Get unlimited access for free
You have 10 articles remaining to view this month.
IndyCar’s 2019 season UK television coverage will switch to Sky Sports and be broadcast on its Formula 1 channel.
The new multi-year agreement means that every IndyCar qualifying session and race – including the Indianapolis 500 – will be shown on Sky Sports F1, starting with the season-opener in St Petersburg on March 10.
“The IndyCar Series is one of the most thrilling competitions in motor racing, crowned by the world renowned Indy 500, and it’s great to be able to work with our new partners at NBC to bring it to a whole new audience here in the UK and Ireland,” said Steve Smith, director of content and production at Sky Sports.
“Alongside our biggest ever season of F1, it will be part of an incredible line-up of motor racing on Sky Sports this year.”
Sky last held rights to IndyCar back in 2012, but lost them when BT Sport was launched.
The timezone difference between the US and Europe means there will be no clashes in broadcasts between the F1 and IndyCar coverage.
The only F1 race in an American timezone that takes place on the same weekend as an IndyCar is June’s Canadian Grand Prix, but on that occasion IndyCar is racing in a Saturday evening slot at Texas Motor Speedway so the broadcast will be overnight in the UK.
European interest in IndyCar and in the Indy 500 in particular, has grown with Fernando Alonso’s bid to win the prestigious ‘triple-crown’. He will enter the famous race again in May in a McLaren-run car.
This new TV deal has come about as rights to IndyCar in the US are owned by NBC, whose parent company Comcast now owns Sky.
“We are pleased to reach a deal with Sky Sports to showcase IndyCar on the Sky Sports F1 channel for the next several seasons,” said Mark Miles, CEO of IndyCar owner Hulman & Company.
“IndyCar values the commitment Sky and NBC have made to the series and the support of Comcast-NBCUniversal to help make this deal possible. We look forward to starting our season next week on Sky.”