IndyCar in hot pursuit of younger audience with new marketing strategy
The open-wheel racing series will spend up to half of its marketing budget this year on digital and social media, up from about 20 percent last season.
Speedway/motorsports
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Could an IndyCar-themed attraction be in downtown’s future?
Many convention visitors and business travelers staying downtown want to experience the IMS, but don’t necessarily want to travel the four miles or so west to the track to do so, said Visit Indy CEO Leonard Hoops.
Massive racing industry expo growing, pondering expansion to Lucas Oil Stadium
The Performance Racing Industry Show has boosted its presence this year to use nearly every square inch of the Indiana Convention Center. As the event approaches the economic impact of Gen Con, organizers are looking for more space to grow.
Zak Brown named executive director for McLaren F1 team
Zak Brown, who built Zionsville-based Just Marketing International into a global motorsports marketing powerhouse, is a key hire in the restructuring of McLaren’s sputtering Formula One team.
Andretti partners with Butterball, Kroger for turkey giveaway
With Thanksgiving approaching, Andretti Autosport and Ryan Hunter-Reay teamed up with two of its sponsors to give away 500 turkeys to central Indiana families in need.
Purdue’s deal with karting group could grow Speedway event
Purdue racing gurus are hopeful the affiliation with the World Karting Association can hasten the development of a professional electric kart racing circuit.
Indy video production firm continues growth spurt, signs deal with Pac-12
Once devoted to local racing and the Pacers, IMS Productions has branched out to more than 70 clients. Its Pac-12 deal includes broadcast duties on nearly 100 events this season.
TV ratings for IndyCar season up overall, but down on NBCSN
NBC Sports Network’s president of programming still says he’s eager to keep the open-wheel series on his cable channels. IndyCar’s boss hopes to start negotiating its new TV contracts next year.
Air race a financial success for Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Attendance for the first Red Bull Air Race at the IMS beat expectations despite less than ideal weather. National sponsors sought to grow attendance for the event.
Indy 500 ticket renewals strong, but 2017 crowd not likely to match 2016
Speedway President Doug Boles is confident attendance for the 2017 Indianapolis 500 will be higher than it was in 2015, the year before the race’s 100th running.
IndyCar Series gets boost from Andretti-HHGregg sponsorship deal
On the heels of Target exiting the IndyCar Series, another big retailer brightens the horizon for the open-wheel series and one of its most popular drivers.
Speedway boss vows to make changes to revive Brickyard 400
As sponsors and fans grow antsy, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASCAR officials are looking at a number of changes to next year’s Brickyard 400. Some of them could be dramatic.
Speedway boss says Tony George’s promotion won’t take him off course
Tony George’s elevation to Hulman & Co. chairman brings up several interesting questions about what the move means for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brickyard 400’s profit margin getting perilously thin for Speedway
The city of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Motor Speedway both have taken big hits with the decline of the once-vaunted Brickyard 400. The race is still profitable, but much less so than in its glory days.
Indy 500 radio ratings rattled by TV broadcast
Listener numbers on four Emmis Communications stations carrying the race decreased significantly from last year. It remains unclear whether advertisers will be compensated for the shortfall.
Speedway executive readies for key role at Rio Olympics
Leading up to the Brickyard 400 in July, Allison Melangton will be working 16 hours a day. Those will be relatively light days compared to the hours she’ll work in August coordinating gymnastics coverage for NBC.
Indy 500 wrap-up: Merchandise sales hit record, toilets taxed, media might move
Speedway officials are taking stock of the facility’s performance on Sunday. While merchandise sales surged to an all-time high, many commodes backed up. Converting the media center to hospitality space also has been discussed.
State fire marshal: No limits on tickets IMS can sell for Indy 500
ABC says Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials are in the driver’s seat on deciding whether the local television blackout will be lifted on the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 66 years.
Car made famous by Indy 500 expected to sell for $250,000 at auction
One of the featured cars to go on the block at this week’s Mecum Auctions event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is a sporty ride with deep roots at the famed Brickyard.
Attendance, TV ratings rise for 2016 Grand Prix of Indianapolis
Despite cloudy, cool, windy weather, “a few thousand” more people turned out for the opening weekend road race than a year ago.