Despite a lengthy rain delay pushing back the race’s start time, the 2024 Indianapolis 500 did tremendous ratings for NBC and Peacock, the network said Monday in a press release.

The race saw 5.344 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and NBC Sports digital platforms, an 8% increase from 2023 and a 10% increase from 2022’s race.

Viewers were treated to a thrilling conclusion as Josef Newgarden became the first back-to-back winner since 2002 after passing Pato O’Ward on the race’s final lap.

The race peaked at 6.46 million viewers from 6:30-6:45 p.m. ET, as the final laps unfurled. The 2024 Indianapolis 500 also became the most-streamed INDYCAR race of all time with 286,000 viewers watching on Peacock or NBC Sports digital platforms, making it NBC Sports’ most-watched sporting event since January’s Divisional Playoff matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.

The rain delay also saw INDYCAR lift the race’s annual Indianapolis blackout, leading to an 18.15 household rating and 54 share in the city.

Despite the huge rating, fans in Madison, Wisconsin didn’t get to see the finish after an ill-advised commercial. Other NBC affiliates throughout the midwest were also forced to switch coverage from the race to focus on storms throughout the Missouri and Illinois areas.

NBC’s INDYCAR coverage resumes this weekend when the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix emanates from the streets of Detroit, Michigan.

[NBC Sports]

Wactor played a major role in the 2016 film USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, which chronicled the story of an American navy ship that was sunk by a Japanese submarine during World War II. The ship was sunk on July 30, 1945, shortly after delivering components of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in the shark-infested Philippian Sea. Wactor played the character Connor in the action-packed movie.

Wactor’s brother, Grant, told the LA Times that Johnny had been working as a bartender and was walking a co-worker to her car when he was killed. “He was one of the most charismatic people I knew. When he talked or listened, you could tell it was genuine,” his brother said. “He lived life his way. He did exactly what he wanted, even to his last day. He walked the walk.”

A tribute from the producers of General Hospital remembered Wactor, a South Carolina native, as “truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day.”

In addition to his role as Brando Corbin on General Hospital, Wactor also appeared in the 2013 NBC series Siberia and two episodes of HBO’s Westworld.

Catalytic converters are often targeted by thieves because they contain precious metals that can be sold.

The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 is done and dusted. After 200 laps of drama and action, it was Josef Newgarden who claimed back-to-back Indy500 victories.

However, in the Championship standings, it is Alex Palou who holds his position at the top of the order. The Spanish driver finished fifth in the Indy500, but it was enough to extend his lead in the Championship over the rest of the field.

It is now a Chip Ganassi Racing 1-2 in the IndyCar standings as Scott Dixon has moved up to second in the standings. This has lowered Team Penske driver, Will Power down to third overall.

The top Arrow McLaren driver is Pato O’Ward who after finishing second in the Indy500 finds himself in fourth in the Championship. Colton Herta is the top Andretti Global car as he sits in fifth place after an awful Indy500.

Team Penske holds sixth and seventh spot as Scott McLaughlin sits in sixth and the back-to-back Indy500 winner, Josef Newgarden is now in seventh spot.

Alexander Rossi finds himself in eighth overall, just ahead of Meyer Shank Racing driver, Felix Rosenqvist. Rounding out the top ten is Kyle Kirkwood and the Andretti Global Team.