IndyCar has landed its personal “Drive to Survive”-type docudrama that can showcase the buildup to subsequent yr’s Indianapolis 500.

The six-part “100 Days to Indy” will air on The CW Community subsequent spring and chronicle the 100-day window forward of “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing” on Could 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Filming will start with the IndyCar season opener and run by way of the checkered flag on the Indy 500.

This system will likely be co-produced by Penske Leisure and VICE Media Group. Penske Leisure is the division of Roger Penske’s enterprise empire that owns IndyCar and the speedway, and VICE Media Group is a worldwide multiplatform media firm.

“The Indy 500 is essentially the most distinctive, exhilarating and interesting occasion on the planet,” mentioned Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Leisure. “It is an unequalled spectacle fueled by bold, fearless and charming personalities. This sequence will give viewers an unprecedented entrance row seat because the racing season begins and the countdown to Indy accelerates.”

The docuseries will likely be directed by Patrick Dimon, who received an Emmy for excellent digicam work for HBO’s “24/7: Kelly Slater.” Bryan Terry, vice chairman of improvement for VICE TV, will likely be govt producer.

Every episode will debut on the CW and reair on VICE TV. The programming would be the first sports activities venture since Nexstar Media Group, Inc. acquired 75% of The CW, which is taken into account fifth among the many main broadcast networks in the USA.

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IndyCar had been in search of a companion to take viewers behind the scenes of the American open wheel racing sequence for the previous few years. Formulation One has seen an explosion of North American curiosity by way of the Netflix docudrama “Drive to Survive.”

The Netflix sequence sparked large curiosity in F1 that has grown the fan base — there will likely be three races within the U.S. subsequent season, up from one in 2021 — and drove new North American sponsors to a number of groups.

IndyCar has tried to play catchup as a result of it believes its personalities and drama are worthy of being chronicled. Simply final season, McLaren Racing poached two high drivers and was embroiled in a messy negotiation with Chip Ganassi Racing for 2021 champion Alex Palou that was determined in mediation, and Andretti Autosport had a public meltdown over in-house rigidity between its drivers.

The championship was a five-driver battle to the season finale received by Will Energy, and former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson received the Indy 500. IndyCar options three drivers who’ve raced in F1 and subsequent yr can have three drivers on the grid that left F2 for IndyCar. Palou, in the meantime, has been named a McLaren reserve driver for subsequent season.

Miles praised The CW for its means to showcase the racing sequence to a more recent, youthful viewers.

“‘100 Days to Indy’ is a high-octane journey grounded in emotional sports activities storytelling,” mentioned Brad Schwartz, president of leisure at The CW Community. “Now we have come collectively to ship a sequence that can comply with these champions of the racetrack and maintain viewers on the sting of their seats.”