MAY 31, 2005

The Danica Effect quantified

ABC's coverage of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday drew a 6.6 overnight rating and a 17 share, up 40% from last year and the highest rating for the race since 1997. Danica Patrick, who became the first woman to hold the lead at the Indy 500, led several of the final laps before settling for fourth place.

The ratings during the last 15 minutes of the race spiked to 8.8/21.

Last year's race, won by Patrick's Rahal-Letterman teammate Buddy Rice, drew a 4.7/11.

The last time that the 500 rated as highly was back in 1997 when Arie Luyendyk's victory drew a 7.6/19.