IndyCar Freedom 250 Draws 3.282 Million Viewers, Most for Non-Indy 500 Race Since 2008
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 26
IndyCar Freedom 250 Draws 3.282 Million Viewers, Most for Non-Indy 500 Race Since 2008
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 26
Summary
3.282 million viewers watched IndyCar’s Freedom 250 in Washington, making it the series’ most-watched non-Indianapolis 500 race since the 2008 Champ Car-IRL merger.
That audience ran 279% above the average Sunday non-Indy 500 race, helped by the National Mall street circuit and the event’s tie to the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration.
The surge lifted IndyCar’s 2026 season average to 1.875 million viewers, up 32% from last season and 70% from 2024, when races aired on NBC and Peacock.
Kyle Kirkwood’s victory after leading most of the weekend, combined with Alex Palou’s difficult race, also tightened the championship fight heading into Milwaukee’s doubleheader and the Laguna Seca finale.