IndyCar confirmed a new television rights deal with FOX Sports and subsequently released its 2025 schedule on Thursday morning.
All 17 races will broadcast on over-the-air FOX, a significant win for series visibility, airing on the same network as the NFL, MLB and NASCAR. In addition, practice sessions will air on a mix of FS1 and FS2 and the second tier Indy NXT Series will air on FS2.
The latter is a replacement of sorts for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which moves to The CW Network in 2025.
For years, IndyCar has been on a blend of cable and over-the-air. Even this season, in its final year with NBC Sports, 10 races are on NBC, six is on the USA Network and two on the Peacock streaming platform. All Road to Indy ladder series races air on Peacock.
FOX will also provide broadcast network coverage of both days of Indianapolis 500 qualifications, bringing the total number of over-the-air days to 19, which is a record for the IndyCar Series. The Indianapolis 500 will have a five-hour broadcast window.
IMS Productions will handle most of the production work, similar to how things were done under the NBC banner, for those hoping the look of the races will remain similar but with FOX graphics instead.
“Adding the iconic Indianapolis 500 and delivering the entire NTT IndyCar Series to the FOX Sports roster fits perfectly within our model of teaming with sports’ largest events and best-in-class brands,” said FOX Sports CEO Eric Shanks. “We’re honored to be the new broadcast home to ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ an incredibly special event to everyone at FOX Sports.”
For FOX, the Indianapolis 500 serves as a replacement for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, which moves to Amazon Prime Video next season as part of the new TV agreement for that sanctioning body.
The initial release did not make mention of on-air talent but NASCAR Xfinity Series play-by-play voice Adam Alexander is a leading contender to serve in that capacity for the IndyCar Series. The only overlap between NASCAR and IndyCar on FOX will come from March to May so NASCAR TV talent could cross-platform over the summer and fall as well.
2025 IndyCar Series schedule
Sunday, March 2: Streets of St. Petersburg (street course), FOX
Sunday, March 23: The Thermal Club (road course), FOX
Sunday, April 13: Streets of Long Beach (street course), FOX
Sunday, May 4: Barber Motorsports Park (road course), FOX
Saturday, May 10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), FOX
Sunday, May 25: Indianapolis 500 (oval), FOX
Sunday, June 1: Streets of Detroit (street course), FOX
Sunday, June 15: World Wide Technology Raceway (oval), FOX
Sunday, June 22: Road America (road course), FOX
Sunday, July 6: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (road course), FOX
Saturday, July 12: Iowa Speedway (oval), FOX
Sunday, July 13: Iowa Speedway (oval), FOX
Sunday, July 20: Streets of Toronto (street course), FOX
Sunday, July 27: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (road course), FOX
Sunday, Aug. 10: Portland International Raceway (road course), FOX
Sunday, Aug. 24: Milwaukee Mile (oval), FOX
Sunday, Aug. 31: Nashville Superspeedway (oval), FOX
Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.