INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana native Eric Shanks can’t quite recall how the Passage ceremony made its way to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His earliest Indianapolis 500 memories date back to 1985, when Danny Sullivan achieved his famous “Spin and Win” victory, a moment Shanks cherished at around 14 years old, fully embracing how significant his hometown is to American culture.
“I believe everyone takes pride in shining a light on this region,” Shanks remarked. “The Pacers only make playoff appearances when they’re in the postseason, and the Colts don’t always make it either, but this is a certainty every year.”
Upon assuming the role of CEO at Fox Sports in 2010, Shanks had a list of events he aspired to acquire for the network, with the Indianapolis 500 consistently topping that list. This year, Fox Sports Finally arrived at the coveted contract, marking its first Indy 500 under the new broadcast agreement with IndyCar, set to air its inaugural Indy 500 this Sunday.
Shanks will oversee Fox Sports’ most significant production this year, having made an initial commitment to deliver high-quality coverage. This ambitious promise is akin to those made by networks broadcasting major sporting events, including the Super Bowl and the World Series.
“We’re going to make Indianapolis proud and showcase everything Fox brings to the table,” he stated.
He faced significant hurdles during the early season’s first five IndyCar races, grappling with technical glitches including erratic graphic packages, timing and scoring issues, mid-race disruptions, and numerous bumps that drove Shanks to aim for flawless production. This followed Fox Sports’ coverage of the first 16 races of the NASCAR season, culminating with the All-Star event last Sunday night.
Out of the NASCAR races aired by Fox, the season-opening Daytona 500 averaged 4,986,000 viewers, even amidst rain.
Fox has assured IndyCar that it will broadcast the complete roster of all 17 races, including both qualifying rounds last weekend, although viewership numbers were inconsistent and unable to accommodate NASCAR’s metrics.
Despite the IndyCar ratings, Shanks remains unperturbed.
“We aim to show continuous growth across various dimensions,” he emphasized. “We want to highlight the rise in our attendance. We’re pleased to hear our products are gaining traction. The focus is on growth, especially with the introduction of new sponsors.”
Fox Sports implemented adjustments last week for the remainder of the season (particularly at the start) to maintain a distinct atmosphere for IndyCar and NASCAR. However, Shanks assured the Associated Press that he hasn’t contemplated transferring Fox’s IndyCar coverage to Fox Sports or any other outlet should the ratings not improve shortly.
Instead, his attention is on ensuring that the issues experienced in the first five races don’t resurface during the “biggest spectacle of the race,” notably the 109th iteration of the event this season.
“With each race, there’s something new to address,” Shanks explained. “You rectify one issue, and another arises. Various systems must communicate effectively, and we are monitoring numerous elements.
New Innovations
Fox Sports is innovating new features, including a “ghost car” graphic used in qualifying, displaying how current cars are tracking against race leaders. Also, major personalities will appear on Sunday, like Tom Brady, who will partake in the “fastest seat in the sport,” alongside Jimmy Johnson. Other grand marshals include Michael Strahan, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart, and Super Bowl champion tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Fox Sports has plenty of content to work with, including the highly publicized race-fixing scandal involving Team Penske, the premier team in IndyCar. This also features two-time defending champ Josef Newgarden, who is on the verge of becoming the first driver to win three consecutive 500s.
Additionally, Robert Schwartzmann stands out as he became the first rookie to win a pole since 1983, surprising the other 33 drivers. Kyle Larson is set to tackle the challenge of competing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in a single day. Two-time Line Series champion Alex Palou, who has triumphed in four of the first five races of the season, is eager to add a 500 to his achievements, while Pato O’Ward, the series’ most popular driver, seeks redemption after a heartbreaking finish last year.
Since the beginning of the year, Shanks has been leveraging cross-promotions. Fox has produced three high-quality commercials and introduced three IndyCar stars, all aired during the Super Bowl, featuring a cameo by Brady.
Gambling Added to Indy 500
Shanks also succeeded in his goal to incorporate a gambling aspect into Sunday’s event.
“I aim to transform the Indy 500 into a betting event, and it’s important to make motorsport wagering understandable,” he stated. “On Kentucky Derby Day, we demonstrated various betting options, whether for wins, places, or shows, even for those unfamiliar with horse racing, or for those placing exactas or trifectas.”
The collaboration with DraftKings includes more than 20 different betting options for viewers. Fox Sports analyst James Hinchcliffe highlights one trifecta choice in the promotions.
“I believe this adds an exciting dimension to the event and motorsports in general. If we can contribute an element of interest for the audience, it’s beneficial,” Shanks concluded.
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Source: apnews.com