IndyCar TV schedule features race length changes
IndyCar announced the television schedule for coverage of all 19 events in 2013, including three races that have been lengthened and one that was shortened to discourage fuel-mileage racing.
The schedule features ABC's first live IndyCar race coverage in primetime and three doubleheaders - one on ABC and two on the NBC Sports Network.
"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."
The first four races of the season will be broadcast by the NBC Sports Network, beginning with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 24. ABC begins a stretch of televising six of seven races with the Indy 500 at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 26. It will be ABC's 49th consecutive year broadcasting the 500.
St. Petersburg is one of four events to have its distance changed, with the event increased 10 laps to 110, making it 198 miles total. The other three:
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 IndyCar Series race director Beaux Barfield. "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 IndyCar Series Race Television Schedule:
March 24, Streets of St. Petersburg, 1.8-mile street, 110 laps, Noon, NBCSN
April 7, Barber Motorsports Park, 2.38-mile road, 90 laps, 1:30 p.m., NBCSN
April 21, Streets of Long Beach, 1.96-mile street, 80 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
May 5, Streets of Sao Paulo, 2.53-mile street, 75 laps, 11 a.m. , NBCSN
May 26, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile oval, 200 laps, 11 a.m., ABC
June 1, Streets of Belle Isle (Race 1), 2.34-mile street, 70 laps, 3:30 p.m., ABC
June 2, Streets of Belle Isle (Race 2), 2.34-mile street, 70 laps, 3:30 p.m., ABC
June 8, Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval, 228 laps, 8:30 p.m., ABC
June 15, Milwaukee Mile, 1-mile oval, 250 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
June 23, Iowa Speedway , .875-mile oval, 250 laps, 2:30 p.m., ABC
July 7, Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile oval, 160 laps, Noon, ABC
July 13, Streets of Toronto (Race 1), 1.75-mile street, 85 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
July 14, Streets of Toronto (Race 2), 1.75-mile street, 85 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
Aug. 4, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 2.25-mile road, 90 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
Aug. 25, Raceway at Sonoma, 2.38-mile road, 85 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
Sept. 1, Streets of Baltimore, 2.04-mile street, 75 laps, 2 p.m., NBCSN
Oct. 5, Reliant Park (Race 1), 1.7-mile street, 90 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
Oct. 6, Reliant Park (Race 2), 1.7-mile street, 90 laps, 1 p.m., NBCSN
Oct. 19, Auto Club Speedway, 2-mile oval, 200 laps, 8 p.m., NBCSN
