 2011. The shift to Fox Sports follows the end of IndyCar's 16-year relationship with NBC, with Fox enhancing production and promotion, including commercials aired during NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. Fox's CEO Eric Shanks plans to air all 17 races on network television, making IndyCar the only major motorsport to do so. The broadcast peaked at 1.82 million viewers and received commendations for its production and storytelling, indicating promising momentum for the series' future.