Final numbers for the Indianapolis 500 improved over the fast-nationals released earlier in the week.
The 2014 Indy 500 earned a 3.9 final rating and 6.2 million viewers on ABC, an improvement over the previously reported 3.8 and 5.9 million fast-national numbers. Compared to last year’s race, ratings and viewership increased by 5% and 9%, respectively.
Final numbers for sporting events usually differ only slightly from the fast-nationals, if at all. With that said, it is not unprecedented for an event to see an increase from the fast-nationals to the final numbers. This year’s Super Bowl, for example, added 0.3 ratings points and nearly one million extra viewers in the final count.
Despite the improved numbers, the Indy 500 still ranks as the third-lowest rated since live start-to-finish coverage began in 1986. Viewership, however, now ranks as the fourth-lowest on record — having surpassed the 2004 average of 6.1 million.
In addition, the Indy 500 still finished behind NASCAR’s Coca Cola 600, which earned a 4.1 and 7.0 million.
(Updated numbers from ESPN)
