Ratings for the Indianapolis 500 since 1973. Ratings for races run from ’73-’91 include pre-race coverage; ratings for races from ’92-’08 are for race coverage only. Also included are ratings for the Coca Cola 600 from ’99 to ’08.
The Indy 500 last drew a double-digit rating in 1992. Since ’92, ratings for the race have declined by 58% — from a 10.9 in ’92 to a 4.6 in ’08. In the past ten years, the Indy 500 has drawn a rating of 6.0 or higher only once: 2005, when hype surrounding Danica Patrick helped the race draw a 6.5 rating.
Since 2001, when the Coca Cola 600 aired on FOX for the first time, the Indianapolis 500 has been outdrawn by the Coca Cola 600 every year but two: 2001 and 2005. Both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 have seen a precipitous drop in ratings since ’05; ratings for the Indy 500 have declined 29% since ’05, and ratings for the Coke 600 have dropped 23%.
Ratings for the Indianapolis 500 since 1973.
Ratings for races from ’73-’91 include pre-race coverage
Asterisk (*) indicates race was delayed from Sunday due to rain.
Source: Sports Business Daily
| Year | Date | Winner | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2008
|
Sun., 5/25/08 | Dixon | ABC | |
|
2007
|
Sun., 5/27/07 | Franchitti | ABC | |
|
2006
|
Sun., 5/28/06 | Hornish, Jr. | ABC | |
|
2005
|
Sun., 5/29/05 | Wheldon | ABC | |
|
2004
|
Sun., 5/30/04 | Rice | ABC | |
|
2003
|
Sun., 5/25/03 | de Ferran | ABC | |
|
2002
|
Sun., 5/26/02 | Castroneves | ABC | |
|
2001
|
Sun., 5/27/01 | Castroneves | ABC | |
|
2000
|
Sun., 5/28/00 | Montoya | ABC | |
|
1999
|
Sun., 5/30/99 | Br?ck | ABC | |
|
1998
|
Sun., 5/24/98 | Cheever, Jr. | ABC | |
|
1997*
|
Tue., 5/27/97 | Luyendyk | ABC | |
|
1996
|
Sun., 5/26/96 | Lazier | ABC | |
|
1995
|
Sun., 5/28/95 | Villeneuve | ABC | |
|
1994
|
Sun., 5/29/94 | Unser, Jr. | ABC | |
|
1993
|
Sun., 5/30/93 | Fittipaldi | ABC | |
|
1992
|
Sun., 5/24/92 | Unser, Jr. | ABC | |
|
Includes pre-race coverage
|
||||
|
1991
|
Sun., 5/26/91 | Mears | ABC | |
|
1990
|
Sun., 5/27/90 | Luyendyk | ABC | |
|
1989
|
Sun., 5/28/89 | Fittipaldi | ABC | |
|
1988
|
Sun., 5/29/88 | Mears | ABC | |
|
1987
|
Sun., 5/24/87 | Unser | ABC | |
|
1986*
|
Sat., 5/31/86 | Rahal | ABC | |
|
1985
|
Sun., 5/26/85 | Sullivan | ABC | |
|
1984
|
Sun., 5/27/84 | Mears | ABC | |
|
1983
|
Sun., 5/29/83 | Sneva | ABC | |
|
1982
|
Sun., 5/30/82 | Johncock | ABC | |
|
1981
|
Sun., 5/24/81 | Unser | ABC | |
|
1980
|
Sun., 5/25/80 | Rutherford | ABC | |
|
1979
|
Sun., 5/27/79 | Mears | ABC | |
|
1978
|
Sun., 5/28/78 | Unser | ABC | |
|
1977
|
Sun., 5/29/77 | Foyt | ABC | |
|
1976
|
Sun., 5/30/76 | Rutherford | ABC | |
|
1975
|
Sun., 5/25/75 | Unser | ABC | |
|
1974
|
Sun., 5/26/74 | Rutherford | ABC | |
|
1973*
|
Wed., 5/30/73 | Johncock | ABC | |
Ratings for the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 since ’99.
Coca Cola 600 aired on TBS in ’99 and ’00, FOX from ’01 to ’08
| Year | Date | Indy 500 | Coke 600 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2008
|
Sun., 5/25/08 | 4.6/13 | 4.7/10 | Coke (+2%) |
|
2007
|
Sun., 5/27/07 | 4.5/10 | Coke (+5%) | |
|
2006
|
Sun., 5/28/06 | 5.1/11 | Coke (+2%) | |
|
2005
|
Sun., 5/29/05 | 6.1/13 | Indy (+7%) | |
|
2004
|
Sun., 5/30/04 | 5.0/11 | Coke (+22%) | |
|
2003
|
Sun., 5/25/03 | 4.7/11 | Coke (+2%) | |
|
2002
|
Sun., 5/26/02 | 5.1/11 | Coke (+6%) | |
|
2001
|
Sun., 5/27/01 | 5.3/11 | Indy (+9%) | |
|
2000
|
Sun., 5/28/00 | 3.4 (4.3) | Indy (+62%) | |
|
1999
|
Sun., 5/30/99 | 3.8 (4.9) | Indy (+45%) |
