How to Watch IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500: broadcast details
INDYCAR has confirmed all 2027 U.S. championship races on FOX, including the Indianapolis 500. Practice, qualifying, FOX One streaming and INDY NXT support races have separate distribution conditions. IndyCar’s FOX arrangement makes the US race channel straightforward, but a motorsport fan following qualifying, warm-ups and the Indianapolis 500 buildup still needs to distinguish FOX, FS1 and FS2 assignments.
| Viewing situation | Provider starting point | Important restriction |
|---|---|---|
| IndyCar championship races | FOX and eligible FOX streaming access | All 2026 series races are announced for FOX in the United States. |
| Practice and qualifying | FS1 / FS2 and event broadcast listing | Practice and qualifying may move across FS1 and FS2; the main race arrangement is not the same. |
| Indianapolis 500 | FOX and IndyCar event schedule | Check qualifying days and the race start separately; not every Indy 500 session is on the same channel. |
FOX race coverage in the United States
FOX identifies its broadcast network as the destination for all 2026 IndyCar Series races and lists FOX One as a streaming route. That does not mean every event-related session is also on FOX. Viewers with a basic television package should check whether their provider supplies the required sports channels for practice and qualifying.
Indianapolis 500 is a multi-session event
The Indy 500 includes qualifying activities that take place before race day. Its scheduling and media allocation are more complex than a normal Sunday television listing. Someone planning to follow qualifying laps as well as the race should consult the dedicated Indianapolis calendar, not just the announced date of the 500-mile event.
International viewers need different rights data
The US FOX deal does not establish broadcaster eligibility in the UK, Germany, France or any other country. IndyCar publishes international viewing information. Time differences can be significant for viewers in Europe, particularly during the changeover between North American and European daylight-saving dates.
Plan the full event, not only the headline race
IndyCar’s FOX broadcast assignments distinguish championship races from FS1/FS2 coverage around the race weekend. The Indianapolis 500 has additional qualifying sessions whose distributor must be checked on its own schedule.
For European viewers, an IndyCar afternoon race in the US may run late in the evening. The race start-time converter helps translate the official start after local television arrangements are confirmed.
Choosing the right viewing plan
An IndyCar race on FOX does not tell a fan where to find every qualifying session. Compare the race broadcast with FS1/FS2 session coverage, and calculate the package cost only for the rounds you intend to follow using the sports subscription cost calculator.
The Indianapolis 500 has a longer broadcast calendar
IndyCar coverage includes street circuits, road courses and oval events, but the Indianapolis 500 has a much longer set of practice and qualifying sessions than a normal race weekend. A fan who wants only the race on Memorial Day weekend needs a different viewing plan from someone who wants to follow the full month at the Speedway. Verify whether practice sessions, qualifying attempts and the main race use the same channel or stream in the chosen package.
Live race broadcasts can also include technical delays that change the program considerably. A street race may have a red flag or full-course caution that extends the session, while the Indianapolis 500 can be delayed for rain. A television provider might move post-race coverage after an overrun. A fixed start-time converter helps you plan for the scheduled green flag but cannot tell you when cars will actually restart after a caution or weather hold.
IndyCar's US partnership has placed the series within FOX Sports distribution, but specific sessions still deserve confirmation against the official calendar. A viewer in Europe or Asia should not assume that the American broadcaster's service is available outside its licensed territory. Check the competition's international partners and the event's circuit-local timezone before committing to a streaming package. An in-car camera or replay feed can also be sold separately from the main race broadcast.
How FOX race broadcasts differ from the rest of an IndyCar weekend
INDYCAR has confirmed that all 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship races will air on the U.S. FOX broadcast network. The published 2027 schedule includes the Indianapolis 500, road courses, ovals and street circuits, so the main race channel is unusually consistent compared with sports that split live games between several exclusive broadcasters. That does not eliminate the separate coverage for practice, qualifying or support races. Someone watching the live FOX race with an antenna may not have access to all the earlier sessions from the same weekend. Race start times are confirmed on event schedules, and weather or cautions can change how late the broadcast runs.
For 2026, official IndyCar media rules place practice and qualifying on FS1 or FS2, both paid television channels unless included through an eligible provider or service bundle. FOX One provides a subscription streaming route to FOX Sports programming and is shown on official INDYCAR distribution listings. Its subscription and a television-provider login can both offer access, but they are distinct purchase paths with different cost structures. This is especially important at Indianapolis, where multiple qualification days precede the 500 itself. INDYCAR's 2027 announcement separately confirms additional qualifying television appearances and Carb Day on FOX; not every individual test or practice minute is promised on main-network television.
The INDY NXT by Firestone development series is its own competition. Its 2026 races are distributed through FS1 and FS2 and appear on separate INDY NXT event listings, whereas NTT IndyCar's championship races air on FOX. A fan tracking rising drivers needs the appropriate additional cable or streaming entitlement rather than assuming the support race will be carried automatically during the same FOX broadcast block. For overseas viewers, INDYCAR's local-rights arrangements are different, and access through U.S. FOX services should not be treated as global. Starting with the precise race or session remains the best way to tell a nationally televised main event from an earlier practice feed.
Separate IndyCar race and qualifying coverage
For the Indianapolis 500, fans may want to follow qualifying attempts, practice days and the race itself. Those activities cover a much longer period than a normal IndyCar weekend and can have distinct stream listings. A package chosen only for the race might not provide all the preparation sessions. For other IndyCar rounds, street-course schedules and support races can influence when the main broadcast begins. Rain or yellow flags can also extend the event well beyond its planned window. Anyone watching from Europe should confirm international distribution rather than attempt to access a US-only broadcaster, even if its website openly advertises the race.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will every 2027 IndyCar championship race be on FOX?
Yes. INDYCAR confirmed in its October 23, 2026 full-schedule announcement that every NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship race in the 2027 U.S. season will air on the FOX broadcast network. That includes the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30, 2027. This promise covers the championship race broadcasts, not every practice session, qualifying run or INDY NXT support race. Viewers planning an entire motorsport weekend should compare the FOX race time with the additional FS1 or FS2 sessions that are shown separately in the official race-week schedule.
Where can I watch IndyCar practice and Indy 500 qualifying?
INDYCAR's official 2026 broadcasting guidelines name FS1 and FS2 for U.S. practice and qualifying sessions, while FOX carries the championship races. For 2027, the series has also confirmed additional FOX appearances during the two Indianapolis 500 qualifying days and Carb Day coverage. There is therefore no single channel that should be assumed for every hour of Indianapolis preparation. Check the dated schedule for the session you want and verify that your television package, FOX One access or authenticated provider login includes the named network.
Do IndyCar television rights also include every INDY NXT race?
No. INDY NXT is a separate development championship whose official 2026 distribution uses FS1 and FS2, with FOX One shown on individual event listings. The main IndyCar network arrangement places NTT INDYCAR SERIES races on FOX, and it should not be applied without qualification to INDY NXT. At combined race weekends, a support race may have a different start time, channel or stream even when it shares the circuit and event promoter. Fans interested in both series should compare the INDY NXT schedule separately before assuming their basic FOX race coverage is sufficient.