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Sunday, September 2 IRL, Indy 500 to remain on ABC, ESPN ESPN.com news services INDIANAPOLIS --- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy Racing League, ABC and ESPN, Inc., have agreed to terms that would extend and expand their partnership through 2007, it was announced today. The new agreement will include more live coverage from Indy Racing League events, including daily programming originating from Indianapolis by ESPN2's "RPM2Night" during May for the Indianapolis 500. There also will be similar origination programming from several Indy Racing events each year. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. "Our 36-year partnership with ABC Sports is one of the great traditions of the Indianapolis 500," said Tony George, president and CEO of both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League. "The combination of ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 gives us the best broadcasting and cable platform in American television to carry America's premier open-wheel, oval-track series. "We are proud to be energetic partners with ABC and the ESPN networks in bringing our exciting brand of Indy Racing to the broadest and most extensive audience in American open-wheel racing." "Growing the relationship between ABC Sports and the Indianapolis 500 has always been one of our top priorities, and we have been very pleased with the growth of the event under the current contract," said Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports. "We are excited about the potential of growing the Indy Racing League, and this arrangement gives us the ability to put in place long-term strategies that will help to grow both the League and the 500." "The Indy Racing League is the leading American open-wheel racing circuit, based upon the heritage of the Indianapolis 500," said Mark Shapiro, senior vice president and general manager of ESPN Programming. "ESPN has chosen to partner with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League as the future of open-wheel racing in the United States." The announcement comes after last month's news that CART had signed a three-year deal with CBS, SpeedVision, FX and Fox Sports Net, meaning ABC and ESPN would no longer televise CART races. CBS will reportedly carry eight races live in 2002, nine in 2003 and 10 in 2004, with cable outlets SpeedVision and FX airing the remaining races, in addition to practice, qualifying and special shows. ABC Sports has televised the Indianapolis 500, the premier event of the 14-race Indy Racing League, since 1965 and live since 1986. Indy Racing League events have been seen on ABC and the ESPN networks since the League debuted in 1996. ESPN has televised Indianapolis 500 qualifying since 1987 and ESPN2 joined the coverage in 1996. In 1999, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy Racing League, ABC Sports and the ESPN networks entered into a five-year agreement to run through the 2004 season. ABC Sports has been the broadcast home of the Indianapolis 500 since 1965 and the Indy Racing League since it debuted in 1996.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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