VERSUS, DirectTV Reach Deal on Airing IndyCar Races

03.15.10 - A day after the IZOD IndyCar Series' season-opener in Brazil, its primary broadcast partner, the VERSUS network, has reached an agreement with Comcast-owned DirectTV for the satellite network to resume carrying the sports channel.

Comcast dropped VERSUS last fall after the two sides couldn't agree on a proposed rate hike and it cost the series a significant audience share for the IndyCar races.

New IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard issued a statement today thanking the executives at both Comcast and DirectTV for "working diligently to get this deal done.''

"Everybody wins - DIRECTV, VERSUS and most importantly the fans of the Indy Racing League,'' Bernard said. The IndyCar series is currently in the second year of a 10-year deal with VERSUS.

VERSUS is re-airing the Sao Paulo 300 - won by Team Penske driver Will Power - at 10 p.m. EDT Monday and will broadcast 11 of the remaining 16 races. The series next moves to St. Petersburg, Fla. for the March 28 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will be broadcast by ABC.