In a year when NASCAR appears to be shedding viewers, and on a day when the rival Coca Cola 600 was rained out, ratings still declined for the crown jewel of the Indy Racing League.
The 2009 Indianapolis 500 drew a 4.2 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, down 18% from a 5.1 last year, and down 13% from a 4.8 for the rain-soaked 2007 race. The 4.2 overnight is the lowest for the Indy 500 since at least 1995, and likely marks the lowest overnight ever for the race.
In each of the past two years, final ratings for the Indy 500 fell 10% from the overnight, putting this year’s race on pace for a 3.8 final rating. The Indy 500 has never drawn a final rating below 4.1.
Source: Darren Rovell/Twitter
