Most race fans find qualifing time trials boring. But, a lot of race fans are impressed with the "Indianapolis 500" Time Trials because it's different and so much is at stake. Watching them on TV and with camera close-ups on the drivers, crew chiefs and crewman, you can see the expressions on their faces and body language. There's a lot of tension. The pits road TV reporters on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC try to capture the moments.

    Take for instance the Danica Patrick situation when her car bobbled on the first turn and she lost valuable time. She really wanted to win the "Indianapolis 500" pole so bad she could taste it. Too bad she didn't but that's the way it goes in racing. It was obvious she was really upset she didn't pull it off. Some of her male peers would have been just happy to make the first or second row like she did. Not her, she wanted it all!

    Danica Patrick has been good for the "Indianapolis 500". Patrick seems to able to handle all of the media attention unlike some of the NASCAR drivers. Maybe it's because she's a rookie? And she puts up with it, for now.

    While the "Indianapolis 500" seems to have lost a lot of it's luster with the world wide media, Patrick's efforts seem to have made them re-focus on the "Greatest Spectacle In Racing". Rookies winning any big race like the "500" are real longshots. Now, a lot of folks are going to tune in this weekend just see if she can do it. For a rookie to finish in the top ten is a major feat but this 23-year old female driver is looking for a win and has rekindled the interest in this event.

    The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series "Chevy American Revolution 400" at the Richmond (Virginia) International Raceway on Saturday, May 14^th, was the highest rated cable sports event of the weekend. The race had a 4.4 rating versus the next closest event, Sunday's NBA playoff match up between Phoenix and Dallas on TNT, which pulled a 3.7 rating. The "400" also attracted the most viewers among cable sports events - 3.77 million.

    The numbers represent a ratings increase of 16 percent from the 2004 race (4.4 vs. 3.8) and a whopping 20 percent jump in households (3.77 million vs. 3.16 million). Total viewers also increased by 11 percent, from 5.05 million in 2004 to 5.58 million on Saturday.

    The "Chevy American Revolution 400" FX broadcast also attracted the most households for a spring NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway (3.77 million vs. 3.75 million for the 1997 race). The household rating ranks second in track history to last September's "Chevy Rock & Roll 400", which was seen by 3.82 million households. The "Chevy Rock & Roll 400" was the 26th event on last year's schedule and set the field for the inaugural "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup". The track again occupies the same position on the schedule this season.

    On the NASCAR Busch Series side, the "FUNAI 250" also had excellent numbers against last year's event in rating (1.9 vs. 1.4, a 36 percent increase), households (1.602 million vs. 1.189 million, a 35% increase), and viewers (2.09 million vs. 1.6 million, a 24 percent increase). Only the September 2002 NASCAR Busch Series race had a higher rating and household number than Friday's "FUNAI 250".

    So why are we always on top of the rating stats for NASCAR? Every thing is being done by both NASCAR and their network partners to kick up the ratings. Ratings translate into what the networks and cable channels can charge advertisers. NASCAR wants to make the ratings as high as possible so they can get a significant increase in their TV rights money which was in the billions last time they signed the long term contract with FOX/FX and NBC/TNT. NASCAR and the networks turn out a lot of copy on how well they did as soon as the Nielsen rating figures are tallied.

    According to "What Greater Boston Was Watching" in the Boston (Massachusetts) Globe, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series "Chevy American Revolution 400" pulled a 2.2 share and was eighth overall for the weekend. The NASCAR Busch Series "Funai 250" had a 1.3 rating. The NASCAR Nextel Cup race didn't have to go up against any stick and ball sports during the Saturday night telecast. Airing on cable, though, rather than network TV could have a lot to do with the low rating. Topping the tally that weekend was a Boston Red Sox-Seattle Mariners baseball game which got a 11.9 rating on Sunday which aired on NESN, a New England wide cable channel, between 4:00 - 6:45 p.m.

    AMA Pro Racing has announced the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship Presented by FMF will be telecast on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). In making the announcement, John Farris, AMA Pro Racing Vice-President of Commercial Development, said OLN will be a great home for AMA Motocross. "OLN is building a strong reputation as a network committed to high quality action sports," said Farris. "From coverage over the past two years of the AMA Supermoto Championship to such varied programming as the Tour de France and the Dakar Rally, OLN has created a unique niche in sports TV. We're glad to be associated with the network."

    Former AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross champion David Bailey makes his return to the announcer's booth. "We're thrilled that David will hosting our coverage," said Farris. "His experience as a racer coupled with his overall knowledge of the sport is unparalleled."

    The 2005 AMA Motocross Championship kicked off on Sunday, May 22 with the "Hangtown Classic" from Sacramento, California, and finishes on September 11 at Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino, California. The 12-round series visits some of the most historic motocross venues in the U.S. and adds a new stop on the schedule with the July 24 event in Lakewood, Colorado. The 250 Class races will generally be telecast on the following Saturday with the 125 Class races airing on the Thursday after that. Exceptions will be made in the month of July to accommodate OLN's "Tour de France" coverage.

    "AMA Motocross is a great addition to OLN's arsenal of action sports programming," said Marc Fein, Senior Vice President of Programming and Production. "It's got all the action, adrenaline and competition OLN viewers crave."

    According to the Portland (Oregon) Business Journal and Auto Racing Daily, the future of the late June Champ Car World Series race at Portland International Raceway is in doubt. Local business interests, the city and state are not that eager to support the event because of budget problems and the like. Champ Car continues to struggle with race dates in the USA.

    Retired General and Secretary of State Colin Powell will drive the "Indy 500" Pace Car this weekend and is one of several celebrities who will be at the "Greatest Spectacle In Racing".

    Checking the very busy Memorial Day Weekend schedule for TV action. It all gets underway on Thursday with NASCAR Nextel Cup Series "Coca-Cola 600" qualifying from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on the SPEED Channel at 7:00 p.m. ET.

    On Friday, SPEED Channel offers Formula One "Grand Prix of Europe" qualifying from the Nurburgring in Germany at 8:00 a.m. (ET). NASCAR Busch Series "Carquest Auto Parts 300" qualifying from Lowe’s is on SPEED at 5:00 p.m. ET.

    Saturday's highlight is the NASCAR Busch Series "Carquest Auto Parts 300" on FX at 6:30 p.m. ET. ESPN2 kicks in at 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday night with NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series "O’Reilly Summer Nationals" qualifying from Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas.

    On Sunday, it's the Formula One "Grand Prix of Europe" on SPEED at 7:30 a.m. ET. On ABC at noon (ET), it’s the "Indianapolis 500" from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For the bikers, it's World Superbikes in at 3:00 p.m. ET on SPEED. The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series "Coca-Cola 600" Lowe’s airs on FOX at 5:00 p.m. ET. Then, ESPN2 offers the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series "O’Reilly Summer Nationals" Finals from Heartland Park at 8:00 p.m. ET.

    For a more detailed TV listing, check the chart at the right.

    That's just the live stuff and doesn't include all of the news, magazine programs on various cable entities. Lou's Motorsports TV Calendar has it all down in fine detail.

So, if you want to be in the know, send a check for $14 U.S. or $16 Canadian to: Lou’s Motorsports TV Calendar, 27 Bayberry Drive #2, Sharon, Massachusetts 02067. Subscribers get all the late updates and changes immediately as they are received from the networks. And, be sure to include your e-mail address.

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