IndyCar - Series Viewership And Attendance Grows In 2011

Indianapolis, Dec. 1, 2011: For the second consecutive year, the IZOD IndyCar Series saw an increase in television viewership and attendance.

The 2011 season averaged 402,000 viewers per race on VERSUS -- up 10 percent over the 2010 average of 365,000 viewers - while ABC saw a 28 percent increase in viewership, averaging more than 3 million viewers. Overall, the series saw a viewership gain of 28 percent, reaching more than 18.2 million homes --- an average of 1.4 million households per event.

VERSUS, which will be re-branded NBC Sports Network in January, had four of its most-watched races -- Edmonton, Baltimore, Texas and Toronto -- with the July 24 Edmonton Indy topping the list with almost 650,000 viewers.

The 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 on ABC was the most-watched race of the year with 6.711 million viewers -- a 16 percent increase over the 2010 race.

Highlighted by attendance growth at the events in St. Petersburg, Toronto, Twin Ring Motegi and the new event at Baltimore, overall attendance numbers for the 17-event schedule also saw an increase of 22 percent in 2011.

"INDYCAR had one of its strongest years in growth on TV and in live audience in 15 years on the last year of our current car," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "We believe that the new car along with Honda, Chevy and Lotus coming into the IZOD INDYCAR Series will help the sport show positive momentum for 2012."