Indy 500: Final Rating Avoids Low, But Race Least-Viewed Ever

Final ratings for the Indianapolis 500 narrowly avoided setting an all-time record low.

The 2013 Indianapolis 500 drew a 3.7 rating and 5.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down 14% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (4.3, 6.8M), and down 8% and 15%, respectively, from 2011 (4.0, 6.7M).

The race ranks as the second-lowest rated Indianapolis 500 since the race began airing live from start-to-finish in 1986, ahead of only 2010 (3.6). Prior to 2010, the Indianapolis 500 had never dipped below a 4.0 final rating.

Viewership for the race was the lowest since ’86, falling below the previous mark set in 2010 (5.8M).

Final numbers were not immediately available for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte. The race had a 4.1 overnight, and is likely to inch up even further when the final numbers are released.

In the past ten years the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500 have aired on the same day (2002-08, 2010-12), the NASCAR race has had a higher final rating nine times and a larger audience every time.

Indianapolis was the top market for Sunday’s race, with a 9.3 rating for a tape-delayed re-air in primetime. The 9.3 marks a 6% decline from last year (9.9), as the re-air aired directly opposite Game 3 of the Heat/Pacers NBA Eastern Conference Finals on TNT (17.3).

Dayton (OH) was the second-highest rated market, with an 8.6. Louisville (8.3), Oklahoma City (7.5) and Cincinnati (6.8) rounded out the top five.

Ratings, Viewership, For Indianapolis 500

Past decade

(This year’s numbers from ESPN)