Formula One announces 10-year deal for Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium

It’s official: Formula One racing is coming to South Florida.

F1 announced Sunday the Miami Grand Prix will be hosted at Hard Rock Stadium in a 10-year deal, which will begin in 2022. The 2022 race date will be announced later with hopes of it being held in the second quarter of next year (April-June).

By SAFID DEEN, SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

“It’s a great moment for Formula One and a great moment for Formula One fans in America,” said president and CEO Stefano Domenicali during a press conference in Imola, Italy.

“We’re very excited to bring the world’s greatest racing to the most dynamic city in the United States,” added Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium CEO Tom Garfinkel, the new managing partner of the race.

Sunday’s announcement ends a nearly three-year quest by Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium owner Steve Ross, now the chairman and owner of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, to bring F1 racing to South Florida.

For Ross and Garfinkel, the Miami Grand Prix is just another event that adds to the allure of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The venue has hosted 11 Super Bowls with Super Bowl 54 most recently in Feb. 2020, multiple college football national championship games, and will host games during the World Cup in 2026.

“We had a vision to create a global entertainment destination. The site exists to bring in the biggest events in the world,” Garfinkel told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“With the Super Bowl, the [college football] national championship game, international soccer, Miami Open tennis, and really there’s no bigger event in the world than Formula One racing.”

Race organizers and the city of Miami Gardens recently announced an economic package that will include a $5 million commitment, including a STEM education program and race conditions that must be abided by to benefit the area despite significant resistance from local officials and residents in the area.

Ross initially hoped to have the F1 race in the downtown Miami, starting in 2019, until that proposal was also met with apprehension from residents with noise and pollution concerns.

“This is something we’ve worked on for a while,” Garfinkel told the Sun Sentinel. I think frankly, while it feels like it took a long time, when you look at the amount of diligence that goes into it, taking the time to listen to the community, and putting that diligence in during a global pandemic we’ve all been dealing with, it actually wasn’t a long time when you put it in perspective because what it takes to put one of these things on is pretty significant.”

The race circuit will be 3.36 miles, have 19 corners, 3 straights and potential for 3 DRS zones with an estimated top speed of 198.8 mph with the stadium at the heart of the action.

FI and Hard Rock Stadium officials will work together to build a track to provide high speed straights, multiple overtaking opportunities and exciting racing while meeting the highest safety standards, according to a press release.

Miami will be the 11th location Formula 1 has raced in the United States since the Championship series began in 1950. Since that time Formula 1 has raced at Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

The Miami Grand Prix will be the second U.S. race on the F1 circuit next year, joining Austin, Texas.

“There was never a time we didn’t want it to happen or didn’t think it was going to happen,” added Garfinkel. “I think sometimes you will things to happen when you have great partners to get that accomplished.”

NBC SPORTS’ RACING WEEK IN AMERICA BEGINS MONDAY, APRIL 6 ON NBCSN

NBC SPORTS’ RACING WEEK IN AMERICA BEGINS MONDAY, APRIL 6 ON NBCSN

More Than 65 Hours of Motorsports Coverage from NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, Supercross and More

Themed Nights of Memorable Races on NBCSN Include “Mayhem Monday,” “WednesDale,” “Best at the Brickyard,” and “Daytona Speed Day”

NASCAR America Presents NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN; Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin Headline Competitors

Content to Stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 2, 2020 – Beginning April 6, NBC Sports will present Racing Week in America on NBCSN, providing racing fans with a chance to relive the most thrilling motorsports moments from the past two decades on NBC and NBCSN.

Featuring races from NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, Supercross and other series, Racing Week in America will have a specific theme for each day, starting with “Mayhem Monday” on April 6. NBC Sports will air 12 hours of motorsports coverage (1 p.m.-3 a.m. ET) Monday-Thursday and seven hours (8 p.m.-3 a.m. ET) on Friday-Saturday. Sunday’s coverage airs 2-4 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m.-3 a.m. ET. Below is each day’s highlighted content throughout the week:

  • Monday, April 6: “Mayhem Monday”
  • Tuesday, April 7: “Twists and Turns Tuesday”
  • Wednesday, April 8: “WednesDale”
  • Thursday, April 9: “Best at the Brickyard”
  • Friday, April 10: “Daytona Speed Day”
  • Saturday, April 11: “Championship Saturday”
  • Sunday, April 12: “Sunday Funday”

Programming will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition, NASCAR America will present the NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge from Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin headline a group of 18 drivers competing at virtual versions of iconic race tracks across America. Click here for more information.

MONDAY, APRIL 6 – MAYHEM MONDAY

“Mayhem Monday” will feature some of the most intense battles across NASCAR, INDYCAR, Supercross, and American Flat Track, including two classics from Martinsville Speedway. The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race saw Kyle Busch win in overtime and Chase Elliott confront Denny Hamlin for costing him the victory. Two years earlier at Martinsville, Jeff Gordon earned his final win after Matt Kenseth put his feud with Joey Logano to rest. “Mayhem Monday” also has the 2015 INDYCAR race from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, which produced a record 80 lead changes before Graham Rahal finally won out.

COVERAGETIME (ET)NETWORK
NASCAR – Bristol Motor Speedway 20191 p.m.NBCSN
INDYCAR – Auto Club Speedway 20153 p.m.NBCSN
NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge – Rockingham7 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Martinsville Speedway 20178 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Martinsville Speedway 201510 p.m.NBCSN
Supercross – Anaheim #2 202012 a.m.NBCSN
American Flat Track – Buffalo Chip TT 20192 a.m.NBCSN

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 – TWISTS AND TURNS TUESDAY

From city streets to massive dirt jumps, NBCSN will showcase the best twists and turns that motorsports have to offer starting Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET. “Twists and Turns Tuesday” includes the NASCAR Cup Series’ thrilling first race on the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL; a return to INDYCAR Victory Lane for NBC Sports’ own James Hinchcliffe at iconic Long Beach; and the closest finish in Supercross history from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

COVERAGETIME (ET)NETWORK
IMSA – Long Beach 20191 p.m.NBCSN
INDYCAR – Long Beach 20173 p.m.NBCSN
NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge – Lucas Oil Raceway7 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL 20188 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Watkins Glen 201710 p.m.NBCSN
Supercross – Arlington 201912 a.m.NBCSN
Monster Jam World Finals 20192 a.m.NBCSN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 – WEDNESDALE

NBC Sports presents a full day dedicated to motorsports icon and NBC Sports analyst Dale Earnhardt. Jr. From his emotional victory at Daytona in 2001 to making “Slide Job!” go viral in his broadcasting debut at Chicago in 2018, fans will see highlights from his memorable career, as well as an episode of his popular podcast/TV show, The Dale Jr. Download.

COVERAGETIME (ET)NETWORK
NASCAR – Talladega Superspeedway 20191 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Chicagoland Speedway 20183 p.m.NBCSN
NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge – Myrtle Beach7 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Daytona International Speedway, July 20018 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Talladega Superspeedway 201710 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Martinsville Speedway 200512 a.m.NBCSN
The Dale Jr. Download2 a.m.NBCSN

THURSDAY, APRIL 9 – BEST AT THE BRICKYARD

Thursday takes a look back on NBC Sports’ exciting history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, highlighted by Simon Pagenaud’s win last May in NBC Sports’ first-ever Indianapolis 500 broadcast. Also included are emotional Brickyard 400 wins for Indiana native Tony Stewart and transplant Jeff Gordon, and Drive Like Andretti, NBC Sports’ captivating documentary on the life and times of racing icon Mario Andretti.

COVERAGETIME (ET)NETWORK
INDYCAR – Grand Prix of Indianapolis 20191 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – 2005 Brickyard 4003 p.m.NBCSN
NBC eSports Short Track iRacing Challenge Championship – Martinsville7 p.m.NBCSN
INDYCAR – 103rd Indianapolis 500 (2019)8 p.m.NBCSN
Drive Like Andretti11 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – 2004 Brickyard 40012 a.m.NBCSN
100th Indy 500 Special2 a.m.NBCSN

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 – DAYTONA SPEED DAY

Whether they’re on two or four wheels, legends are made at Daytona International Speedway. On Friday, NBCSN focuses on ‘The World Center of Racing’ with exciting races from NASCAR and Supercross, plus highlights from this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona – better known as the Rolex 24.

EVENTTIME (ET)NETWORK
NASCAR – 2004 Daytona 5008 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR – Daytona International Speedway, July 200110 p.m.NBCSN
2020 Daytona Supercross12 a.m.NBCSN
IMSA – 2020 Rolex 242 a.m.NBCSN

SATURDAY, APRIL 11 – CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

It’s what every driver works for. On Saturday, NBCSN gives fans some of the best championship moments, starting at 8 p.m. ET. The day’s schedule includes Jimmie Johnson claiming his record-tying 7th NASCAR Cup Series title in 2016; Kurt Busch’s stirring rally to become the first champion of the NASCAR Playoff era in 2004; and Scott Dixon’s triumph over Juan Pablo Montoya by the slimmest of margins to win the 2015 INDYCAR crown.

EVENTTIME (ET)NETWORK
NASCAR Cup Series Championship – Miami 20168 p.m.NBCSN
INDYCAR Championship – Sonoma 201510 p.m.NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Championship – Miami 200412 a.m.NBCSN
American Flat Track – Meadowlands 20182 a.m.NBCSN

SUNDAY, APRIL 12 – SUNDAY FUNDAY

Above all else, racing is fun – and that’s what the final day of Racing Week in America is about. “Sunday Funday” has the incredible 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race from Talladega (won by Ryan Blaney over Ryan Newman by .007 of a second), as well as INDYCAR’s Texas thriller from 2016, where four drivers – Graham RahalJames HinchcliffeTony Kanaan and Simon Pagenaud – went wheel-to-wheel in a pulse-pounding dash to the checkered flag.

EVENTTIME (ET)NETWORK
NASCAR – Talladega Superspeedway 201910:30 p.m.NBCSN
INDYCAR – Texas Motor Speedway 201612:30 a.m.NBCSN
Racing Roots – Kyle Larson2:30 a.m.NBCSN

James Hinchcliffe to Serve as Analyst for INDYCAR, Indy Lights, IMSA and NASCAR Coverage on NBC Sports

James Hinchcliffe to Serve as Analyst for INDYCAR, Indy Lights, IMSA and NASCAR Coverage on NBC Sports

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 27, 2020 – Current INDYCAR driver for Andretti Autosport and fan-favorite James Hinchcliffe has joined NBC Sports as a motorsports analyst for 2020. He will serve as a driver analyst for a majority of NBC Sports’ 2020 INDYCAR race coverage, providing reports from pit road and will make his debut at the season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., the weekend of March 13-15. (more…)