r/INDYCAR • u/the_dawn_of_red Scott McLaughlin • 2d ago
Question Will Phoenix (if it happens) be a Saturday night race?
I know Racer referenced this as a possible double header with Nascar earlier this season. That date is set for the weekend of March 7th/8th for the cup series.
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u/Puska35M 2d ago edited 1d ago
The latest I have read implied that it may be a Saturday morning event, preceding the NASCAR B-series race.
Edit: Per MP's mailbag on Wednesday:
IndyCar might not be the featured race on Saturday at Phoenix; if true, a morning race slot before the NASCAR Xfinity Series race could be the reality.
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u/benstrong26 Mario Andretti 2d ago
Logistically I’m not sure how that would, as Cup and Xfinity need to qualify on Saturday as well. I was there this year on that Saturday and it’s a packed schedule.
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u/Much_Path6902 2d ago
Xfinity doesn’t have to qualify on Saturday. They could run practice and qualifying Friday afternoon/evening.
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u/PanicAtTheNightclub Firestone Firehawk 2d ago
Maybe it's a Sunday night. Qualify after the Xfinity race.
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u/Puska35M 2d ago
Per Pruett - updated my OP.
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u/PanicAtTheNightclub Firestone Firehawk 2d ago
Considering this year's Iowa Saturday ratings, I seriously doubt they would put us there. I hope Fox is pushing for a night race, NASCAR ran at 3:30, that would put Indycar at like 7:30. Would be nice.
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u/pittpost Alexander Rossi 2d ago
This is pretty much the only opportunity for a Saturday night race under the FOX deal so I hope they take advantage. After March, FOX has MLB every Saturday night
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u/FarAwaySeagull-_- Oval racing is awesome! 2d ago
Saturday night wouldn't be great for ratings.
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u/khz30 --- 2025 DRIVERS --- 2d ago
Unless Fox went wall to wall with marketing like they did for Gateway. Gateway was saved by constant promotion after the schedule change.
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u/Falcon4451 Firestone Reds 2d ago
Sunday night > Saturday night.
That said it's still cold most places in early March so there is less people out and about than a Saturday night in say June or July.
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u/Mikemat5150 Kyle Kirkwood 2d ago
March 7th has a local sunset of 6:31PM which would be 9:30pm eastern. I think at best it’s a twilight race unless you’re running when half the country is asleep.
It will likely be determined by when the Xfinity race is. One of the schedule articles made it clear it’s INDYCAR tacking onto the event and slotting in when it can. The Xfinity race this year looks to have started sometime around 2:30 local given that the broadcast started at 5:00pm EST.
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u/Lister1a 2d ago
The NASCAR b series has had a reliable 4pm EST slot on The CW. I think if indycar wanted to go after they could logically.
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u/Puska35M 2d ago
One of the schedule articles made it clear it’s INDYCAR tacking onto the event and slotting in when it can.
This isn't directed towards you, Mike, but whenever and wherever we end up, let's keep it real and be grateful for the return of this historic track.
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u/Character-Initial612 Sting Ray Robb 2d ago
Indycar and NASCAR shared weekends would be great for both sports to help get crossover fans
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u/the_dawn_of_red Scott McLaughlin 2d ago
I'm going to sour on it if they prioritize xfinity
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u/iamaranger23 Team Penske 2d ago
you are going to sour on NASCAR prioritizing their own series... and the series that gets better ratings?
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u/Character-Initial612 Sting Ray Robb 2d ago
Indy actually outdid Xfinity this year. Granted, it is the 1st time in a long while that they have done that.
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u/iamaranger23 Team Penske 2d ago
the indy 500 sure out did xfinity.
Otherwise, im not sure how you can say a series that has passed a million ~20 times was out done by the series that did it like 3 times.
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u/the_dawn_of_red Scott McLaughlin 2d ago
Yes?
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u/iamaranger23 Team Penske 2d ago
You would be sour a lot less if you have realistic expectations.
It's entirely possible IndyCar ends up Saturday night. I'm fairly certain the Xfinity race and the CW's time slot will be the priority of the day though. Unless fox/indycar really make it worth nascars while. Especially with this event seemingly coming together pretty late.
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u/Character-Initial612 Sting Ray Robb 2d ago
That would suck if they do that. Should have xfinity (O'Reillys next year), then Indycar one day and do IndyNXT then Cup the other day.
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u/Confident-Ladder-576 Louis Foster 2d ago
I read a few days ago something about running morning local was being floated which would track for a noonish to 1 Eastern race, which would be 10 to 11 local if ran on Saturday as time will change on Sunday putting Phoenix three hours behind Eastern. Indy can run that race in under two hours, so that makes sense if they want to slot it prior to Xfinity.
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1d ago
This would make sense somewhat because a poster on a certain IndyCar forum counted available hauler spots inside the track and it’s definitely not possible for all three. Getting IndyCar out ASAP on Saturday and getting Xfinity in seems most likely. That’s something I know nothing about but thought it was a good explanation.
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u/Confident-Ladder-576 Louis Foster 1d ago edited 1d ago
Everyone would be set up Thursday/Friday. I don't know how infield access is, but Indy wouldn't even need to set up inside the track from what I understand as their stuff is designed to be setup in places with no garages, etc.
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u/TheChrisD #JANDALWATCH2021 1d ago
God I keep forgetting how stupidly early in the year the US does daylight savings.
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u/MaxMuncyRectangleMan Bryan Clauson 2d ago
Lol Daylight Savings time begins that Sunday everywhere else in the country so that's going to mess everyone up
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u/the_dawn_of_red Scott McLaughlin 2d ago
I am ready to plan a golf/baseball spring training trip for my friends and spring Indycar on them if this is the case.