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IndyCar has announced a 17-race schedule for its 2024 season, in which nine events will be broadcast live on Comcast-owned NBC.
Confirmed:
- Milwaukee Mile returns to the calendar for the first time since 2015
- Nine races to be broadcast live in the US on NBC, four fewer than last season
- NBC’s Peacock streaming platform to exclusively broadcast two races
- Texas Motor Speedway drops off the calendar for 2024
- New circuit configuration in Nashville to host season finale
- Three-week mid-season break confirmed during Paris Olympics
- Previously confirmed US$1 million non-championship event fills six-week gap between first two races
Context:
As has long been rumoured, the Milwaukee Mile returns to the 2024 schedule, but it’s at the expense of the event at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). While the attendances have struggled at the circuit in the last few years, Texas played host to a thrilling race in 2023. As reported by Motorsport.com, Mark Faber, executive vice president and general manager of TMS, said the two parties were “unable to reach agreement on a date”, but that discussions will continue in the future.
Comment:
Jay Frye, president of IndyCar, said: “2023 was a record-breaking season for the NTT IndyCar Series. For the first time, 27 starters competed at each event, and on-track passing records were broken at six racetracks. IndyCar remains the most diverse and competitive championship in motorsports. We cannot wait to see how the 2024 season plays out beginning on the Streets of St. Pete.”
Coming next:
The 2024 season gets underway with the Streets of St. Petersburg on 10th March, broadcast live on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. The concern for next season will be the sharp drop in commercial coverage on NBC, with just nine races being shown on the channel. After a season of strong viewing figures, this is not a great development for a series looking to build its footprint.