IndyCar Series might soon stretch its season a little longer, and football could be the reason why.
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For years, IndyCar has wrapped up its season before the sports calendar gets dominated by college football and the NFL. This year is no different, with the championship scheduled to end Sept. 6 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
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But per Sports Business Journal, IndyCar president Doug Boles says the series is open to pushing its schedule deeper into the fall if the right opportunity presents itself — particularly one tied to football broadcasts on Fox.
The idea is simple. If a race could air immediately after a major football game on Fox, IndyCar could tap into a massive built-in TV audience.
That strategy worked extremely well for NHRA last year. One of its races followed a Dallas Cowboys game on Fox and ended up delivering the biggest viewership in the series' history, even beating NASCAR that weekend.
Because Fox now serves as both broadcaster and equity partner for IndyCar, coordinating those types of lead-ins could be much easier.
Still, Boles made it clear the series isn't looking to fully compete with fall racing giants like NASCAR or global powerhouse Formula One.
Instead, the goal would be modest.
If the right event comes along, IndyCar might extend the schedule by a week, two, or maybe three. Or just enough to shorten the sport's long offseason without diving headfirst into football territory.
