Latest news with #MichaelAndretti
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Fox's Indy 500 broadcast hit 17-year high. What happens next is important for IndyCar's growth
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar's TV ratings smash success for this year's Indianapolis 500, the first time the average audience for a broadcast of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing has topped 7 million since 2008, is premier evidence that a sport that has in many ways been on slow but consistently downward-trending spiral since "the split" 30 years ago can once again rise to national prominence. But the Month of May showed, too, that bold, radical change — not the sport's historically business-savvy, penny-pinching mindset that has helped keep it afloat or riding minuscule single-digit gains of late — are needed to get it there. Michael Andretti, publicly and privately scolded for his bold, on-the-record quotes 15 months ago that the sport needed a $100 million influx in funding to tackle IndyCar's myriad issues, didn't then, and doesn't now, seem so far off. Because after my rewatch this week, Fox's broadcast of the Indy 500 was most successful in its moments where it felt the most different to editions in recent years: the pre-race show. It felt at times as if I had time-traveled to a cool, fall Saturday morning set of ESPN's "College Gameday," featuring multiple intricate sets, a deep cast of knowledgeable on-air talent with diverse backgrounds and specialties, a raucous, sometimes seemingly unending crowd flanking them and sprinkles of both live, in-person interviews and pre-taped feature pieces that ran the gamut of emotions. It was everything Fox's Super Bowl pre-game show was earlier this year, with the benefit of being a reasonable length that someone actually might want to sit all the way through and absorb. It was subtly educational — from features on fans and the blue envelopes to drones flying all over and showing just how stinkin' big the place is — without dumbing down the content. It spoke to and highlighted, either in short live hits, segments of thematic features or full-blown profile segments — well over a dozen drivers, some of them at enough length that had you not known them at all before, you might have reason to root for them now. Was it all a slam dunk? With the over-the-top spots with Gronk, the multiple messed up row-by-row factoids and the unnecessary AI "Michael Strahan the racecar driver" segment, certainly not. But for those not at the track that morning, it made you feel as if you were right in Pagoda Plaza, told stories that kept a variety of levels of race fans engaged and helped build both the tension and the pageantry that showed full and well why the 500 is regarded as the biggest race in the world. It properly set the stage in a way that made someone like me who's so deeply ingrained in the sport that this show was for a sport that for years now has only fielded $20 million to $25 million annually in rights fees and one that through five previous races in 2025 had only two draw average audiences on network TV above 715,000. And with a pre-race audience that neared 3 million, it helped build a base that saw this year's 500 finish with an audience of 7.087 million — one that topped the corresponding year's Daytona 500 (albeit one that featured a rain delay of more than three hours) for just the second time in 30 years and drew the largest U.S. motorsports audience in more than two years. That audience figure, too, represented 40% growth year over year, the type of leap in audience the 500 has seen only two other times in more than 20 years: 2005, for Danica Patrick's rookie race (60% increase, 6.08 million to 9.74 million); and 2021, for the post-COVID-19 race (53% increase, 3.67 million to 5.63 million). And for a race that hadn't sniffed an average of audience above 6 million since 2016 and that saw just an 11% year-over-year audience increase from ABC (2018) to NBC (2019) that delivered a much less-radical broadcast overhaul, Fox's all-out blitz, from its promotional plan that began last fall to its out-of-the-park pre-race show can be the only thing that would reasonably explain such a leap. More 500s like this in the future will undoubtedly represent notable, impactful paydays for IndyCar teams from a sponsorship standpoint. Indy 500 partner programs that might've required budgets from $1.2 million to $1.5 million, or even $2 million for teams not overly looking to run an extra car, could transform over the next few months as budgets are prepared for 2026 and, for the first time in several years, teams might be able to seek higher sponsorship dollars for reasons other than covering steeply rising costs. But until the rest of the calendar and the sport can transform in the ways in which IndyCar seemingly did for more than six hours Sunday, it will continue to fall short of its potential. Outside a home run of a season opener that drew more than 1.4 million viewers across Fox's race broadcast, IndyCar had yet to reach even 920,000 (Barber was second highest at 914,000) until the 500 in a season that, heading into Sunday, was riding a 15% year-over-year boost almost entirely attributed to that big-hit season opener and a Long Beach broadcast that only barely topped a dismal 550,000, but came in the wake of one a year prior broadcast on cable (NBC's USA Network) that only marginally even topped 300,000 and that in 2023 surpassed 1 million on NBC. In short, its gains from one truly notable win, along with another couple marginal wins and notable losses had painted an uncertain picture as to where exactly the sport's momentum was trending. Insider: He played hooky to attend the Indy 500, owns a bar outside IMS and leads Fox's coverage At-race attendance for several years now has been trending upwards at several of the sport's biggest races — indicative of both a growing diehard fanbase as well as more casual fans willing to give IndyCar a shot when it rolls through town — but with average network TV audiences largely stagnant over the course of the NBC-only era, the latter suggested the sport wasn't doing enough to create buzz and give an increasing number of fans a reason to make the sport a weekly priority. If IndyCar was the only thing on, or it was the opener, or a finale, or a race with a great lead-in or the first at a new track, you could count on solid returns. But up against stiff competition and without a pressing reason to tune in — or a marketing campaign that ever really broke into mainstream culture, until this year — there continued to be far too many races that suggested in those instances it was for little more than its aging diehard fanbase. Not that IndyCar need expect any other race to even sniff 500 numbers, but other races making, and holding onto, year over year, similar annual increases is where this sport has an opportunity turn the corner and be one where teams aren't merely grinding to break even. And what does that look like? Fox's game plan of practice and qualifying on cable TV, along with incorporating IndyCar into the core of its news, sports and entertainment programming is a notable start, but it's more than that. Each race needs to feel like an event, like something special. You can't have a 17-race schedule where half of them feel as if they're a Wednesday stop on a concert tour. 'Come on man': Indianapolis 500 viewers aren't happy with the amount of commercials on Fox If you ask me purely as a viewer of both, Formula races continue to pretty consistently out rate IndyCar broadcasts because each and every one feels big and important, from the length of pre-race shows to the grid walks, the storytelling and the extensive post-race broadcast that makes the achievement of the winning team and driver and their podium-mates feel grand. And in between, the broadcasts are proactively finding the battles on track and creating storylines. Not only is the timing and scoring technology a storytelling tool in and of itself, but its … reliable. And elsewhere in The CW's fresh take on the NASCAR Xfinity series and Amazon Prime's debut with the Cup series' Coca-Cola 600, the broadcasts have felt fresh, sleek and grandiose. In IndyCar, this looks like far more tentpole events on the calendar, beyond the addition of next year's Grand Prix of Arlington. It means Mexico City and Denver and perhaps a rethink of IndyCar's stops in central California or the Pacific Northwest. It means a race at a major venue in the northeast. It means more ovals that come with even a quarter of the importance that Sunday's 500 came packaged with. It means nighttime oval races in primetime, like the one we're getting in two weeks at World Wide Technology Raceway, but one that notably wasn't scheduled until it became clear IndyCar was struggling mightily whenever it faced NASCAR competition. It means a wholesale new car completely redesigned with the future in mind, ideally one not only capable of holding onto Honda but attracting a third manufacturer that has visions of longevity in the sport and a history of motorsports success, even if the price tag is high. Together, all of that contributes to a sport that's far more exciting than the current product on track and one that feels important and grandiose off of it, which leads to a growing fan base that triggers increased sponsorship interest and eventually a flywheel that feeds itself. Because even Sunday, as many people clearly felt the Indy 500 was worth tuning into, represented a largely uneventful back half of a race with miniscule amounts of passing up at the front — most notably a lead pack of drivers with the fastest cars in the field underneath them who couldn't pass the 14th- and 15th-place challengers that had qualified 18th and 22nd and survived a race that featured exceedingly high levels of attrition. And so 8.4 million fans, both diehard and exceedingly casual, were drawn to a down-to-the-wire 500 finish that featured as little drama as the race has seen in years, in many ways because of a car that has received piecemeal updates for 14 years. How many of them were so compelled by what they saw that they'll make Sunday's Detroit Grand Prix appointment viewing? Perhaps a better question: How many times, if ever, was the next race on the calendar plugged? I'll be happy to be told I somehow missed several instances, but none immediately come to mind. After all, how successful, ultimately, is a restaurant's highly publicized grand-opening that featured commercials and fliers and social media ads and a live band out front to coronate the occasion, if the food alone isn't good enough to pack the place for weeks to come? Without question, this Indianapolis 500 lived in another stratosphere than it's occupied, outside his 100th running, than any in recent memory. From sold-out trendy, high-quality pieces of merch from mainstream brands to a Carb Day crowd that may never have been so big to the grandstand sellout and the historically high TV numbers, the 109th Indy 500 should be seen as nothing other than evidence IndyCar can go to battle with its rivals. And though it took an ill-timed February storm to do it, the fact more folks made the IndyCar's 500 appointment TV than NASCAR's is something that can't and shouldn't be ignored.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
FIA Approves General Motors F1 Power Unit For Cadillac Team In 2029
Cadillac's Formula One effort has taken another step forward. TWG GM Performance Power Units LLC., a company formed by TWG Motorsports and General Motors, has been approved by the FIA for use in 2029. The Cadillac F1 team will become the 11th team on the grid starting in 2026 and will use Ferrari power units for the three years leading to the now approved unit from GM. Development and testing of the prototype engine will continue with plans for a dedicated facility for GM Performance Power Units closed to General Motor's Charlotte Technical Center in 2026. The approval is significant in that the Cadillac F1 effort will be wholly U.S. based by 2029. TWG Motorsports is the effort formerly headed by Michael Andretti under the Andretti Autosports umbrella. TWG Motorsports has said that they plan to have at least one American driver in the two car team. Russ O'Blenes who was named CEO of the new venture said that with approval from FIA, they would continue to accelerate efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid. 'Over two years ago, the FIA approved the entry of an eleventh team into the FIA Formula One World Championship, guided by my vision to expand the grid and bring new talent and opportunity to our sport,' said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem adding that although the process was at times challenging – eluding to Andretti stepping aside as the head the effort and into the role of ambassador and advisor, to allow TWG Motorsports to eventually gain approval on the grid, 'the progress we see today affirms the journey has been worthwhile.' Ben Sulayem said that 'welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors.' 'Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA's vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide—welcoming new manufacturers, advancing technology, and connecting with a broader, more diverse fan base.'
Fox Sports
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Inside Line: Under-the-Radar Long Beach Moment?
INDYCAR Today's question: The Acura Long Beach Grand Prix celebrates its 50th edition April 11-13 as one of the marquee events in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. What is an under-the-radar aspect of the event or its history that resonates with you? Curt Cavin: There are so many cool elements to Long Beach's history, which makes it difficult to single out one. It was both the first and last INDYCAR SERIES win of Michael Andretti's career, and the first series outing for two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi (he finished fourth in the 1984 race). It's where Scott Dixon won the first race of his title-winning Indy Lights season in 2000 and where Katherine Legge, in her first start in Atlantics in 2005, became the first woman to win a major developmental race in North America. It's where Paul Tracy, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mike Conway, Takuma Sato and Kyle Kirkwood scored their first INDYCAR SERIES race wins (Tracy also won there in Indy Lights). But a single greatest moment? Surely it was when Chris Pook, a former travel agent from England, convinced city officials to stage a street race in what was then a depressed, industrial city without an identity. I wasn't there for the first event, a Formula 5000 race held in September 1975 as a dry run for Formula One to be held six months later, but it must have been a Herculean effort even as longtime event president Jim Michaelian said many of the 62,000 on hand walked in without paying. Eric Smith: Will Power recently told me the 2008 race at Long Beach stood out to him because it was considered the final race of the Champ Car era. That's my nugget because 17 years later, I kind of forgot about that moment and presume a lot of folks did, too. That year's race was the first event to take place after the open-wheel reunification joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Champ Car as one series. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict arose between Long Beach (Champ Car) and the race at Motegi, Japan (INDYCAR SERIES). A compromise was made that the former Champ Car teams competed at Long Beach, while established INDYCAR SERIES teams competed in Japan. Both races paid full points to the INDYCAR SERIES championship. In Long Beach, 20 cars used the turbocharged Cosworth/Panoz DP01 for the last time. Power led 81 of 83 laps to earn the victory. Arni Sribhen: An under-the-radar aspect of Long Beach – literally and figuratively – is the marine layer typical of the morning on the Pacific coast. The marine layer forms when a warmer air mass travels over a cooler body of water, like the ocean. The low lump stratus clouds can keep the air temperature up at night as it reflects radiant heat from the ground down, but it can also slow the warming of the track in the morning. It's easy to be fooled by the marine layer when it comes to setting up a car. The conditions may be opposite of the weather forecast, and with multiple series sharing the track at Long Beach, what you learn in morning practice may not apply by the time you return for the afternoon sessions. Worse, it could lead a team or driver in the wrong direction come qualifying or race time. Paul Kelly: The 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix always will be surreal to me, not because of who was there but because of who almost wasn't there. Helio Castroneves was on trial for six counts of tax evasion at U.S. District Court in Miami in late March and early April 2009, and a guilty verdict almost certainly would have resulted in a prison term and the end of the then two-time Indianapolis 500 winner's driving career in North America. Tense times for Castroneves and his legions of fans, to say the least. The jury acquitted Castroneves of all six counts of tax evasion April 17, the opening day of that year's Long Beach Grand Prix, with Castroneves openly weeping in the courtroom after learning of his freedom. Castroneves then flew to Long Beach, qualified eighth and finished seventh in an exceptional performance considering he didn't know if he would be a free man 72 hours earlier. Will Power was a temporary fill-in for the on-trial Castroneves that season at the season opener at St. Petersburg, finishing sixth. Team Penske had Power on standby again for Castroneves' No. 3 at Long Beach but fielded car No. 12 for Power once it learned Castroneves was free to race that weekend. Power won the pole, finished second and parlayed that super-sub performance into a full-time ride with the team in 2010, and he's been there ever since. recommended
The Guardian
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Formula One and FIA approve GM-backed Cadillac entry for 2026 season
Formula One will have an 11th team on the grid next year after Cadillac's long-anticipated entry was finally rubber-stamped by the sport's bosses. Cadillac, a division of American motoring giant General Motors, will be supported by TWG Motorsports and powered by Ferrari before it develops its own engines. The decision comes after F1 had initially rejected the bid which was headed up by US team Andretti – owned by former driver Michael Andretti, son of 1978 world champion Mario Andretti – last year. The Andretti name is no longer involved in the project, although Mario is set to be involved as an adviser. A joint statement from F1 and the FIA read: 'The FIA and Formula One can confirm that, following the completion of their respective sporting, technical and commercial assessments, the application by General Motors and TWG Motorsports to bring a Cadillac team to the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2026 has been approved.' The other 10 teams had largely been against the introduction of a new outfit because of the dilution of prize money. However, it is understood Cadillac's ambition to become a full works team and commitment to a future power unit of their own – as well as the significant financial involvement of General Motors in the project – was too good for the sport to resist. F1's presence in the United States has increased dramatically in recent seasons following the success of the sport's Netflix series, Drive to Survive – the seventh season was released on Friday – as well as the growing number of races in America. Las Vegas, Miami and Austin will all stage events this year. It is expected that at least one of Cadillac's drivers will be American. Briton Graeme Lowdon has already been announced as the team principal and it will have a base at Silverstone. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who has called for more teams and clashed with F1 over Andretti's initial proposal, said: 'Today marks a transformative moment, and I am proud to lead the Federation in this progressive step for the championship. 'The FIA Formula One Championship's expansion to an 11th team in 2026 is a milestone. GM/Cadillac brings fresh energy, aligning with the new FIA 2026 regulations and ushering in an exciting era for the sport. 'The Cadillac Formula One Team's presence in the paddock will inspire future competitors and fans. Their entry strengthens our mission to push motorsport's boundaries at the highest level.' F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said: 'As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula One was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. 'I want to thank GM and TWG for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for what will be another exciting year for Formula One.' The opening round of the new 24-round season gets under way in Melbourne a week on Sunday.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cadillac's F1 Team Has Officially Been Approved
Cadillac has finally received its official approval to join the 2026 Formula 1 grid, ending a year-long drama that started when General Motors and Andretti Global's application was initially rejected in January of 2024. With this final confirmation, GM's team is locked into its place as the 11th team competing in the upcoming F1 season. Although the team that joins the grid is an evolution of the original Andretti Global bid for an 11th F1 team that began with a tweet from Mario Andretti three years ago, the program has since morphed. The final version is now only Cadillac-branded, although it is still a partnership with the TWG Global parent group that owns Andretti Global. Michael Andretti, the namesake of the Andretti Global IndyCar and Formula E teams, announced plans to step away from his formal role with his teams in the 2024 offseason. TWG Global is also listed as the owner of NASCAR's Spire Motorsports and IMSA's Wayne Taylor Racing, both GM-affiliated programs. The Cadillac team still has not announced its drivers for the 2026 season, but it has made a few key technical hires. Former Marussia Team Principal Graeme Lowdon will fulfill the same role at the new team, while long-time GM racing standby Russ O'Blenes will lead the group's engine program in advance of plans to debut bespoke engines in a future season. Driver announcements are expected later in the year. Mark Reuss, president of GM, says that the Cadillac F1 team has been "has been accelerating its work" ahead of the 2026 season. "[GM is] incredibly grateful for the support from the FIA and Formula One Management leadership for us and for our collaboration with TWG," he said. "The excitement only grows as we get closer to showcasing GM's engineering expertise on the prestigious global stage of F1." GM's F1 program is its most ambitious operation yet, but the American automaker is not new to global racing. Corvette-branded GT cars and Cadillac-branded prototypes have competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the closely-related FIA World Endurance Championship for decades. Chevrolet and Cadillac branded operations also compete in IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, global GT3 racing, and NHRA drag racing. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
