Largest Gains of Any Sport with Audience of at Least 1 Million
FOX Sports’ coverage of the 17-race 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season scored in a big way, averaging 1,362,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, a 27 percent year-to-year increase from 2024 and the most-watched season in 17 years.
In 2025, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has recorded the most audience growth to date of any sport averaging at least a million viewers.
“In partnership with FOX Sports, our viewership growth curve is the most impressive in all of sports,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment. “We’re incredibly pleased with the first year of this relationship and know we can kick things into an even higher gear moving forward.”
Sunday’s season finale from Nashville Superspeedway delivered 1,142,000 viewers, up 136 percent from last year’s event and the most-watched Nashville race since 2021.
“In a season loaded with both massive successes and key learnings, we couldn’t be more excited about the potential we see in the FOX INDYCAR relationship as we close out the 2025 season together,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports CEO and executive producer (photo, above). “Expanding on our connection with INDYCAR for next year and beyond, projects already are well underway to keep this momentum going at full speed.”
Key 2025 FOX INDYCAR SERIES season highlights:
- FOX/FS1 NTT INDYCAR SERIES averaged 1,362,000 this season, a 27 percent increase from 2024 and the most since the 2008 post-merger season
- Most 2025 audience growth (+27 percent) for any sport averaging at least a million viewers
- Massive lift in coveted 18-34 (+81 percent) and 18-49 (+51 percent) demographics; the season also saw huge increases with women viewers – 18-34 (+72 percent) and 18-49 (+30 percent)
- 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge delivered in grand fashion, bringing in 7,088,000 viewers, a 41 percent increase over 2024 (5,024,000), making it the most-watched Indy 500 in 17 years
- Season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding delivered 1,418,000 viewers, a 14-year high and a 45 percent increase over the previous year
- Season finale from Nashville netted 1,142,000 viewers, a 136 percent increase from 2024