Network Broadcast Announcement

INDYCAR and its television partners announced 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series television windows for consistent blocks of network coverage and new race distances at selected events.

Live coverage of all 19 IZOD IndyCar Series events – including ABC’s first prime-time race and three doubleheaders (one on ABC and two on NBC Sports Network) – highlight the ABC and NBC Sports Network programming schedule. Race distances were altered at four events to discourage fuel-mileage racing.

“The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series television schedule was created with the goal of keeping things simple for our fans,” said Robby Greene, President and COO, IMS Productions, the broadcast arm of INDYCAR. “Our fans asked for more consistency and we thank our television partners and our promoters for working with us to help achieve that goal.”

Television Schedule

NBC Sports Network will televise the first four races of the season and kicks off with live coverage of the three rounds of qualifications for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at 2:30 p.m. (ET) March 23. The network will broadcast the ninth IZOD IndyCar Series race on the scenic 1.8-mile temporary street circuit at noon (ET) March 24, which includes a 30-minute pre-race show.

ABC begins its stretch of broadcasting six of the next seven races with the Indianapolis 500 at 11 a.m. (ET) May 26. ABC will televise the 500 Mile Race for the 49th consecutive year, extending one of the longest relationships between a sporting event and television network

Television time continuity, including starts near the top or bottom of the hour and same on-air times for the first two doubleheader weekends, was built into programming schedules based in part from fan requests.

“The biggest point for our fans is they will be able to make INDYCAR racing appointment television,” Greene said. “INDYCAR and our broadcast partners are offering the chance to build our audience continuity with more consistency in start times and network.”

Qualifications shows for 12 events, including Pole Day and Bump Day for the 97th Indianapolis 500, plus Carb Day activities and race re-airs enhance coverage of the series on NBC Sports Network. The cable partner will continue to air the popular “INDYCAR 36,” which follows a driver behind the scenes during an IZOD IndyCar Series race weekend. The full schedule for ancillary programming will be announced at a later date.

All 12 Firestone Indy Lights races will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network, including live coverage of the Firestone Freedom 100 at noon (ET) May 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Eight races will lead into the cable partner’s IZOD IndyCar Series broadcast, including the season opener at 11 a.m. (ET) March 24 on the streets of St. Petersburg.

International broadcast partners will be announced soon.

Race Distances

Four events -- St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Milwaukee and Mid-Ohio – will feature new race distances this season to discourage fuel-mileage racing. The new distances better match traditional fuel windows at each circuit.

The races with new distances:

St. Petersburg: Increase of 10 laps to 110 (198 miles total)
Long Beach: Decrease of five laps to 80 (157.4 miles)
Milwaukee: Increase of 25 laps to 250 (250 miles)
Mid-Ohio: Increase of five laps to 90 (203 miles)

“Changing the distances at these races will hopefully eliminate the strategy of saving fuel from the drop of the green flag,” said Beaux Barfield, IZOD IndyCar Series Race Director. “That will enable our teams and drivers to race hard for the full distance and improve the event’s entertainment value for the fans.”

 

2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Race Television Schedule

Date Venue & City Laps & Circuit Broadcast Time & Network
March 24, 2013 Streets of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla.
 
110 Laps -
1.8-mile street
Noon Eastern
NBC Sports Network
April 7, 2013 Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, Ala.
 
90 Laps -
2.38-mile road
1:30pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
April 21, 2013 Streets of Long Beach
Long Beach, Calif.
 
80 Laps -
1.96-mile street
4pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
May 5, 2013 Streets of Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo, Brazil
 
75 Laps -
2.53-mile street
11am Eastern
NBC Sports Network
May 26, 2013 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Ind.
 
200 Laps -
2.5-mile oval

11am Eastern
ABC

June 1, 2013 Streets of Belle Isle
Detroit, Mich.
 
70 Laps -
2.34-mile street
3:30pm Eastern
ABC
June 2, 2013 Streets of Belle Isle
Detroit, Mich.
 
70 Laps -
2.34-mile street
3:30pm Eastern
ABC
June 8, 2013 Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
 
228 Laps -
1.5-mile oval
8:30pm Eastern
ABC
June 15, 2013 The Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee, Wis.
 
250 Laps -
1-mile oval
4pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
June 23, 2013 Iowa Speedway
Newton, Iowa
 
250 Laps -
0.875-mile oval
2:30pm Eastern
ABC
July 7, 2013 Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, Pa.
 
160 Laps -
2.5-mile oval
Noon Eastern
ABC
July 13, 2013 Streets of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
 
85 Laps -
1.75-mile street
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
July 14, 2013 Streets of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
 
85 Laps -
1.75-mile street
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
August 4, 2013 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
 
90 Laps -
2.258-mile road
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
August 25, 2013 Raceway at Sonoma
Sonoma, Calif.
 
85 Laps -
2.303-mile road
4pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
September 1, 2013 Streets of Baltimore
Baltimore, Md.
 
75 Laps -
2.04-mile street
2pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
October 5, 2013 Reliant Park
Houston, Texas
 
90 Laps -
1.7-mile street
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
October 6, 2013 Reliant Park
Houston, Texas
 
90 Laps -
1.7-mile street
1pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
October 19, 2013 Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, Calif.
 
250 Laps -
2-mile oval
8pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network

Schedule subject to change

 

*****

 

2013 Firestone Indy Lights Race Television Schedule

Date Venue & City Laps & Circuit Broadcast Time & Network
March 24, 2013 Streets of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla.
 
45 Laps -
1.8-mile street
11am Eastern
NBC Sports Network
April 7, 2013 Barber Motorsports Park
Birmingham, Ala.
 
40 Laps -
2.38-mile road
12:30pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
April 21, 2013 Streets of Long Beach
Long Beach, Calif.
 
45 Laps -
1.96-mile street
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
May 24, 2013 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, Ind.
 
40 Laps -
2.5-mile oval

11am Eastern
NBC Sports Network

June 15, 2013 The Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee, Wis.
 
100 Laps -
1-mile oval
3pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
June 28, 2013 Iowa Speedway
Newton, Iowa
 
115 Laps -
0.875-mile oval
11pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
July 12, 2013 Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, Pa.
 
50 Laps -
2.5-mile oval
7pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
July 14, 2013 Streets of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
 
50 Laps -
1.75-mile street
11pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
August 4, 2013 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
 
Laps TBD -
2.258-mile road
2pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
September 1, 2013 Streets of Baltimore
Baltimore, Md.
 
35 Laps -
2.04-mile street
1pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network
October 6, 2013 Reliant Park
Houston, Texas
 
Laps TBD -
1.7-mile street
Noon Eastern
NBC Sports Network
October 19, 2013 Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, Calif.
 
50 Laps -
2-mile oval
7pm Eastern
NBC Sports Network

Schedule subject to change