Indycar anorak - attendance and television statistics

[racingfan99]

A few years ago, during the height of the Champ Car versus IRL "war," there was a lot of heated discussion about attendance at races and television ratings. Lots of numbers were lobbed about in an attempt to prove which side was "winning."

It led me to realize that while auto racing anorak's could find places that listed plenty of race results, few had such statistics as attendance and television information. Useless information most of the time, but oh so valuable in settling disputes at the local pub (or bar here stateside).

This realization led me on a several year quest to try and collect this information for open-wheel racing in the United States, as well as for sports car racing here, and the task is just about complete...

Below is the first installment of the list of American open-wheel races - from 1978 on I have stats for each race from each season. The information comes from a variety of sources:
- purse and attendance information comes from the archives at motorsport.com as well as published newspaper reports from the time (thanks to help from the New York Public Library and the Motor Racing Research Library in Watkins Glen. Whenever possible, I did not use attendance information from the race promoters or series as this can often be inflated.

In some cases the attendance and capacity numbers are an estimate. Many ovals sold general admission seating in the infield or away from the grandstands. Road courses often report maximum capacity based on the spectator space available while street courses report maximum capacity based on the number of grandstands, not counting general admission areas (as well as the fact thousands could watch for free from buildings, parking garages, etc.).

A facility could reach maximum capacity and still let more people into general admission areas - in many cases the number of those tickets sold was unknown.

If the attendance number is confirmed it has a c. next to it; if it is an estimate, it has an est. Whenever possible, I used photos or video to confirm attendance.

You will also notice some tracks change capacity over time - this is because the track added seating over the years. Phoenix International Speedway, for example, grew from 9,000 permanent seats to over 50,000. Michigan International Speedway also grew over the years.

The broadcaster information comes from period media as well. If I had access to a video of the race, I also included information about the announcers. The ratings come from Nielsen ratings books published at the time (they were made available to the public starting in 1975).

The information provided by Nielsen is just an estimate of the number of households tuning in to watch the race.

Because the number of households in the U.S. with televisions grew from 69.5 million in 1975 to 115.9 million in 2010, the numbers do fluctuate over time (each ratings point is worth 1 % of the total U.S. households with a television - in 1975 it was worth 695,000 households and in 2010 around 1.15 million households).

If a race received a 1.0 rating in 1975 and another race received the same 1.0 rating in 2010, the 2010 broadcast actually drew more households because there were more households with TVs.

It gets even more fun when cable TV starts - the ratings there are based not on the total number of households with a TV in the U.S., but the number of households that receive that cable channel.

5/31/65 49th Running of the International 500 Miles Sweepstakes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (tape; broadcast 6/5/64)
Commentators: Charlie Brockman
Purse: $627,199. Starters: 33.
Winner: Jim Clark /Lotus Powered by Ford Lotus RE Ford.
Margin of victory: 1m58.980s

5/30/66 50th Running of the International 500 Miles Sweepstakes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (tape; broadcast 6/5/66)
Commentators: Chris Schenkle
Purse: $690,808. Starters: 33.
Winner: Graham Hill/American Red Ball Lola Ford.
Margin of victory: 41.130 seconds

7/23/67 Indianapolis 150 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: unknown Television: Road & Track (shown on CBS)
Purse: $15.949. Starters: 24.
Winner: Mario Andretti/Dean Van Lines Brawner Hawk Ford.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

11/26/67 Rex Mays 300 at Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California
Attendance: 50,000 c. (90,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (tape; broadcast one week later)
Commentators: Chris Economaki, Roger Ward.
Purse: $55,250. Starters: 30.
Winner: Dan Gurney/Olsonite Eagle Ford.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

6/9/68 Rex Mays 150 at The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
Attendance: 39,776 c. (35,000).
Television: Road & Track (shown on CBS)
Purse: $49,250. Starters: 24.
Winner: Lloyd Ruby/Gene White Mongoose Offy TC.
Margin of victory: 2 seconds

12/1/68 Rex Mays 300 at Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California
Attendance: unknown Television: Road & Track (shown on CBS)
Purse: $72,970. Starters: 30.
Winner: Dan Gurney/Eagle 68-Ford/Weslake. Margin of victory: 1 lap.

3/28/70 Phoenix 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Attendance: 9,000 c. (9,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: Jim McKay, Chris Economaki, Roger Ward
Purse: $41,100. Starters: 24.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers finished on the lead lap.

4/4/70 Golden State 150 at Sears Point International Raceway, Sonoma, California
Attendance: unknown. Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $53,749. Starters: 26.
Winner: Dan Gurney/Olsonite Eagle Ford.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers finished on the lead lap.

6/7/70 Rex Mays Classic, at The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
Attendance: 39,075 c. (35,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $74,930. Starters: 24.
Winner: Joe Leonard/ Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 4 drivers finished on the lead lap.

8/23/70 Tony Bettenhausen 200 at The Milwaukee Mile, Wast Allis, Wisconsin
Attendance: unknown. Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $53,782. Starters: 26.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: 4 laps.

9/7/70 Ted Horn Memorial at Illinois State Fairgrounds, DuQuoin, Illinois
Attendance: 14,300 c. (12,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $30,167. Starters: 18.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers finished on the lead lap.

9/12/70 Hoosier Hundred at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: 25,000 c. (22,500)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: Jim McKay, Chris Economaki
Purse: $66,957. Starters: 18.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 7 drivers on lead lap.

9/6/70 California 500 at Caifornia International Speedway, Ontario, California
Attendance: 180,223 c. (140,000) Television: Road & Track on CBS
Purse: $607,350. Starters: 33.
Winner: Jim McElreath/Sheraton-Thompson Coyote Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 5 drivers on lead lap.

9/19/70 Sedalia 100 at Sedalia Speedway, Sedalia, Missouri
Attendance: unknown. Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $28,842. Starters: 18.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: 1 lap.

10/4/70 Golden State 100 at Southern California Fairgrounds, Sacramento, California
Attendance: unknown Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $27,599. Starters: 18.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 6 drivers on lead lap.

5/29/71 55th Running of the International 500 Mile Sweepstakes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC (tape; same-day broadcast)
Commentators: Chris Schenkle; Jim McKay; Jackie Stewart;
Chris Economaki, Bill Flemming, Keith Jackson; David Letterman
Purse: $996,436. Starters: 33.
Winner: Al Unser/Johnny Lightning 500 Colt Ford TC.
Margin of victory: 22.880 seconds.

7/3/71 Pocono 500 at Pocono International Speedway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 65,000 c. (65,000) Television: Road & Track CBS
Purse: $372,634. Starters: 33.
Winner: Mark Donohue/Sunoco McLaren 71 Offy TC.
Margin of victory: 1.688 seconds.

5/27/72 56th Running of the International 500 Mile Sweepstakes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC (same-day broadcast)
Commentators: Chris Schenkle; Jim McKay; Jackie Stewart;
Chris Economaki
Purse: $1,037,377. Starters: 33.
Winner: Mark Donohue/Sunoco DX McLaren Offy TC.
Margin of victory: unknown

7/6/72 Michigan 200 at Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Attendance: 25,000 c. (25,000) Television: Road & Track on CBS
Purse: $66,264. Starters: 26.
Winner: Joe Leonard/Samsonite Parnelli Offy TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers on lead lap.

3/17/74 Phoenix 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Attendance: 12,500 c. (9,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live)
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $43,832. Starters: 20.
Winner: Mike Mosley/Lodestar Eagle Offy TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 5 drivers on lead lap.

3/14/76 Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Attendance: 16,000 c. (9,000)
Television: CBS (tape) 3.2 rating (2,298,955 households)/3 share
Commentators: Bill Fleming, Chris Economaki
Purse: $57,493. Starters: 22.
Winner: Bobby Unser/Cobre Tire Eagle Offy TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

5/7/77 Seventh Annual Hulman Classic, Terre Haute Speedway, Terre Haute, Indiana
Attendance: 15,000 c. (12,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (tape) 2.2 rating
(1,630,146 households)/5 share
Commentators: Al Michaels, Chris Economaki
Purse: $52,000. Starters: unknown. Winner: Jim McElreath Jr.

5/29/77 61st Running of the International 500 Mile Sweepstakes, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC (same-day broadcast) 15.6 rating
(11,559,217 households)/32 share
Commentators: Chris Schenkle; Jim McKay; Jackie Stewart;
Chris Economaki, Bill Flemming
Purse: $1,073,715. Starters: 33. Winner: A. J. Foyt/Gilmore Racing Coyote Foyt TC. Margin of victory: 31.910 seconds.

3/18/78 Jimmy Bryan 150 at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Attendance: 18,500 c. (9,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports (live) 3.2 rating
(2,347,396 households)/3 share
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $74,792. Starters: 22.
Winner: Gordon Johncock/
North American Van Lines Wildcat 78 DGS.
Margin of victory: 2 laps.

3/26/78 Datsun Twin 200 at California International Speedway, Ontario, California
Attendance: 42,500 c. (140,000)
Television: The Racers
(tape; broadcast two weeks later on
independent regional networks)
Commentators: Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva
(active drivers who also served as hosts)
Purse: $112,700. Starters: 24.
Winner: Danny Ongais/
Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 4 drivers on lead lap.

4/15/78 Coors 200 at Texas World Speedway, Ft. Worth, Texas
Attendance: unknown Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast a week later) 2.1 rating
(1,540,478 households)/4 share
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $106,817. Starters: 21.
Winner: Danny Ongais/Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers on lead lap.

4/23/78 Gabriel 200 at Trenton State Fairgrounds, Trenton, New Jersey
Attendance: 35,000 c. (35,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports
(tape; broadcast a week later) 3.0 rating
(2,200,683 households)/5 share
Commentators: Jim McKay, Jackie Stewart
Purse: $86,895. Starters: 22.
Winner: Gordon Johncock/
North American Van Lines Wildcat 78 DGS.
Margin of victory: unknown, 4 drivers on lead lap.

5/28/78 62nd running of the International 500 Mile Sweepstakes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
Attendance: 257,325 c. (257,325)
Television: ABC (same-day broadcast)
13.4 rating (9,829,721 households)/26 share
Commentators: Chris Schenkle; Jim McKay; Jackie Stewart;
Chris Economaki, Bill Flemming
Purse: $1,135,887. Starters: 33.
Winner: Al Unser/1st National Travel Check Lola 78 Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers on lead lap.

6/11/78 Molson Diamond Indy at Mosport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: unknown Television: not broadcast
Purse: $135,229. Starters: 19.
Winner: Danny Ongais/Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

6/18/78 Rex Mays Classic at The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
Attendance: 29,422 c. (35,000) Television: CBS Sports
Spectacular (tape; broadcast a week later) 2.2 rating
(1,613,834 households)/5 share
Commentators: Ken Squier, Dan Gurney; Brock Yates (pits)
Purse: $106,214. Starters: 22.
Winner: Rick Mears/CAM2 Motor Oil Penske PC-6 Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 cars finished on lead lap.

6/25/78 Schaefer 500 at Pocono International Raceway, Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 65,000 c. (65,000) Television: not broadcast
Purse: $353,593. Starters: 33. Winner: Al Unser/
1st National Travel Check Chaparral Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

7/16/78 Norton Twin 200 at Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Attendance: unknown Television: NBC Sportsworld (tape;
broadcast a week later) 2.2 rating
(1,613,834 households)/6 share
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $115,910. Starters: 22. Winner: Johnny Rutherford/
1st National Travel Check McLaren Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: 1 lap

7/23/78 Gould Twin Dixie at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 18,000 c. (65,000) Television: not broadcast
Purse: $81,754. Starters: 22. Winner: Rick Mears/
CAM2 Motor Oil Penske PC-6 Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 3 drivers on lead lap.

8/6/78 Texas Grand Prix at Texas World Speedway, Ft. Worth, Texas
Attendance: 5,000 c. (100,000)
Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast a week later) 1.6 rating
(1,173,698 households)/3 share
Commentators: Ken Squier, Dan Gurney; Paul Page (pits)
Purse: $83,973. Starters: 21. Winner: A. J. Foyt/
Gilmore/Citicorp Coyote Foyt TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers finished on lead lap.

8/20/78 Tony Bettenhausen 200 at The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin
Attendance: 29,000 c. (35,000)
Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast a week later) 1.9 rating
(1,393,766 households)/3 share
Commentators: Ken Squier, Brock Yates; David Hobbs (pits)
Purse: $97,845. Starters: 22.
Winner: Danny Ongais/Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 4 drivers finished on lead lap.

9/3/78 California 500 at California International Speedway, Ontario, California
Attendance: unknown Television: not broadcast
Purse: $311,820. Starters: 31.
Winner: Al Unser/
1st National Travel Check Chaparral Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: 5 laps

9/16/78 Gould Grand Prix, Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan
Attendance: 25,000 c. (25,000)
Television: ABC Wide World of Sports
(tape; broadcast a week later) 2.8 rating
(2,053,971 households)/6 share
Commentators: Jim McKay, Chris Economaki
Purse: $90,300. Starters: 20. Winner: Danny Ongais/
Interscope Racing Parnelli Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 5 drivers finished on lead lap.

9/23/78 Machinist Union 150 at Trenton State Fairgrounds, Trenton, New Jersey
Attendance: 30,000 c. (35,000)
Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast a week later) 2.2 rating
(1,613,834 households)/3 share
Commentators: David Hobbs, Ken Squier; Brock Yates (pits)
Purse: $82,325. Starters: 20. Winner: Mario Andretti/
Gould Charge Penske Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 4 drivers finished on lead lap.

10/1/78 Daily Express Indy Silverstone at Silverstone International Raceway, Northamptonshire, England
Attendance: unknown. Television: ABC Wide World of Sports
(tape; broadcast two weeks later) 1.4 rating
(1,026,985 households)/3 share
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $178,250. Starters: 16. Winner: A. J. Foyt/
Gilmore/Citicorp Coyote Foyt TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 5 drivers on lead lap.

10/7/78 Daily Mail Indy Trophy Race at Brands Hatch, Kent, England
Attendance: 40,000 c. (50,000)
Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast two weeks later) 1.8 rating
(1,320,410 households)/4 share
Commentators: Ken Squier, Dan Gurney; Barrie Gill (pits)
Purse: $195,896. Starters: 15.
Winner: Rick Mears/
CAM2 Motor Oil Penske PC-6 Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 2 drivers on lead lap.

10/28/78 Miller High Life Bobby Ball Memorial at Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Attendance: 14,500 c. (9,000)
Television: CBS Sports Spectacular
(tape; broadcast a week later) 2.1 rating
(1,540,478 households)/4 share
Commentators: unknown
Purse: $81,304. Starters: 22. Winner: Johnny Rutherford/
1st National Travel Check McLaren Cosworth TC.
Margin of victory: unknown, 5 drivers finished on lead lap.

[richard_cheesman]

Hi racingfan99
Great work getting this together - finally someone has put in the effort.
Do you have the same data for after 1978 too?
thanks!