Indycar to open 17-race schedule in February next season
MONTEREY, Calif. – Indycar’s extended partnership with NBC Sports yielded an additional bonus for next year’s schedule, which was already earmarked to air a record number of races on network broadcast.
The three-year extension announced with the network in July touted a record 13 races on main NBC. That number was actually expanded to 14 races on the 17-race schedule released Sunday by Indycar ahead of its race at Laguna Seca. The permanent road course host next year’s finale on Sept. 11, a full two weeks earlier than this season ends. Indycar concludes its season next Sunday in Long Beach.
But Long Beach will return to its traditional date in April next season, which will start in February for the first time since 2004. The Feb. 27 opener on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, is a week after NASCAR’S season-opening Daytona 500 and the earliest start for the Indycar Series since 2003.
“Our terrific partnership with NBC has led to a fantastic opportunity to place an unparalleled 14 events on broadcast television,” said Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp.
—Wire services