The indyCar season doesn’t kick off for another two months (OK, we didn’t include the COTA testing next month), but NBC Sports Group wants you to know that we’re ready. A full season of IndyCar on the NBC networks means good things for IndyCar fans and fans of racing.
So read on for what’s in store. And enjoy.
The full press release is below:
STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 9, 2019 – NBC Sports will provide unprecedented coverage of the 2019 IndyCar Series during its first season as the exclusive television and streaming home of INDYCAR – totaling nearly 350 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app and NBC Sports Gold – highlighted by the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26, on NBC.
Highlights of NBC Sports’ 2019 INDYCAR schedule:
- NBC Sports’ inaugural presentation of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 26, on NBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app;
- Eight total INDYCAR races on NBC, including the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Saturday, May 11, the Detroit Dual races on the weekend of June 1-2, and the final two races of the season in Portland (Sunday, Sept. 1) and Laguna Seca (Sunday, Sept. 22).
- Extensive coverage on NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product – including live coverage of all practices and qualifying, all Indy Lights races, and on-demand replays;
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will stream all races during the 2019 IndyCar Series.
“As the exclusive home of INDYCAR in 2019, NBC Sports will provide fans with more on-track coverage than ever before,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports & 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.”
“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, which until now had not been available.”
2019 INDYCAR SEASON ON NBC AND NBCSN
NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2019 IndyCar Series begins on Sunday, March 10, on NBCSN with live coverage of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the first of 17 races to air on NBC and NBCSN during the season.
The 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500, set for Sunday, May 26, 2019, will be the first ever on NBC. The Indy 500 will also be included in NBC Sports’ Championship Season marketing campaign, which touts numerous high-profile championship events that are presented across NBC Sports platforms from May to July, including the Triple Crown, The PLAYERS, Premier League Championship Sunday, French Open, Stanley Cup Final, Tour de France, and The Open Championship.
INDYCAR coverage on NBC will begin with the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Saturday, May 11. Following the Indy 500, NBC will present the Detroit Dual on the weekend of June 1-2, followed by races at Road America on Sunday, June 23 and Mid-Ohio on Sunday, July 28. For the first time, the INDYCAR championship will be decided on NBC, with the season’s penultimate race in Portland on Sunday, Sept. 1, followed by season finale at Laguna Seca on Sunday, Sept. 22.
NBCSN will televise the first four races of the 2019 IndyCar Series. Following the season opener at St. Pete, NBCSN will showcase INDYCAR’s inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Sunday, March 24, followed by the Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday, April 7, and the iconic Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 14.
NBCSN will also present a trio of primetime races (Texas, June 8; Iowa, July 20; Gateway, August 24), as well as schedule mainstays at Toronto on July 14 and Pocono on August 18.
Following is the NBC Sports’ 2019 IndyCar television schedule on NBC and NBCSN:
| Date | Race/Track | Network | Time (ET) |
| Sun, March 10 | Streets of St. Petersburg | NBCSN | 1 p.m. |
| Sun., March 24 | Circuit of the Americas | NBCSN | 1 p.m. |
| Sun., April 7 | Barber Motorsports Park | NBCSN | 4 p.m. |
| Sun., April 14 | Streets of Long Beach | NBCSN | 4 p.m. |
| Sat., May 11 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Sun., May 26 | The 103rd Indianapolis 500 | NBC | 11 a.m. |
| Sat., June 1 | Raceway at Belle Isle/Detroit – Race 1 | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Sun., June 2 | Raceway at Belle Isle/Detroit – Race 2 | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., June 8 | Texas Motor Speedway | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Sun., June 23 | Road America | NBC | 12 p.m. |
| Sun., July 14 | Streets of Toronto | NBCSN | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., July 20 | Iowa Speedway | NBCSN | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., July 28 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Sun., August 18 | Pocono Raceway | NBCSN | 2 p.m. |
| Sat., August 24 | Gateway Motorsports Park | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Sun., September 1 | Portland International Raceway | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Sun, September 22 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | NBC | 2:30 p.m. |
*details for qualifying and practice telecasts will be released at a later date
2019 INDYCAR SEASON ON NBC SPORTS GOLD
NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports Group’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product – will offer a package to INDYCAR fans that features live coverage of all practices and qualifying, all Indy Lights races, and full-event replays. Additional details, including the cost of the NBC Sports Gold offering, will be announced at a later date.