INDYCAR SEASON FINALE SEES 123% INCREASE IN VIEWERS

Zayat tweeted he and trainer Bob Baffert had a four-hour meeting and “analyzed every aspect of AP future” and “I learned a lot will get it one more day.” In the Travers Stakes on Saturday, American Pharoah was passed in the stretch by Keen Ice and finished second, a result that had Zayat wondering about retirement rather than a planned final race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31. The plan before the race was the Classic in Lexington, Ky., then off to the breeding shed at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud a few miles down the road. The loss after eight consecutive brilliant victories was a tough one and might have been an indication that the time to retire the horse is sooner than later. The Verizon IndyCar Series reported an average of 841,000 viewers — a year-over-year increase of 123% — for Sunday’s season finale on NBC Sports Network, making the Sonoma Raceway event the most-watched series race on cable since 2008. IndyCar’s decision to move the final race to a better time slot proved to be wise. Last year, finishing the race at Auto Club Speedway after midnight resulted in average viewership of 377,000. The final 15 minutes of Sunday evening ’s race realized 1.048 million viewers. Both races were on the West Coast. NBCSN’s 11 races averaged 507,000 viewers.

Also Wednesday, IndyCar announced penalties from the Sonoma race. Simon Page

naud’s team was fined $2,500 for blocking Josef Newgarden on pit lane. For running over another car’s air hose, Newgarden’s entry was docked $500.