INDYCAR: Series Adjusts Four Race Lengths, Tightens TV Broadcast Times

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Series Adjusts Four Race Lengths, Tightens TV Broadcast Times

The IZOD IndyCar Series has made adjustments to the length of four races and has tweaked the broadcast times for a number of races.

Marshall Pruett | Posted January 21, 2013

Preventing races from becoming fuel-saving competitions will start with Round 1 at St. Petersburg in March. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

INDYCAR president of competition Beaux Barfield made a few changes to race lengths in the name of improving the show during his first season with the series, and the practice has continued into 2013 with adjustments to four events.

"Changing the distances at these races will hopefully eliminate the strategy of saving fuel from the drop of the green flag," said 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."

The changes will be seen at the opening round at St. Petersburg (down 10 laps to 110), Round 3 at Long Beach (down five laps to 80), Round 9 at Milwaukee (up 25 laps to 250) and Round 14 at Mid-Ohio (up five laps to 90).

New Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles, who oversees the IndyCar Series, expressed his desire to see a more standardized television package to help fans follow the sport, and it has come in the form of broadcast times that will start within a relatively consistent window at most rounds.

"The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series television schedule was created with the goal of keeping things simple for our fans," said IMS Productions president and COO Robby Greene. "Our fans asked for more consistency and we thank our television partners and our promoters for working with us to help achieve that goal."

News regarding IndyCar's international TV hosts is expected in the coming weeks.

2013 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES RACE TELEVISION SCHEDULE

1: March 24, Streets of St. Petersburg, 1.8-mile street, 110 laps, Noon, NBCSN
2: April 7, Barber Motorsports Park, 2.38-mile road, 90 laps, 1:30 p.m., NBCSN
3: April 21, Streets of Long Beach, 1.96-mile street, 80 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
4: May 5, Streets of Sao Paulo, 2.53-mile street, 75 laps, 11 a.m., NBCSN
5: May 26, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile oval, 200 laps, 11 a.m., ABC
6: June 1, Streets of Belle Isle (Race 1), 2.34-mile street, 70 laps, 3:30 p.m., ABC
7: June 2, Streets of Belle Isle (Race 2),2.34-mile street, 70 laps, 3:30 p.m., ABC
8: June 8, Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval, 228 laps, 8:30 p.m., ABC
9: June 15, Milwaukee Mile, 1-mile oval, 250 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
10: June 23, Iowa Speedway, .875-mile oval, 250 laps, 2:30 p.m., ABC
11: July 7, Pocono Raceway, 2.5-mile oval, 160 laps, Noon, ABC
12: July 13, Streets of Toronto (Race 1), 1.75-mile street, 85 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
13: July 14, Streets of Toronto (Race 2), 1.75-mile street, 85 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
14: Aug. 4, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, 2.25-mile road, 90 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
15: Aug. 25, Raceway at Sonoma, 2.38-mile road, 85 laps, 4 p.m., NBCSN
16: Sept. 1, Streets of Baltimore, 2.04-mile street, 75 laps, 2 p.m., NBCSN
17: Oct. 5, Reliant Park (Race 1), 1.7-mile street, 90 laps, 3 p.m., NBCSN
18: Oct. 6, Reliant Park (Race 2), 1.7-mile street, 90 laps, 1 p.m., NBCSN
19: Oct. 19, Auto Club Speedway, 2-mile oval, 250 laps, 8 p.m., NBCSN
*All Times Eastern

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.