Paul Tracy, the 2003 CART champion and native of Scarborough, Ontario, will undoubtedly blend humor with unvarnished analysis as he joins Sportsnet’s broadcasts of the IZOD IndyCar Series at select races this season.
Sportsnet, a Rogers Media company, announced today a five-year agreement with INDYCAR for exclusive Canadian multiplatform rights to IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights events, beginning with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 24.
With coverage on five Sportsnet channels, six City channels and live streaming available for Rogers wireless and cable television customers via RogersAnyplaceTV.com and Rogers Anyplace TV mobile app, Sportsnet will deliver more than 100 hours of live racing coverage in 2013 across television, online and mobile.
Additionally, through Sportsnet’s agreement with TVA Sports, the deal includes expanded French-language race coverage across the same platforms.
“The IZOD IndyCar Series is the ultimate series in auto racing,” said Navaid Mansuri, vice president of Finance & Sports Programming for Rogers Media. “We are thrilled to partner with INDYCAR for the exclusive Canadian rights for this series and to deliver coverage of these events to Canadian auto racing fans like they’ve never seen."
Sportsnet, launched in 1998, is comprised of the nationally distributed Sportsnet ONE and four regional channels. All are available in high definition.
“INDYCAR could not be more excited with our newest broadcast partner in Sportsnet,” INDYCAR COO Robby Greene said. “There is little doubt that the quality and coverage is going to be a superior product, offering all of our Canadian fans and constituents an immersive experience."
Tracy, who is tied with Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti for seventh on the career victory list with 31, will join the Sportsnet broadcast team that features Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Bill Adam, pit reporter Todd Lewis and host Rob Faulds for the broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500, Honda Indy Toronto and a race to be determined.
"PT will put a bit of spice in the show," said Alex Tagliani, a native of Quebec who drives the No. 98 Barracuda Racing car for Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian. "He's up to date with the series from a competition standpoint and the tracks where we race. To have a guy in the booth that is fresh from IndyCar racing, he'll be able to relate his experience to the fans."
Sportsnet will have a broadcast booth a pit out at St. Petersburg to kick off the season with a 30-minute pre-race show that will include Tagliani and Andretti Autosport driver James Hinchcliffe of suburban Toronto.
"I think it will be amazing for INDYCAR," Tagliani added. "Rogers Media has a lot of different outlets aside from TV that can promote the league, the drivers and teams."
Sportsnet’s 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series broadcast schedule with channels
Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Sunday, March 24, noon (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
Sunday, April 7, 2:30 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Sunday, April 21, 4 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, Pacific and ONE
Sao Paulo Indy 300
Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Indianapolis 500
Sunday, May 26, 11 a.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit – Race 1
Saturday, June 1, 3:30 p.m. (ET) -- City Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit – Race 2
Sunday, June 2, 3:30 p.m. (ET) -- City Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
Firestone 550
Saturday, June 8, 8:30 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Milwaukee IndyFest
Saturday, June 15, 4 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Iowa Corn Indy 250
Sunday, June 23, 2:30 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Pocono INDYCAR 400
Sunday, July 7, noon (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Honda Indy Toronto – Race 1
Saturday, July 13, 3 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Honda Indy Toronto – Race 2
Sunday, July 14, 3 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Sunday, Aug. 4, 3 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Sunday, Aug. 25, 4 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
Grand Prix of Baltimore
Sunday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE
The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Presented by the Greater Houston Honda Dealers – Race 1
Saturday, Oct. 5, 3 p.m. (ET) -- TBD
The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Presented by the Greater Houston Honda Dealers – Race 2
Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. (ET) -- TBD
MAVTV 500
Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m. (ET) -- Sportsnet ONE