Accelerating the Future of Motorsports in Media Exposure

By Chloe Agas | 13 Mar 2025

A New Beginning

In June 2024, Fox Sports released a statement about a multi-platform coverage deal of the NTT Indycar, including the Indianapolis 500 (also known as the Indy 500) race beginning in 2025. 

The deal entails increased exposure for the series in North America, streaming every race on Fox and the Fox Sports app. In addition, Indycar also becomes the only motorsport in the United States with exclusive broadcast network coverage. 

The partnership also guarantees expanding race coverage to practice and qualifying sessions across all Fox platforms for the open-wheeled racing series. 

“This represents unrivaled exposure and provides an unparalleled growth opportunity for the most competitive and entertaining motorsport on the planet,” said Indycar CEO Mark Miles. (Source: ESPN)

NBC previously held the rights to IndyCar starting in 2009 and to the Indianapolis 500 in 2019. IndyCar race coverage was only on cable, and practices and qualifying coverage were exclusive to NBC’s app, Peacock.

The new multi-year agreement with Fox Sports grants exclusive broadcasting rights for all IndyCar races. With 19 broadcast network windows, this presents a new record for IndyCar, opening new doors to more accessible ways to stream on digital platforms and enhance its coverage.

“Adding the Indianapolis 500.. to the Fox Sports Roster fits perfectly within our model of teaming with sports’ largest events and best-in-class brands,” said Eric Shanks, CEO of Fox Sports, said in a statement. “We’re honored to be the new broadcast home to ‘the greatest spectacle in racing.’” (Source: Fox Sports)

Fox Sports is leveraging its vast media network not just for IndyCar, but for motorsports in general. In 2023, NASCAR finalized its new 7-year broadcast deal to telecast races across the NBC, FOX, Warner Brothers, and Amazon telecast networks starting this year. 

“We have two great partners right now, NBC and Fox, with broadcast and cable,” said Steve Philips, NASCAR president, in a statement. “It was important to add the direct-to-consumer streaming element to it.” (Source: Fox Sports)

Philips added that the four partnerships with the streaming networks elevate the fan experience, with five races streaming exclusively on Amazon. (Source: Fox Sports)  

“As we looked through the lens of what this deal was going to look like, we had the fan interest in mind – and not just the existing fans – but the new fans as well,” Philips said. (Source: Fox Sports) 

Chloe’s Catch: What This Means for Motorsports in the United States 

Looking at the similarities between the IndyCar and NASCAR deals, it brings me into perspective as to how much media exposure is vital for motorsport. As someone who watches Formula 1 more in her spare time, I noticed how its exposure has grown over the years through the Netflix show, ‘Drive to Survive.’

Drive to Survive deep dives into the lives of the team principals and drivers of each team on and off the track. The drama from the reality-lifestyle like show piqued interest in viewers over the years since its inaugural season in March 2019. 

A New York Times article by Bill Shea covered a jump in viewership from 2022-2023, which was a staggering 40%. The article referenced a poll by Morning Consult that was surveyed in 2022, in which 53% accredited the Netflix series as a catalyst of getting into the Formula 1 world. Viewers for F1 races also went from 538,000 in 2017 to 1.21 million in 2022. (Source: New York Times)

There are currently three races in the F1 calendar based in the U.S. – the Miami Grand Prix, Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. (Source: F1 Schedule)

F1’s growing presence proves the rise for motorsports across the country.

Shifting back to IndyCar, the Fox Sports deal is a great chance to give more exposure to motorsport in general because media networks have allowed streaming to be more accessible for audiences to watch. Well, except having to pay a subscription every month. 

Conclusion

The acquisition of IndyCar with Fox Sports leverages opportunities to media accessibility and exposure to audiences across North America. With Fox Sports’ vast network and marketing strategies, for the open-wheel series. 

As we continue to witness the growth of the motorsports world from NASCAR to Formula 1, I am enthusiastic to see what the future brings for years to come.