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CART: Michigan 500 among top 10 most watched network sports telecasts of the week

29 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

DETROIT- The Michigan 500 Presented by Toyota, aired live Sunday, July 23 on ABC-TV, made its way into the prestigious top 10 network sports telecasts for the week of July 17-23, according to the Nielsen Sports Marketing Service.

The Michigan 500 Presented by Toyota, the third-closest race in Champ Car history and one of the most thrilling of all time with 52 lead changes, ranked 10th for the week and was the only auto-racing event to make the network list.

The 500-mile race at Michigan Speedway, won by Juan Montoya by a mere 0.40 seconds over Michael Andretti, received a 2.0 rating, 6 share and reached an audience of 2,058,000 households. It marked the first time this season that a CART telecast made the top 10 network sports telecasts. (The Grand Prix of Miami Presented By Toyota was in the Top 10 Cable Sports Telecasts for the week of 3/20-26/00.)

The week was dominated by ABC's British Open , which captured four of the top-10 spots, including the top one with Sunday's telecast. The Olympic Trials for track and field (NBC) and the NFL Quarterback Challenge (CBS) also had multiple positions. The Trials ranked second and sixth while the Challenge was seventh and eighth. Fox's national Saturday baseball game of the week took the other spot, fourth overall.

Text provided by Mike Zizzo

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.