FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 1st, 2020
NBC SPORTS’ EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF 2021 INDYCAR SEASON HEADLINED BY 105TH RUNNING OF INDY 500 AND INAUGURAL MUSIC CITY GRAND PRIX IN NASHVILLE
2021 Season Features Record Nine Races on Broadcast Network NBC, Including Indy 500, Season Opener at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Season Finale at Laguna Seca
105th Running of Indianapolis 500 Presented May 30 on NBC
Inaugural Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., to Take Place on Aug. 8 on NBCSN
INDYCAR-NASCAR Crossover Weekend from IMS on Aug. 14-15
STAMFORD, Conn. – Oct. 1, 2020 – The 2021 NTT INDYCAR Series schedule will feature a record nine races on broadcast network NBC, highlighted by the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30, and the season opener, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, on Sunday, March 7. The 17-race season, which will be exclusively presented across NBC Sports, also features the inaugural presentation of the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Aug. 8, on NBCSN.
Highlights of NBC Sports’ 2021 INDYCAR schedule, which features a mix of ovals, road and street courses, include:
- The 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30, on NBC;
- The 2021 season begins on network television with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 7, on NBC;
- The iconic Grand Prix of Long Beach returns to network television for the first time since 2007, airing on Sunday, April 18, on NBC;
- The inaugural presentation of the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Aug. 8, on NBCSN;
- Return of the INDYCAR-NASCAR doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, headlining a revamped Brickyard Weekend on Aug. 14-15, with the INDYCAR race on Saturday, Aug. 14 on NBCSN;
- The record nine INDYCAR races on NBC also includes the Detroit Dual races on the weekend of June 12-13 and the final two races of the season in Portland (Sunday, Sept. 12) and Laguna Seca (Sunday, Sept. 19).
“The INDYCAR and NBC Sports partnership continues to be mutually beneficial, growing in viewership and providing adrenaline-packed entertainment to a national sports audience,” said Michael Perman, vice president, programming, NBC Sports. “We’re looking forward to providing increased exposure to the Series in 2021, including network coverage of the season opener in St. Pete and the finale in Laguna Seca. Additionally, as a marquee event of our Championship Season, we’ll also provide wall-to-wall coverage of the Indy 500 on NBC, an international sporting spectacle filled with speed and exceptional drama.”
“We’re really pleased that the current plans provide for one additional race on NBC’s network than we had this year,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment. “In particular, the season will start with NBC coverage of the St. Petersburg event, a spectacular start for those in attendance and for those watching from home.”
Below is the NBC Sports’ 2021 INDYCAR telecast schedule on NBC and NBCSN. Start times will be revealed at a later date*:
Date | Race/Track | Network |
Sun, March 7 | Streets of St. Petersburg | NBC |
Sun., April 11 | Barber Motorsports Park | NBCSN |
Sun., April 18 | Streets of Long Beach | NBC |
Sat., May 1 | Texas Motor Speedway – Race 1 | NBCSN |
Sun., May 2 | Texas Motor Speedway – Race 2 | NBCSN |
Sat., May 15 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Road Course) | NBC |
Sun., May 30 | The 105th Indianapolis 500 | NBC |
Sat., June 12 | Raceway at Belle Isle Park/Detroit – Race 1 | NBC |
Sun., June 13 | Raceway at Belle Isle Park/Detroit – Race 2 | NBC |
Sun., June 20 | Road America | NBCSN |
Sun., July 4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | NBC |
Sun., July 11 | Streets of Toronto | NBCSN |
Sun., Aug. 8 | Streets of Nashville | NBCSN |
Sat., Aug. 14 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Road Course) | NBCSN |
Sat., Aug. 21 | World Wide Technology Raceway | NBCSN |
Sun., Sept. 12 | Portland International Raceway | NBC |
Sun, Sept. 19 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | NBC |
*dates and networks are subject to change
–NBC SPORTS–