IndyCar TV Ratings Dip Below 1 Million for First Time

Viewership for Barber Motorsports Park race hits new low in 2026

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:47pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors representing an IndyCar race, conceptually illustrating the sport's struggle to maintain its television audience.A cubist interpretation of the declining viewership for IndyCar's race at Barber Motorsports Park.Today in Birmingham

IndyCar's Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, won by Alex Palou for the second consecutive year, drew just 906,000 viewers on Fox this past Sunday. The race peaked at 983,000 viewers, marking a 1% decline from the 914,000 viewers the 2025 event at Barber Motorsports Park received.

Why it matters

IndyCar has struggled with declining TV ratings in recent years, and this latest drop below the 1 million viewer mark for the Barber race is a concerning sign for the open-wheel series as it looks to grow its fanbase and attract more sponsorship dollars.

The details

The 2026 Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park saw a 1% decline in viewership compared to the previous year's race. This year's event drew just 906,000 viewers on Fox, with a peak audience of 983,000.

  • The 2026 Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix took place on Sunday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Alex Palou

The driver who won the 2026 Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix for the second straight year.

Fox Sports

The television network that aired the 2026 Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.

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The takeaway

The declining TV ratings for the Barber Motorsports Park IndyCar race are a concerning trend for the series, which will need to find ways to re-engage its fanbase and attract more viewers in order to secure valuable sponsorship deals and media rights contracts going forward.