IndyCar down 16.7% in 2018 (Update)

Is the rumor true that John Malone and his Liberty Media might save IndyCar?

UPDATE A reader writes, Dear AutoRacing1.com, As a huge IndyCar fan, with so many races failing and TV ratings heading south fast, I am worried that the current leadership is running the series into the ground. Yet, I watch F1 and the grandstands are packed and countries around the world are begging for a race. I keep hearing about new International venues for IndyCar, but I see none. I keep hearing about another engine manufacturer, but I see none. Who is replacing Verizon as the series sponsor? I do see some new teams, which is positive, but I suspect that's a result of a strong USA economy. It's disheartening to see what is happening to IndyCar. Joel Bennet

Dear Joel, IndyCar under CART was once threatening F1 for global popularity. Then Tony George destroyed it when he brought his hammer to work every day. Let's hope the rumor of Liberty Media buying IndyCar and the Indy Speedway pan out. IndyCar needs a new owner with a vision, and a willingness to make an investment in the series the current owners are not willing to make. And of course the races cannot be shown on NBCSN where the series is nearly invisibly and offers very little exposure to sponsors and manufacturers. It's a death knell. Mark C.

07/13/18 IndyCar boss Mark Miles says IndyCar is growing, so we checked the facts (TV-viewers thru Iowa race) and found it was growing last year, but this year it is contracting. And it isn't just ABC or NBCSN – it's across the board. The numbers don't lie.

As for the new car, as expected it did NOT help IndyCar's popularity. People – athletes – Drivers – Hero's make a sport, not the equipment.

Venue	Network	2016 Viewers	2017 Viewers	% Chg	2018 Viewers	%Chg
St. Petersburg	ABC	1,400,000	1,190,000	-17.6%	1,144,000	-4.0%
Phoenix	NBCSN	363,000	343,000	-5.8%	253,000	-35.6%
Long Beach	NBCSN	402,000	321,000	-25.2%	370,000	13.2%
Barber	NBCSN	279,000	470,000	40.6%	310,000	-51.6%
Indy GP	ABC	1,300,000	1,000,000	-30.0%	1,140,000	12.3%
Indy 500	ABC	6,000,000	5,500,000	-9.1%	4,900,000	-12.2%
Detroit 1	ABC	1,000,000	847,000	-18.1%	751,000	-12.8%
Detroit 2	ABC	918,000	1,400,000	34.4%	936,000	-49.6%
Texas	NBCSN	388,000	561,000	30.8%	336,000	-67.0%
Elkhart Lake	NBCSN	470,000	568,000	17.3%	322,000	-76.4%
Iowa	NBCSN	534,000	534,000	0.0%	452,000	-18.1%
	Total Viewers To-Date	13,054,000	12,734,000	-2.5%	10,914,000	-16.7%