FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 24th, 2012

NBC SPORTS NETWORK PRESENTS TWO DAYS OF INDYCAR COVERAGE FROM SONOMA BEGINNING TOMORROW

Live Grand Prix – Sunday at 4 p.m. ET Qualifying – Saturday at 6 p.m. ET Indy Car 36 Featuring Simon Pagenaud – Saturday at 7 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – August 24, 2012 –NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series continues this weekend with the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on Sunday, August 26 at 4 p.m. ET live from Sonoma, Calif. The race will be preceded by qualifying coverage on Saturday, August 25 at 6 p.m. ET and a new episode of IndyCar 36 featuring Simon Pagenaud at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK’S INDYCAR COVERAGE (subject to change, all times ET):

DATE COVERAGE TIME
Sat., Aug. 25 IndyCar Qualifying 6 p.m.
IndyCar 36 (Simon Pagenaud) 7 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 26 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma (live) 4 p.m.
Mon., Aug 27 IndyCar 36 (Simon Pagenaud) 2 a.m.
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma (replay) 4 p.m.
IndyCar 36 (Simon Pagenaud) 10:30 p.m.

INDYCAR GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA: With only three races remaining in the 2012 season, Sunday’s race is critical for drivers aiming to win the season championship, including July’s Edmonton Indy winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil, ranked third in IndyCar standings, second place Ryan Hunter-Reay and driver Will Power of Australia, who is currently ranked first and leads by five points.

Commentators Bob Jenkins (lead race announcer), Jon Beekhuis (analyst) and Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (analyst) will call all the race coverage. Additionally, Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, Robin Miller and Townsend Bell will serve as pit reporters calling all the race action.

QUALIFYING: This Saturday, one-hour qualifying coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET. During the 2012 IndyCar season, NBC Sports Network will air qualifying sessions the day before or day of each race.

INDYCAR 36: The NBC Sports Network will offer motorsports fans another episode of the all-access series IndyCar 36. This week the cameras follow French driver Simon Pagenaud, who races for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. The NBC Sports Network original series is produced by IMS Productions and gives viewers an all-access pass into the life of a world-class driver in the middle of race season. The cameras will follow a driver for 36 hours during a race weekend providing a behind-the-scenes look at the on- and off-track activities of the stars of the IndyCar Series. The all-access 36 series also includes NHL 36, which debuted in December, and Fight Night 36 that debuted in March.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK’S REMAINING 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE (subject to change, all times ET):
DATE RACE LOCATION TIME
September 2 Baltimore Grand Prix Baltimore, Md. 2 p.m.
September 15 Auto Club Speedway Fontana, Calif. 8 p.m.