Indy Racing announces new TV deal

Aug 7, 2008 - 7:26 PM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Indianapolis 500 will be televised by ABC Sports through 2012 as part of a contract extension announced Thursday by the Indy Racing League.

ABC Sports also will televise four additional IndyCar Series races, continuing a coverage plan that began in 1996.

In another part of Thursday's agreement, the Versus cable channel will carry 13 IndyCar races annually over the next 10 years.

"We couldn't be happier moving forward with our media rights with long-time partner ABC and now welcoming Versus to the IndyCar Series family," said Tony George, the founder and CEO of the Indy Racing League. "Looking forward to 2009 and beyond, we have the opportunity to team up with our media partners and really capitalize on unification and the three-year Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Celebration."

The Indianapolis 500, which has aired on ABC for the last 44 years, will be telecast in high definition.

"The 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 will mark the 45th consecutive year that ABC has broadcast the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'" George said. "They have been a great network partner. We enjoy their past and continued support of the IndyCar Series, who, along with ESPN, has broadcast nearly all of the series' races since its inception in 1996."

The current home of the NHL, the Tour de France and the Davis Cup, Versus also will carry a one-hour preview show the day before each race.

The addition of Versus means ESPN no longer will televise IndyCar races.

"We are very excited to be entering into this multi-year partnership with the Indy Racing League," said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming, production and business operations at Versus. "All of the great live programming will be a perfect complement to our ever expanding lineup of elite competition.

"Versus is the ideal home for IndyCar racing since we pride ourselves on super-serving highly passionate fans and, as the new exclusive cable home of the Indy Racing League, we look forward to providing motorsports fans with the most in-depth coverage they have ever seen."