Fox averaged 1.681 million viewers per race in its second season broadcasting . IndyCar viewership was up 23% on average from last year (1.362 million viewers per race).
This year was the first full year of Fox and IndyCar's partnership after , IndyCar's parent company, last July. Fox, unlike NBC before it, broadcasts every race on its network channel rather than utilizing cable channels or streaming services for races."Our growth is not just impressive, it’s best in class and sits at the forefront of our entire industry," Penske Entertainment CEO and president Mark Miles said in a news release. "Our partnership with Fox Sports has elevated our reach, production standards and promotion. With Fox we have a special relationship built to carry the sport to new heights. "
Nine of IndyCar's18 races had more than 1 million viewers this year, which was the most since 2008 (10). The Indianapolis 500 (6.635 million), Freedom 250 Grand Prix (3.282 million) and Grand Prix of Road America (1.803 million) were the three most-watched races this year. The first Milwaukee Mile race (509,000), Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS road course (656,000) and Music City Grand Prix (775,000) were the three least-watched races.
In a year that saw IndyCar introduce three new street races and return to racing on Phoenix Raceway's short oval, the series and Fox drew more people than in 2025. With looming questions about the backend of IndyCar's 2027 schedule and a baseline established over Fox's first two years with IndyCar's broadcasting rights, the series must look to build on the increased eyeballs it has received over the past two years.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: