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Indy 500 Draws Overnight TV Rating of 4.1

ABC/ESPN PR reports that the Indy 500 on ABC drew an overnight TV rating of 4.1, down 4.8% from the 4.3 overnight the race drew in 2011. Last year's race ended up with a 4.0 final rating.

Overnight ratings are a quick measure of key metro viewing areas. Final ratings include all viewing areas. Final ratings are expected later this week.

The 2011 race was the most-viewed Indy 500 since 2008. Its 4.0 final rating equated to 6.711 million viewers, up 11% in ratings and 16% in viewership from 2010. The 2010 rating was also the second-lowest TV rating for the 500 since 1972, according to Sports Media Watch. For more, including Indy 500 ratings compared to NASCAR Coke 600 ratings from 2002 to 2011, go HERE.

Overnight ratings for the pre-race show this year were up 46%, getting a 1.9 this year compared to a 1.3 last year. 

Monaco F1 Notes Cancelled by Nap

I watched the F1 race from Monaco live but abandoned my note-taking efforts after drifting off to sleep twice. I never enjoy Monaco (or Valencia) and usually don't watch for that reason, but gave it a try for the first time in three years. Mistake. This doesn't bode well for my viewership for Valencia either.

Rather than just rag on about how boring I found it (as I did, regrettably, on Twitter), I'm going with the "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" deal.

I think the upshot is this: since changing the track appreciably in Monaco is out of the question, the continuing evolution of today's cars have made overtaking on the track at speed virtually impossible. So the race broadcast becomes a discussion of the history, sights and beauty of Monoco.

Discuss ...

Notes Taken During the 2012 Indy 500

Notes taken during the ABC broadcast of the Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 27, 2012.

pressdog® DRINK, ye BASTARDS™ beer of the race is Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Style Ale. Get you DRINK, ye BASTARDS drinkware here.

Indy 500 Festival of Driver Quotes

Provided by IndyCar PR ...

JEAN ALESI (No. 64 Lotus-FP Journe-Fan Force United Lotus): "Frustration is a part of my job. We worked hard. It's a shame we cannot be out there. This regulation is fair. I want to come back next year. Well, you know, everything was new for me. From the first day that I arrived, saw the car and met my team, I understood that we had to work hard, and we did. There is a part of the job that can be fixed on the track, but we had an engine that was not competitive straightaway, and we had to deal with it. We tried many things to avoid a lack of performance, but it could not be overcome. So it is difficult to be out of the race. However, I've learned a lot about this new racing discipline, and I've enjoyed it. I've had fantastic people around me, and I've really loved being a part of this great event, meeting lots of friendly and passionate fans, and spending time here in Indiana. I leave with a lot of respect for the Indy 500, an event I've followed from afar for many years, and I hope to return next year. I will start to prepare now."

BRYAN CLAUSON (No. 39 Sarah Fisher Hartman/Curb Agajanian Honda): "It wasn't good (after spin). We were struggling with the handling and not getting any speed out of it."

Indy 500 Official Post Race Reports

Since it's highly difficult to find this stuff on IndyCar.com, I'll post what IndyCar PR sends me.

Leader Lap Summary: Download Indycar-race-leaderlapsummary

Unofficial Lap Report: Download Indycar-race-lapfinal

Event Summary:  Download Indycar-eventsummary

Box Score: Download Indy 500 Box Score

Lap Chart: Download Indycar-race-lapchart

Looks Like Everybody is Happy -- Danica, Andretti Autosport -- Isn't that Nice?

Well there you have it. Everyone is happy! Amazing. Two stories from yesterday that Danica Haters and Fanicas can point to to say "See? It was the right move." Lovely.

First, is a story from AP about how Andretti Autosport seems happier/more teamworky now that Danica Patrick is no longer part of the posse. Very carefully spoken so as not to actually say "Danica" out loud, but still, the meaning is pretty clear. Read it here.

Beaux Barfield Announces the End to Babysitting

Race right now to 1070thefan.com and listen to the replay of last night's Carb Night Burger Bash edition of Trackside HERE. You'll hear Beaux Barfield -- aka Beauxford T. Justice, aka IndyCar Chief Steward and Race Director -- say that the days of the chief steward worrying about drivers crashing on restarts are over.

Suddenly, drivers are responsible for not tearing up their own cars. What a concept! Here's what Barfield said:

"I think the former regime tended to take too much responsibility in terms of what they thought would be the blame if there was turn 1 incident. To me. If there’s a turn 1 problem, I’m hands off. It’s not my problem. I didn’t crash the cars. So … this side of the green flag where I get them in order. It’s all me. That side of the green where they drive into turn 1 that’s all them. So it’s responsibility on the drivers that they have responded to very well this year that I think you’ll see a much better start."

Welcome, new sheriff. I just about wept when I heard that. Oh, and double-file restarts are most likely coming back to the Indy 500 in 2013.

Carry on.

Night Before the 500 Schedule

Roll to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indy tonight for the 2012 Night Before the 500. Say what up to Women of pressdog® Shannon McIntosh and Ashley Frieberg. Watch those crazy Road to Indy USF2000 and Star Mazda cats do the oval thing! Here's the deal:

Event Schedule

2:00 p.m.                  Spectator Gates Open

2:00-4:00                   USAC Midget Practice/Qualifying

4:10-4:55                   USF2000 Qualifying

4:55-5:40                   Star Mazda Qualifying

6:00-7:10                   USAC Midget Heat Races (8 Laps) and Semi

7:10-7:40                   Pre-Race Ceremonies

7:40 p.m.                  USF2000 Race (75 laps or 30 min)

8:25 p.m.                  Star Mazda Race (100 laps or 45 min)

9:30 p.m.                  USAC Midget Feature (50 Laps)

The track is at 10267 E Us Highway 136, Indianapolis, IN 46234-9089. Map HERE.

Timing and scoring for Star Mazda is HERE. Timing and scoring for USF200 is HERE. USAC Midget timing and scoring HERE.

Shout out to Woman pressdog® Collete Davis and her mad googling and Twitter skills for alerting me/us as to the schedule, which is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS on IndyCar and Indy 500 Web sites.

Randy Bernard Talks Americans, The Turbo Appeal, Aero Kids, Lotus, IZOD, The Schedule,

From IndyCar PR

An interview with Randy Bernard

Friday, May 25, 2012 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Q. Inaudible.

RANDY BERNARD: I think Marco Andretti, he carries the Andretti name. Wherever you go in the world, Andretti is known in racing. Mario is one of the most well-known athletes in the world.

I think it helps us in so many significant ways, not just in the U.S. as he's an American, but I think his name has international presence.

Firestone Indy Lights Will Get ... A NEW CAR! ... in 2014

Insert me pining for Swift Engineering here ..

From IndyCar PR ..

FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS TO DEBUT NEW CAR IN 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 25, 2012) - Firestone Indy Lights announced today its intentions to debut a new race car for the 2014 season.

A request for proposal was distributed to potential manufacturers and development firms earlier this month for both engine and chassis, and series officials will begin reviewing and evaluating the submitted applications after the due date of June 30.