NASCAR Cup race at Indianapolis: NBC broadcast info, start time, forecast

The Cup Series competes for the first time since 2020 on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The event comes 30 years after the inaugural Cup race at Indy won by Jeff Gordon.

The only former winners on the Indy oval who are active in the series are Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson.

Five races remain in the regular season. Ross Chastain holds the final playoff spot.

Details for Sunday’s Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

(All times Eastern)

START: The command to start engines will be given at 2:19 p.m. … The green flag is scheduled to wave at 2:31 p.m.

PRE-RACE: Garage opens at 11:30 a.m. … Drivers meeting will be at 1:20 p.m. …Driver introductions will be at 1:35 p.m. … The invocation will be given at 2:11 p.m. by Harrison Beckmann. … The national anthem will be performed at 2:12 p.m. by Ephraim Owens.

DISTANCE: The race is 160 laps (400 miles) on the 2.5-mile speedway.

STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 50. Stage 2 ends at Lap 100.

STARTING LINEUP: Cup qualifying scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.

TV/RADIO: NBC will broadcast the race at 2:30 p.m. Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on NBC. … Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network coverage airs at 1:30 p.m. on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

FORECAST: Weather Underground forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high of 82 degrees and a 2% chance of rain at the start of the Cup race.

LAST TIME: Kevin Harvick led 68 of 161 laps to win the most recent Cup race on the oval at Indianapolis in 2020. Matt Kenseth was second. Aric Almirola was third.