Here is a rundown of what got me thinking…
Marc Márquez's resurgence continued with a second consecutive victory in greasy conditions at MotoGP's San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix. The spritz spooked Jorge Martín and a knee-jerk jump to the wet-weather bee proved to be costly, though a sprint race victory allowed Martín to maintain a narrow championship lead. NASCAR and its teams are in a tense moment in their relationship, and some paperwork went unsigned. Just remember these days when Michael Jordan is no longer around. Oh, and the playoffs began in the Cup Series. A practice accident ended Toprak Razgatlioglu's winning streak in World Superbike at 13 races. IndyCar's front office continues to say stupid things, but it is the final weekend of the IndyCar season, and the championship should get attention, but we must recognize something first.
NBC's Last Race
This weekend does not only mark the end of a championship for IndyCar, but the end of a broadcast partnership as well. The season finale from Nashville Superspeedway will mark the final IndyCar race on a NBCUniversal network for the near-future. It was a remarkable run, overcoming initial hostility to become a crucial partner for the series.
Technically, this partnership goes back 16 seasons to when the Comcast-owned Versus became the cable broadcaster for IndyCar in 2009. Versus took over the bulk of the IndyCar schedule, broadcasting over 2/3rds of the races as well as Indianapolis 500 qualification. ABC remained the broadcast network partner, retaining the Indianapolis 500 while also accepting a few other races.
The deal transformed when Comcast purchased NBCUniversal ahead of 2012. Versus re-branded to NBC Sports Network and the partnership continued. In 2019, NBC took over the entire calendar. The Indianapolis 500 moved to a new home after over a half-century on ABC. IndyCar was only fully NBC's for six years, but this is the end of a long and fruitful partnership.
Let's not forget how this all started. People were furious when IndyCar moved majority of its races to Versus. It was a semi-obscure cable sports network emerging at a time when ESPN had long gone uncontested in that cable sports sphere. There was room for competition, but difficulty drawing partners. Few entities wanted to move to something unfamiliar. IndyCar did, a gamble, and one that was never celebrated.
People had long-been accustomed to American open-wheel racing's top series competing on ABC or ESPN. Even Champ Car had been on Speed Channel and was time-buying races on NBC and CBS. Versus was practical nowhere on the cable landscape. IndyCar got paid, but it sacrificed exposure.
As IndyCar is looking to a future where every race is scheduled to be broadcasted on network television in hopes of increasing viewership, it is a stark reminder of how much can change in a rather short period of time. Sixteen years might sound like a lot. It isn't.
But that bad decision in terms of 2009 turned out to be a positive for the series in 2024.
The deal with Versus provided competition within IndyCar's broadcasting world. There were two parties interested and actively participating in the series. ABC/ESPN had been doing IndyCar races for decades at that point, but Versus brought something new. It brought new faces to the screen as well as bringing back some old. It was a different way for a race to be broadcasted, new ideas, new chances. It also put IndyCar at a different place in the pecking order.
ESPN has a countless number of properties. Even with the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar was not a tentpole property for the Mothership. It wasn't even close to number one in ESPN's motorsports department as NASCAR had returned in 2007. For Versus, IndyCar was something of substance that it really only had in the National Hockey League. In some cases, being number two in a small pond is better than being number 62 in an ocean.
The mood changed once Versus became NBC Sports Network. There was at least a name of recognition tied to the broadcaster and it was not seen as something lost in the shuffle of cable channel. With a different name, a different mood came, and viewers started to love NBCSN's coverage. It felt different compared to ABC/ESPN. There was the perception that IndyCar was an afterthought at ABC/ESPN. They showed the Indianapolis 500 but did not put much more into the broadcast than necessary and the broadcast crew remained stagnant year-on-year. NBCSN brought a different flavor. Leigh Diffey became the voice of the series. It gave Robin Miller a place on its airwaves. The color commentators were more current and in some cases still active. Kevin Lee has gone the distance for all 16 seasons! Everyone on air was constantly around IndyCar while it didn't feel that way from the broadcast partner.
People wanted NBC to be the full partner. People wanted races on NBC even when ABC was still around. The split-rights television deal felt like it was restricting the series' growth. IndyCar had so little that two partners felt like one too many. Eventually NBC's day came. It didn't just take over the Indianapolis 500, but it put more races on network television. That number increased. At least half the IndyCar schedule was on network television in every year of IndyCar's deal with NBC. It had as many as 13 of 16 races at one point.
Nothing lasts forever.
NBC has been good for IndyCar, but IndyCar didn't boom in its six seasons fully on the network. It grew. Numbers got better. However, the series that has grown the most in the United States over that six-year period was Formula One. It takes more to grow a series than what television channel races are broadcasted, but it surely helps.
It is easy to get bored when there is only one option. For all that NBC was celebrated for, it received its fair amount of criticism as the sole broadcast partner. When there is only one broadcaster around, there aren't many other choices. Whether it be commercials, not enough races on network television, Peacock, there was always a reason to complain. Maybe NBC and IndyCar had gone as far as they could go together. Maybe it was still the best option.
NBC raised the bar and in the latest round of contract negotiations, more money was thrown at IndyCar than it has seen in quite some time. Fox had enough and also could guarantee every race would be shown on network television. That is a big change from 2009 when 2/3rds of the IndyCar calendar was shown on a network that 95% of Americans didn't even know existed.
Some things will change. There will likely be a few different faces and voices on the air. The races will be presented differently. The tone will change, but some things will remain the same. You might notice a familiar face or two on the screen. Commercials will still exist even on Fox. Streaming isn't going away There will likely be one race pre-empted or moved to cable. Those contracts are not as ironclad as you think.
It is most important to remember what you had.
IndyCar found something it had never had before. Without NBC, the years lost on Versus, the dual television partners and then the full-time move to NBC, we likely would not have the next deal IndyCar is about to start, but don't forget what was given.
There have been historic moments and records broken, dramatic twists and turns, the emergence of stars and the farewells of hero. Notable calls still ring in our ears from thrilling final lap finishes to Leigh Diffey's signature start the Indianapolis 500. It is a sentiment place where Dan Wheldon got a chance to shine out of the car on a grid walk in Iowa. NBCSN even gave us a docuseries before docuseries were cool.
For years, people wanted a place where they could stream everything IndyCar without needing a cable or satellite television subscription, and they got it. Peacock showed every practice and qualifying commercial-free while also simulcasting the races, as well as having its own exclusive races with limited commercial interruption. And you got it for about $5 or $6 a month and only had to subscribe during the season. You could have seen everything IndyCar for about $40 a year. Remember that when you are spending $40 a month, if you are even capable of doing so.
But remember, nothing lasts forever. This will not necessarily be NBC's last race forever. The interest could still be there, and in a few years, maybe a reunion is in place. Despite what is said, IndyCar does like a good reunion after all.
Champion From the Weekend
Héctor Garzó clinched the MotoE championship with finishes of fourth and seventh from Misano.
Winners From the Weekend
You know about Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín, but did you know...
Ai Ogura won the Moto2 race from Misano, his third victory of the season. Ángel Piqueras won the Moto3 race, his first career victory. Mattia Casadei and Oscar Gutiérrez split the MotoE races.
Joey Logano won the NASCAR Cup race from Atlanta, his second victory of the season. Austin Hill won the Grand National Series race.
Jack Aitken and Luca Stolz Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters races from Sachsenring.
The #63 DXDT Racing Corvette of Tommy Milner and Alec Udell swept the GT World Challenge America races from Barber Motorsports Park. The #51 AutoTechnic Racing BMW of Colin Garrett and Zac Anderson and the #24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin of Roman De Angelis and Gray Newell split the GT4 America races. Jason Daskalos swept the GT America races.
Michael van der Mark (race one) and Nicolò Bulega (SuperPole race and race two) split the World Superbike races from Magny-Cours. Niki Tuuli and Yari Montella split the World Supersport races.
Thierry Neuville won the Acropolis Rally, his second victory of the season.
Jett Lawrence won the SuperMotocross race from Charlotte. Haiden Deegan won in the 250cc class.
Coming Up This Weekend
IndyCar's season finale from Nashville Superspeedway.
Formula One has a later than usual trip to Azerbaijan.
NASCAR has a later than usual trip to Watkins Glen.
The FIA World Endurance Championship has an earlier than usual trip to Fuji.
The second round of the SuperMotocross playoffs is at Texas Motor Soeedway.
