Indianapolis 500 extends deal with ABC

The Indianapolis 500, a Memorial Day weekend television staple, will remain on ABC through 2018, writes ESPN.

The new six-year rights agreement was revealed last week. ABC will televise the 100th running of the Indy 500 in 2016 under the deal.

Boston.com reports that ABC will televise five races each year, including the Indianapolis 500.

ABC is televising Sunday's MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, in addition to the season-ending Izod World Championship 16 October from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Terms of the agreement call for ABC to televise five races each year, including the Indianapolis 500, according to Indianapolis Business Journal.

The network has televised IndyCar races annually since the formation of the series in 1996. It has aired five races each season under the current agreement, which runs from 2009 to 2012.

“IndyCar is every excited about our continued relationship with ABC,” series CEO Randy Bernard said in a prepared statement. “This allows the series long-term growth on the network.”