IndyCar's XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Delivers a Major TV Ratings Win on FOX
IndyCar racing is having a moment on American television, and the numbers are proving it. The 2025 XPEL Grand Prix at Road America delivered a headline-grabbing TV audience, drawing nearly one million more viewers compared to the same race held at the iconic Wisconsin circuit in the previous year. For a sport that has long fought for mainstream recognition in the United States, this kind of year-over-year growth on a major broadcast network like FOX is nothing short of remarkable — and it signals something bigger is happening with open-wheel racing in America.
What the Numbers Actually Mean for IndyCar
In the world of sports media, context is everything. A single strong rating can be a fluke. But when a series consistently builds its audience event after event, season after season, it becomes a trend — and trends attract investment, sponsorship, and new fans. IndyCar's performance at Road America is not an isolated spike. It is part of a broader pattern of growth that the series has been quietly building since its partnership with FOX began delivering the races to a wider, more accessible audience.
Adding nearly one million viewers to a single race's audience is a significant leap. To put it in perspective, many niche motorsport events on cable and streaming platforms struggle to draw a fraction of that total audience. Road America, set among the rolling hills of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, has always been a fan favorite on the calendar — but transforming that on-site passion into television eyeballs requires the right broadcast platform, the right promotion, and the right product on the track.
Road America: A Circuit Built for Great Racing
Part of what makes the XPEL Grand Prix such a compelling television event is the circuit itself. Road America is one of the most storied road courses in North American motorsport. Stretching across four miles of flowing corners, sweeping straights, and dramatic elevation changes, it is a track that rewards driver skill and mechanical setup in equal measure. For viewers tuning in on FOX, it offers a visually spectacular backdrop that translates beautifully to the screen.
The combination of natural scenery, passionate trackside crowds, and wheel-to-wheel IndyCar action makes for genuinely gripping television. When races are close and competitive — which Road America frequently produces — casual viewers stay engaged and are more likely to return for the next broadcast. Strong racing content, properly packaged and widely distributed, is the foundation of any successful motorsport TV strategy.
FOX's Role in IndyCar's Audience Growth
The FOX Sports broadcast deal has been a game-changer for IndyCar's visibility. Having races on a major over-the-air network means that millions of households who do not subscribe to premium sports tiers or streaming services can stumble upon an IndyCar race while channel surfing on a Sunday afternoon. That kind of passive discovery is invaluable for growing a sport's fan base, and it is something that cable-only deals simply cannot replicate at scale.
FOX has also invested in the production quality of its IndyCar broadcasts, bringing in experienced motorsport broadcasters and improving in-race storytelling, data graphics, and driver profiles that help newcomers understand the stakes of each race. When a first-time viewer tunes in and quickly grasps who the protagonists are, what they are fighting for, and why the racing is exciting, there is a much higher chance that viewer comes back. That investment in presentation is paying dividends in the ratings.
IndyCar's Momentum Heading Into the Rest of the Season
The strong Road America ratings arrive at a time when IndyCar's overall momentum feels genuinely positive. The series has been working hard to attract new fans through social media engagement, grassroots outreach, and a calendar that spans diverse racing venues — from the streets of Nashville and Detroit to the ovals of Iowa and Indianapolis. That variety keeps the product fresh and gives different types of motorsport fans reasons to tune in throughout the summer.
- Street circuits bring urban energy and accessibility to casual sports fans who may never attend a traditional oval race.
- Legendary venues like Indianapolis Motor Speedway anchor the calendar with historic prestige and massive television events.
- Road courses like Road America offer breathtaking scenery and technically demanding racing that showcases driver talent.
- Short ovals and superspeedways deliver close-quarters, high-drama action that generates viral moments and highlight-reel finishes.
Each of these formats attracts a slightly different audience, and together they help IndyCar build a broad, diverse fan base rather than relying on a single demographic or racing format.
What This Means for the Future of IndyCar on Television
Sustained ratings growth changes the conversation in boardrooms. When IndyCar can demonstrate to sponsors, broadcasters, and potential new team owners that its television audience is reliably growing year over year, it creates a virtuous cycle. More sponsorship revenue means better cars, more competitive teams, and ultimately more exciting races — which drives even higher ratings. The XPEL Grand Prix numbers at Road America are another data point in what is becoming a compelling story of a series that is finding its footing on the national broadcast stage.
For longtime IndyCar fans, this growth is deeply satisfying. For the casual sports viewer who happened to catch the race on FOX, it may just be the beginning of a new passion for open-wheel racing. And for the sport itself, the road ahead has rarely looked more promising.