ABC ended its 2015 IndyCar coverage with mixed numbers last weekend.
Race 2 of the IndyCar Series Detroit doubleheader earned a 0.8 final rating and 1.2 million viewers on ABC Sunday afternoon, up a third in ratings and 30% in viewership from last year (0.6, 891K) and up a tick and 20%, respectively, from 2013 (0.7, 1.0M). The telecast ranks as the most-watched of the season, edging Indy 500 qualifying on ABC May 17 (1.1M).
The rain-shortened first race drew a 0.6 and 845,000 on Saturday, down 25% in ratings and 30% in viewership from last year (0.8, 1.2M) and flat and down 4%, respectively, from 2013 (0.6, 883K).
Indianapolis was the top market for both telecasts, earning a 5.5 on Sunday and a 3.3 on Saturday. Host market Detroit ranked second, with a 4.2 and 2.8, respectively.
For the season, ABC’s five IndyCar telecasts averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.4 million viewers — flat in ratings and up 3% in viewership from last year (1.5, 2.3M) and up a tick and 12%, respectively, from 2013 (1.4, 2.1M).
Ratings/Viewership For IndyCar on ABC, Compared to Last Year
Asterisk (*) indicates coverage was affected by rain
| Date | Race | 2015 | 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTG. | VWRS. | RTG. | VWRS. | ||
| 3/29 | St. Pete | 0.6 | 891K | 0.6 | 866K |
| 5/9 | Indy (Grand Prix) | 0.7 | 1.00M | 0.9 | 1.24M |
| 5/16 | Indy (Quals)* | 0.5 | 791K | 0.7 | 1.05M |
| 5/17 | Indy (Quals)* | 0.8 | 1.12M | 1.0 | 1.48M |
| 5/24 | Indy 500 | 4.2 | 6.48M | 3.9 | 6.20M |
| 5/30 | Detroit I | 0.6 | 845K | 0.8 | 1.21M |
| 5/31 | Detroit II | 0.8 | 1.16M | 0.6 | 891K |
(Wknd. numbers and season avg. from ESPN)
