LOS ANGELES, Cal. – FOX was only able to manage an average audience of approximately 677,000 viewers for Sunday’s OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland, according to reported television figures. The audience was down about 4% from last year’s race, which would put the 2025 audience at roughly 705,000 viewers.
The Aug. 9 race was the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ latest road-course event and aired nationally on FOX, with the race scheduled for a 4 PM/ET start.
The Portland audience comes as IndyCar continues its first season of FOX network coverage. While 677,000 viewers represents a sizable television audience, the year-over-year decline puts additional attention on the series’ scheduling and its ability to compete for viewers during a crowded summer sports calendar.
One major factor was the race’s overlap with NASCAR’s Cup Series event at Iowa. Fans discussing the ratings pointed to the direct head-to-head competition as a significant challenge, with the NASCAR race drawing a reported 1.1 rating. Others cited the Portland broadcast’s lead-in from LIV Golf and the timing of the race as potential obstacles to a larger audience.
The race was also preceded by a three-week gap in IndyCar’s schedule, another factor some fans believed could have affected momentum heading into Portland. The event itself was part of a weekend schedule that included Indy NXT competition, IndyCar practice, qualifying and the Sunday afternoon feature race.
For FOX and IndyCar, the 677,000 figure provides another data point in the series’ transition to its new broadcast home. The bigger question will be whether IndyCar can build its television audience as the 2026 season moves toward its closing rounds—or whether scheduling conflicts and competition from other major sports continue to limit the series’ reach.
The Portland number is not necessarily a verdict on the FOX-IndyCar partnership, but the 4% year-over-year decline is a notable result. With more races remaining on the calendar, the series will have additional opportunities to demonstrate whether its network television audience can grow beyond the levels seen in Portland.
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