Indy 500’s national TV numbers worst in 31 years of live coverage

Tight competition and a spectacular crash defined this year’s Indianapolis 500, but the 101st running lacked zip in television ratings.

The 2017 race delivered the lowest national ratings in the 31 years the event has been broadcast live. The ABC telecast drew a 3.6 overnight rating Sunday afternoon, a new low since the race began airing live in 1986.

The previous low was a 3.8 overnight in 2013.

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Takuma Sato won Sunday’s drama-filled race, which averaged a 14.2 overnight rating for the local tape-delayed telecast on WRTV-6. That figure translates into 153,861 household impressions, or the average number of Indianapolis homes tuned into the race from 8:09 p.m. to 12:32 a.m.

Nationally, this year's ratings number represents a 12 percent dip from a 4.1 rating in 2016. Locally, the 14.2 number represented a 16 percent increase when compared to 12.7 for 2015's tape delay. For the 100th running in 2016, WRTV carried the race live and also on tape delay.

Following Indianapolis, Sunday's top cities for Indy 500 viewership were Dayton, Ohio (8.9 rating); Louisville, Ky. (6.7); Fort Myers-Naples, Fla. (6.7); and Nashville, Tenn. (6.4), SportsBusiness Daily reported.

Call IndyStar reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.