NBC Sports Network Championship Preview Show

The full 2014 IndyCar Series schedule will be unveiled during an hour-long show Oct. 17 on NBC Sports Network that also focuses on the championship-deciding MAVTV 500 on Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway.

The special airs at 8 p.m. (ET).

Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR, joins Robin Miller of NBC Sports Network to review the 2014 schedule, which will include the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10 on a reconfigured and repaved 2.434-mile, 14-turn road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event will jump-start Month of May activities, leading into the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 25.

Miller also joins NBC Sports Network colleagues Leigh Diffey and Kevin Lee to preview the championship duel between Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon in the 250-lap twilight race on the 2-mile oval. Dixon, a two-time series champion, has a 25-point lead over the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

It's the eighth consecutive year that the series title has been decided in the season finale. The panel also reviews the highly competitive 18 races, which have been marked by 10 different winners and four first-time winners.

NBC Sports Network will have full coverage of the race weekend from Fontana, Calif. The lineup (check local listings; all times Eastern):

* Friday, Oct. 18 -- 7 p.m. MAVTV 500 qualifications
* Saturday, Oct. 18 -- 7 p.m. Lefty's Kids Club 100 Firestone Indy Lights race
* Saturday, Oct. 19 -- 8 p.m. MAVTV 500 IZOD IndyCar Series race

The INDYCAR Championship Celebration will be streamed live on www.indycar.com and the INDYCAR 13 app at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Oct. 20 from Universal Studios Hollywood.