By the late 1980s, ABC carried many of the CART PPG IndyCar World Series races that supported the Indy 500.

Page provided enthusiasm (and popular Indy 500 intros with the theme music from Delta Force), Unser his unmistakable directness, and Posey his signature artistic and poetic perspective of the sport.

In 1996, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George led a group of breakaway owners in the founding of the Indy Racing League, with the 500 being its premier event.

[4] Despite losing the cable rights, on August 10, 2011, ESPN renewed ABC's end of its broadcast deal with the league through 2018.

ABC's coverage of the 2013 Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway was the first prime time broadcast of IndyCar racing for the network.