Sports With race pushed to August, 2020 Indianapolis 500 had its lowest-ever TV ratings

This year's Indianapolis 500 recorded its lowest-ever TV ratings.

With the 2020 race moving from its usual Memorial Day Weekend slot to August, it's not an apples to apples comparison, but according to an NBC Sports press release, the race held a scant 2.29 household rating.

The next lowest rating came in 2018 at 3.1, according to Sports Media Watch.

Churchill Downs to allow limited attendance at 2020 Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs officials announced Wednesday the track will limit attendance for the September 5 Kentucky Derby to less than 23,000 guests, with no infield.The plan includes no general admission, and the infield will be closed. Pre-purchased general admission tickets will be refunded. Reserved seating will be limited to a maximum of 40% occupancy. Standing-room-only tickets have been eliminated.

INDYCAR Race Winner, Indianapolis 500 Veteran Paul Dies at 60 INDYCAR race winner and Indianapolis 500 veteran John Paul Jr., widely considered as one of the most gifted and versatile drivers of his generation, died Dec. 29 after a long, valiant fight with Huntington’s disease.

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing didn’t have the greatest TV ratings this year. “This year’s Indy 500 lived up to its billing as a major broadcast event, registering NBC’s second-largest audience for Sylvia Soliz has had her electricity cut off. Unemployment has forced aching decisions on millions of

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Viewership was down from last year's 5.489 million viewers (3.4 household rating), coming in at 3.737 million viewers, though last year's race wasn't directly competing against NBA playoffs, PGA golf and NASCAR.

© Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar Cars bunch up after a restart in turn one during the 104th Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020.

According to The Athletic's Richard Deitsch, the 500's viewership was second most of any sporting event this weekend, behind only Saturday night's Lakers-Portland playoff game (3.828 million viewers).

Here is a chart of #Indy500 ratings and viewership dating back to 2001: pic.twitter.com/aMlJ8O7ech

— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) August 25, 2020

Allowed to watch live, Indianapolis viewers dominated the ratings share, leading all markets with a 24.9. However, that is down from 2016's live, local airing of the race (33.6).

The Indy 500 delivered a 2.3 rating (average of 3.73 million viewers through the broadcast).

University of North Carolina shuts down athletic programs through Thursday afternoon after COVID-19 spike

UNC halts all athletic activities and shuts recreational facilities on Chapel Hill campus for 24 hours due to a growing number of coronavirus cases.Protesters block Tennessee General Assembly members garage, troopers arrest one protester

Winners of the Pole position for the Indianapolis 500 . The pole position is the first starting position on the grid, situated on the inside of the front row, and is held in high prestige at Indianapolis . Due to the nature of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500 Aero Testing - Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Indianapolis 500 Aero Testing - Wednesday, October 28, 2020 View Photos. Penske, Boles Personally Welcome Race Fans Back to IMS Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Chairman Roger Penske and President J. Douglas Boles

There’s no great comparison for the August race, but:

-2019 tied the 2nd lowest ever w/ a 3.4 rating (3.4 in 2017 also, 3.1 in 2018)

-Indy rating was 24.9. Was 33.6 in 2016 (both live)

— Nathan Brown (@By_NathanBrown) August 25, 2020

The Top 10 local markets for Sunday’s Indy 500 included:

• 1. Indianapolis; 24.9
• T2. Cincinnati; 4.1
• T2. Columbus, Ohio; 4.1
• T2. Las Vegas; 4.1
• 5. Nashville; 3.8
• 6. Hartford-New Haven; 3.7
• T7. Milwaukee; 3.6
• T7. West Palm Beach; 3.6
• T9. Sacramento-Stockton; 3.3
• T9. Tampa-St. Petersburg; 3.3

Viewership wasn't all doom and gloom, according to NBC Sports.

Sunday's 500 was the second-most watched sporting event on NBC since January and the network's second-most watched IndyCar race in history.

Coverage of the 2020 race peaked around 5:30 p.m. at 4.641 television-only viewers toward the end of the Indy 500 and was the most watched motorsports event in August since NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway earned 3.838 million viewers in 2017.

The only sporting event reaching more viewers on NBC in 2020 was the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Divisional Playoff on Jan. 11. The event had 30.2 million viewers tune in.

Chris Sims is a digital sports producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: With race pushed to August, 2020 Indianapolis 500 had its lowest-ever TV ratings