NBC Sports to Present Five Hours of IndyCar Primetime Coverage, 6/23

The NBC Sports Network's coverage of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series continues this weekend in primetime with the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET live from Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. The race will be preceded by a new episode of IndyCar 36 featuring Charlie Kimball at 7:30 p.m. ET, and by qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. ET. Indy Lights coverage airs Saturday at midnight ET.

JENKINS ON THIS WEEK'S RACE: "To race on a short oval is quite a challenge for the IZOD IndyCar drivers. When you combine that with banking at Iowa Speedway you have one of the most exciting venues on the schedule. This year's new format of qualifying races instead of the traditional time trials adds another element of uncertainty."

NBC SPORTS NETWORK'S IOWA COVERAGE ON SATURDAY (subject to change, all times ET):

DATE COVERAGE TIME
Sat., June 23 IndyCar 36 (Charlie Kimball) 7:30 p.m. ET
IndyCar Qualifying 8 p.m. ET
Iowa Corn Indy 250 9 p.m. ET
Indy Lights (Iowa) Midnight ET

INDYCAR 36: The NBC Sports Network will offer motorsports fans another episode of the all-access series IndyCar 36. This week the spotlight shines on Charlie Kimball, who races for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi. IndyCar 36 will air just before this week's qualifying coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The NBC Sports Network original series is produced by IMS Productions and gives viewers an all-access pass into the life of a world-class driver in the middle of race season. The cameras will follow a driver for 36 hours during a race weekend providing a behind-the-scenes look at the on- and off-track activities of the stars of the IndyCar Series. The all-access 36 series also includes NHL 36, which debuted in December, and Fight Night 36 that debuted in March.

QUALIFYING: During the 2012 IndyCar season, NBC Sports Network will air live or same-day qualifying sessions the day before or day of, each race. This Saturday, one-hour coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET.

FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS: NBC Sports Network will air a total of 12 one-hour telecasts of Firestone Indy Lights continuing Saturday at midnight ET, with coverage from this week's race in Iowa. Firestone Indy Lights is the premier ladder series for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Primarily run in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Firestone Indy Lights schedule features races on road courses/street circuits and ovals, including the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

COMMENTATORS: Bob Jenkins (lead race announcer), Jon Beekhuis (analyst) and Tommy Kendall (analyst) will call all the qualifying coverage. Additionally, Kevin Lee, Robin Miller and Townsend Bell will serve as pit reporters calling all the race action.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK'S REMAINING 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE (subject to change, all times ET):
DATE RACE LOCATION TIME
July 22 Edmonton Indy Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2 p.m.
August 26 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Sonoma, California 4 p.m.
September 2 Baltimore Grand Prix Baltimore, Md. 2 p.m.
September 15 Auto Club Speedway Fontana, Calif. 8 p.m.