NBC Sports’ coverage of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear delivered the best combined viewership for the doubleheader races in three years as well as numerous other milestones, according to Fast National data by Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
The NTT IndyCar Series races on Saturday and Sunday combined to average a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 929,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, up 10 percent vs. ABC’s TV-only viewership in 2018 (846,000) and the best combined viewership for the two races in three years (2016, 1.205 million). The two-race TV-only viewership on NBC averaged 924,000 viewers.
Sunday’s race, won by five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing, averaged a TAD of 1.097 million viewers, up 17 percent vs. vs. ABC’s TV-only viewership in 2018 (937,000) and the best for the Sunday race in three years (2016, 1.397 million). The race peaked on NBC with 1.364 million viewers from 5:30-5:45 p.m. ET as Dixon took the checkered flag. The TV-only viewership for the race on NBC (3:47-5:50 p.m. ET) was 1.091 million viewers, with a 0.71 household rating.
Saturday’s race (3:53-6 p.m. ET) was impacted by significant weather delays and saw Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden win a timed race. Across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, it averaged a TAD of 766,000 viewers, up 2 percent vs. ABC’s TV-only viewership in 2018 (752,000). Viewership peaked on NBC with 1.043 million viewers from 5:45-6 p.m. ET. NBC’s TV-only viewership on Saturday averaged 761,000 viewers and delivered a 0.55 household rating. The final 20 minutes of the race were televised on CNBC and are not included in NBC’s final viewership.
For the season, the four races presented across NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app (INDYCAR Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and the Detroit doubleheader) have combined to average a TAD of 2.526 million viewers, up 18 percent versus the same four races last season on ABC (2.143 million).
NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series continues Saturday at 8 p.m. ET with the DXC Technology 600 from Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Coverage airs on NBCSN, which will also telecast qualifying live at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Buy tickets for Texas, help Racing For Cancer
Fans may still buy tickets to attend Saturday’s DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway and fight the battle against cancer at the same time.
TMS has teamed with Racing For Cancer, the charity founded by Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, to offer a promotion where half the cost of a $30 adult ticket for the race will be donated to the nonprofit. To order tickets, visit texasmotorspeedway.com/racingforcancer and use the promotional code R4C19.
Hunter-Reay, who was born in Dallas, founded Racing For Cancer after his mother, Lydia, died from colon cancer in 2010. The nonprofit was formed to unite motorsports fans to help those afflicted with the disease and to promote early detection and preventive initiatives.
GESS, Capstone sponsoring Rossi for two races
Andretti Autosport announced GESS International and Capstone Turbine Corporation will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 27 Honda driven by Alexander Rossi at Saturday’s DAX Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway and for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway in August. The partnership builds off an associate sponsorship with four Andretti Autosport entries in the NTT IndyCar Series.
The relationship between the team and the green energy services company began in May, when the GESS International logo appeared on each of Andretti’s cars for the INDYCAR Grand Prix and 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
“GESS International is excited to expand its partnership with Capstone Turbine Corporation and Andretti Autosport with Alexander Rossi, the driver of the No. 27 Indy car,” said Shaun Lee, president of GESS International. “As leaders in the renewable natural gas industry, GESS looks to promote the use of RNG biogas. GESS continues to raise awareness of carbon negative emissions and green energy.”
Capstone Turbine Corporation, a strategic partner of GESS International, is committed to improving the efficiencies of energy needs around the world, while simultaneously reducing the global emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. Capstone’s systems help end users improve their impact on the environment, while still meeting power and reliability needs. To date, Capstone has shipped over 9,000 units to 73 countries and last year alone saved customers an estimated $253 million in annual energy costs and 350,000 tons of carbon.
“We are very excited about this partnership opportunity with Andretti Autosport in support of Alexander Rossi as Capstone Turbine looks to further the brand awareness of its high-efficiency, low-emission energy solutions,” said Darren Jamison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstone. “Despite saving customers millions of dollars annually and helping save the planet by reducing tons of carbon, it’s still surprising how many people are still not aware of Capstone’s innovative, clean and green microturbine products. I’m confident that our sponsorship with the world-renowned Andretti Autosport will help us raise awareness of our new disruptive energy technology.”
ABeam Consulting to sponsor Sato at two races
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that ABeam Consulting, which provides business transformation services to over 800 clients throughout Asia, the Americas and Europe, will be primary sponsor of Takuma Sato’s No. 30 Honda at the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday and at the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in September. ABeam has been an associate sponsor of Sato’s car since 2017.
“I’m extremely excited to see ABeam Consulting come back as a primary sponsor at Texas Motor Speedway and also be primary sponsor at the final race of the season at Laguna Seca,” Sato said. “ABeam’s technical support for every track has been really great, and once again their enthusiasm and pride in their company is tremendous as is their passion for motorsport. I am very motivated to bring this beautiful blue ABeam car a strong result at both races.”
ABeam is providing ABeam digital engineers dedicated to the RLL racing program. Three engineers are attending all 2019 races to provide the latest digital technology to support the team through digital analytics enabling advanced driving analysis, fault forecasting and data collection and analysis.
Chip Ganassi Racing partners with Guardian Alarm
Guardian Alarm, Michigan’s largest privately held security company, has established a business partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing in the team’s NTT IndyCar Series and NASCAR programs. The deal will see Guardian branding on the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda driven by five-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Scott Dixon.
“By supporting the team, we’re supporting our customers that are passionate about the sport of racing, particularly in Michigan, Ohio and the surrounding areas.,” said Tom Erhardt, president and COO, Guardian Alarm. “We look forward to sharing in the success of our drivers Kurt Busch (in NASCAR) and Scott Dixon, who will be racing this season with Guardian on their car. By supporting these drivers, we’re supporting their families and their fans, our valued customers.”