IRL buys air-time from ABC

UPDATE This NASCAR.com story is down graded to 'false.' According to IRL spokesperson Fred Nation, "the Indy Racing League has a rights paying deal with ABC/ESPN thru 2009. It is the latest in a succession of rights fees contracts since 1965 with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the second longest relationship in American television sports after CBS and the Masters. Therefore, the premise of Marty's (the author) story is incorrect."

09/07/06 There is no easy remedy, it seems. Everyone appreciates the side-by-side format used by ABC during Indy Racing League broadcasts, but that's simply not an option in NASCAR. The broadcast rights dynamics are polar opposites:

According to industry television sources, whereas FOX and NBC/TNT must pay NASCAR for the rights to broadcast its races, IndyCar must, in fact, pay ABC.

IRL races are glorified ad-buys, so they can afford to work with preexisting partners to offer the side-by-side coverage.

It's a wonderful concept, but again, not currently applicable to NASCAR. NASCAR.com