INDYCAR has announced a 17-race schedule for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, which will feature its daring and daring athletes competing against the exciting backdrop of unprecedented network television coverage, an earlier start date, a re-energized summer of fan favorites and a turbocharged stretch race.

In the United States, a record 14 events will air on the NBC broadcast network, one more than announced in July. This is the most single-season network television appearances in the history of the INDYCAR SERIES.

Two additional races will appear on USA Network while Peacock Premium, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will provide live coverage of all 17 races in addition to practice and qualifying.

“This timeline continues to build on the growth and momentum achieved by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, particularly in 2021,” said Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “Our tremendous partnership with NBC Sports has resulted in a fantastic opportunity to broadcast 14 unprecedented events on television while complementing the rest of the program with USA Network and Peacock.

“Our drivers and teams will give fans a solid and earlier start with six consecutive races on NBC, creating even more anticipation for the crown jewel of the Indianapolis 500 in May. Our summer schedule is also action packed, with no extended breaks in the schedule, leading to the crowning of a West Coast champion with our last two races also on NBC. “

The 2022 calendar is set on the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29. This year’s “500” on NBC was the most-watched edition of the race since the 100th Running in 2016.

“We are incredibly excited about our 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, highlighted by the 106th Indianapolis 500 race and a record 14 INDYCAR races on the NBC broadcast network which will bring additional visibility to the series,” said Mike Perman, Vice President, Programming, NBC Sports. “With more races than ever on NBC, as well as full live coverage of every minute of the 2022 season on Peacock with simultaneous practice, qualifying and racing, we look forward to continuing to develop the sport and to serve INDYCAR fans across the country. “

Return of traditions

NBC will showcase the first six races of 2022, as fans won’t have to wait long for INDYCAR action after the 2021 season finale. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship kicks off at the Firestone Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, which will host the 2021 season finale. opening of the series’ season for the 11th time, on Sunday February 27. This is the first start of February for the INDYCAR series since 2004 and the earliest the season has started since it opened on the streets of St. Petersburg on February 23, 2003.

The action-packed Texas Motor Speedway oval first moves in March, Sunday, March 20. This is the second year in a row that the series will take place at the “Great American Speedway” before the Indianapolis 500, placing a crucial oval on the first part of the calendar.

The Long Beach Acura Grand Prix returns to the spring calendar, Sunday April 10, appearing on network television for the first time in 15 years. This is the 38th year that the INDYCAR SERIES has raced the iconic streets of Southern California as the event celebrates its 47th year.

Barber Motorsports Park is hosting its 12th Honda Indy Alabama Grand Prix on Sunday May 1. Then the series enters the traditional May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a series of events featured on NBC: the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14; Royal Crown Armed Forces Qualification Weekend, Saturday and Sunday May 21-22; before the 106th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 29.

Belle Isle Park Raceway returns with its traditional post- “500” date on Sunday June 5, followed by the series’ 33rd visit to super-fast Road America on Sunday June 12 and another holiday celebration on July 4. Sunday July 3 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

More than half of the events in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES program have been on the calendar for 19 years or more. Mid-Ohio joins Long Beach in longevity as it welcomes the series for a 38th year in 2022.

Fantastic finish

The 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship will end with an eight-race flurry over the final nine weeks of the season, with six events on NBC.

The busy second half of the season begins with the long-awaited return to the streets of Toronto on Sunday July 17 for the 36th Honda Indy Toronto in the series. The season continues with a high speed double oval program on Saturday and Sunday July 23 and 24 at Iowa Speedway. In partnership with Hy-Vee, it will mark the 16th and 17th INDYCAR SERIES events on the track known as “The fastest short track on the planet”.

“Iowa Speedway has traditionally produced some of the most intense races the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has to offer,” said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. “It’s great to see that this short oval, where we saw up to 955 passages on the track in one race, is back on the program. Combined with the rest of the calendar and a growing paddock, which has produced up to 28 entries at non-Indy 500 events this year, the 2022 season will be as exciting and competitive as ever. “

Another historic NASCAR-INDYCAR Brickyard weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will see the NTT INDYCAR SERIES showcased on Saturday, July 30, followed by another very popular visit to the streets of Nashville on Sunday, August 7. In 2021, the first Big Machine Music City Grand Prix performed in crowded stands and garnered the largest cable TV audience for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in more than two decades.

The final oval of the 2022 series will take place on Saturday, August 20 at the World Wide Technology Raceway before back-to-back races on the classic US road circuits of Portland International Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to end the season. The 28th Portland Grand Prix is ​​scheduled for Sunday September 4th while the 25th Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey returns to crown the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion on Sunday September 11th.

“It’s a great program for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship,” said Miles. “This schedule provides a level of balance between temporary road circuits, road courses and ovals, and this variety and versatility required of our drivers are important, distinctive attributes of NTT INDYCAR SERIES races.

“The continuity of our events and the growth in the number of teams testify to our strong positioning and our continued dynamic. “

The start times for the 2022 events will be announced at a later date.

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