– Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles told SPEED SPORT on the starting grid of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg that negotiations for a new television contract won’t be finalized until sometime in June.
NBC is currently in the final year of its contract with IndyCar and despite having nine races on network instead of cable, it has had to make cutbacks to its broadcast and digital staffs.
Sources have told SPEED SPORT that NBC would renew at the current rate, but new IndyCar owner Roger Penske wants a hefty increase in rights fees, which may ultimately determine NBC’s fate.
Another source told SPEED SPORT earlier in the month that it’s a “three-horse race” between NBC, FOX and ABC/ESPN for the next IndyCar television contract, which would likely containing a streaming component, like NBC’s Peacock.
FOX currently has a long-running relationship with NASCAR since 2001, but has expressed interest in the past about “owning” Memorial Day Sunday with the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same channel.
In addition to its over-the-air network, FOX also has two cable channels devoted to sports: FS1 and FS2.
ABC televised the Indianapolis 500 for 54 years, from 1965 to 2018. A combined deal could include network races on ABC and cable races on ESPN like the NBC/NBCSN arrangement.
ESPN also has a streaming service known as ESPN+ that could show other IndyCar content.
– It’s also an important time for Simon Pagenaud, whose contract expires at the end of this season with Team Penske.
Will Power announced last week that he had signed a two-year contract extension to remain with Team Penske and that leaves Pagenaud’s future a bit clouded, because Team Penske it is uncertain if it will remain at four cars next season.
“It’s obviously a hard day,” Pagenaud said after finishing third in St. Petersburg. “It’s been two physical races. The cars are faster than ever. Definitely feels like it’s very important to be at a high fitness level, and [I’m] personally very happy with it. I think it’s the best I’ve ever had.
“I’m very excited about the whole season. I’m glad we got in a very good groove with the 22 team, so I look forward to the next few races coming up, which we know are going to be strong for us.”
– The coolest guy on the track admitted that high heat and humidity inside the cockpit of the race-winning No. 26 Gainbridge Honda took its toll.
St. Petersburg race winner Herta also had blisters on his hands from the bumpy race course.
“I was tired,” Herta admitted. “It was a very physical race. I wasn’t having my little track girl feather me and fan me and give me water. No, that wasn’t happening.
“But the blisters, that was just the kickback on the wheel. Obviously on the street courses, it’s super bumpy, so it’s probably one of the most physical places we go to for how long a race it is for a street course, and you get a lot of kickback. That’s just what happens. It’ll be fine in a week for Texas.
“It’s early on, so I don’t have the calluses built up for the first few rounds of the season. Once we get through Texas, the calluses will start to form and then it won’t be a problem, but obviously you get baby soft hands in the off-season and then they get ripped to shreds during the season.”
Herta led 97 laps in the 100-lap contest, breaking the record for most laps led at St. Petersburg. The mark was previously held by Helio Castroneves when he won the 100-lap race in 2007.
– Herta recently bought a home in Belleair, Fla., located just south of Clearwater, Fla., and a 30-minute drive from the St. Petersburg race course.
Although he grew up in Santa Clarita, Calif., the 21-year-old is now a Floridian and his victory is his first on his “home track.”
“It’s awesome,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have limited access to the paddock area so I couldn’t bring some of the people I know down here. Obviously, I still call my true home California because I grew up there. That’s where I lived for most of my life, and I moved out here about a year ago.
“But Clearwater has been amazing to me. It’s been such a great place to go in season and obviously cuts the travel down from what I was doing before, flying all the way back and forth to LA. Love it out here, and obviously to win out here is super special.
“I’m super excited to bring the trophy home.”
There is one thing that Southern California has over the Florida Gulf Coast and that is “King Taco” – young Herta’s favorite place to eat after a race.
“I fly home tonight, so I actually am going to go back to Los Angeles in between races, see some family and stuff and then head to Texas and then back to Florida,” Herta said. “It’s definitely possible that I will make a trip out there.
“There’s also a taco truck called Juan Jiménez right by me. Spectacular. But nothing beats King Taco.”