March 23, 2025, was the date when IndyCar enthusiasts eagerly turned on their TV sets to catch the Thermal Grand Prix, the second race in a season that FOX Sports had promised to turn into a signature event. The network had been stoking anticipation for months for its sole coverage of the NTT IndyCar Series, after taking a backseat with its NASCAR coverage in 2025. They kicked off an aggressive promotion campaign that started with major Super Bowl spots in February.
This marketing effort included broadcasting three high-profile commercials with IndyCar champions: Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, and Pato O‘Ward during Super Bowl LIX to an estimated audience of 126 million people. The network spent a reported $30 million on those Super Bowl commercials alone, demonstrating its strong commitment to increase IndyCar‘s visibility and popularity. But all was not well when it came to the race itself.
FOX is now playing the blame game
“I heard that there were some issues with the broadcast,” Alex Palou said on his FOX interview after the win. “So sorry to the fans, and thank you for sticking with us.” It all began with a power outage at the Thermal Club in California. A malfunctioning circuit breaker cut Fox‘s production truck out of action mid-race. The lights went out on the broadcast at approximately 1:19 PM PDT, just as things were getting interesting. This wasn‘t a glitch, it was a total blackout. The screens blacked out, the commentary ceased, and even the IndyCar Radio team scrambled with interviews from their Indy studios to try to fill the void. Fans didn‘t just lose a few minutes; they lost the entire experience.
“Our INDYCAR production truck has an electrical issue,” FOX wrote on X. “We are working to get it fixed as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we have NASCAR bonus coverage on FOX and FS1 until the INDYCAR truck is back online.” FOX didn‘t hesitate to shift the blame. They put it on the facility, stating the electrical problem was outside their control.
Wait, FOX’s IndyCar broadcast shut off?
— Eric Estepp (@EricEstepp17) March 23, 2025
It went on and on, and FOX couldn‘t get back online quickly enough. This isn‘t an isolated incident either. FOX has a track record of flaky motorsport coverage—technical issues, incorrect leaderboards, you name it. This time, however, they reached rock bottom. Inadequate planning pushed NASCAR into the debacle, with FOX stretching its NASCAR coverage to FS1 to make way for IndyCar this Sunday, only to botch both.
The blowback was harsh. FOX used NASCAR‘s telecast of the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway later that evening to get back some integrity, but harm had already been inflicted. NASCAR was pushed back to FOX due to IndyCar‘s blackout, with both sets of fans up in arms. IndyCar supporters were robbed, and NASCAR types complained about having their race pushed around. FOX simply couldn‘t win with either crowd.
This wasn‘t a matter of a power outage, it was personal for viewers. Folks had planned their Sunday for this. Others spent money on tickets to see live, hoping that FOX would deliver the action to the rest of us. Meanwhile, the ones at home got static and commercials instead. Super Bowl commercials and splashy promos are great, but what‘s the use if you can‘t even broadcast the race? It fumed out over the web, with X buzzing as viewers had their say. They‘d taken enough from FOX‘s platitudes, and everyone knew how to say this was a facepalm for fans everywhere.
NASCAR and IndyCar fans have lost hope in FOX’s coverage
“The universe knows that NASCAR belongs on FOX.” That’s what one fan posted, and you can feel the sarcasm dripping off it. IndyCar never had a shot with FOX as NASCAR‘s golden child, and this blackout was proof. Fans even joked about FOX‘s clear bias. NASCAR‘s broadcast came in after the blackout like nothing ever occurred, while IndyCar fans were left with static. It‘s a sour pill with years of IndyCar fighting for airtime, only to be put on the sidelines again.
FOX didn’t just lose the feed, but by switching to NASCAR, they exposed a fest of commercials to IndyCar fans. “Welcome IndyCar fans to the Commercial 400 at Homestead,” one fan on X noted. FOX’s NASCAR coverage has received backlash for a long time for its frequent commercials that disrupt the race and even skip key moments. One user joked that they‘d prefer to watch paint dry than endure FOX‘s commercial marathon. It‘s a complaint of fatigue from the fanbase being tired of feeling like an afterthought.
One fan, who was sick and tired of FOX’s antics, took to X and wrote, “Just destroying the sport… and any hype for their season…” FOX’s IndyCar takeover was supposed to be a new era for the company. After years of being with NASCAR, they finally found footing at the biggest open-wheel competition in America. But now it seems like all that hype has gone down the drain.
“Damn even Fox got bored “This is a–, everyone go watch Nascar”,” one user wrote on X. This encapsulates the emotions around their coverage. It seems like FOX does not care whether their broadcast is smooth or not. Be it with constant commercials in NASCAR or failing to broadcast the race efficiently for their full-time partners at IndyCar.
“That’s what happens when you race on random backyard tracks.” Ah, here‘s the cynicism kicking in. Thermal‘s a private club, not a conventional circuit, and this fan blames the venue selection for the pandemonium. X posts stacked up, some calling it a “backyard disaster“ and others that IndyCar‘s heavy media dollars were squandered on a shaky configuration. Not FOX alone, but the entire operation. People are wondering whether IndyCar‘s pursuit of prestige comes at the expense of reliability.
FOX’s fat TV contract with IndyCar was supposed to elevate the sport, but this fan’s throwing it back in their face. X users raged about the wasted potential as Super Bowl ads don’t mean squat if you can’t air the race. “You know that big media deal dollars coming in good use,” a user wrote on X. It’s a rallying cry for accountability. Fans want their sport respected, not turned into a punchline.
So what do you think? Did FOX’s mishap ruin the IndyCar x NASCAR Sunday for you? Let us know in the comments!
The post “Just Destroying the Sport”- FOX Once Again Drag Themselves Through the Mud as Fans Skip Ship Midway Through the Night appeared first on EssentiallySports.
