1981 PPG IndyCar World Series
Number of races televised: 8/12 (67%), scheduled to be 10/12 (83%)
Number of races televised live: 5/12 (42%) scheduled to be 6/12 (50%)
Changes from previous year:
- Once again several new races were added to the calendar. The Kraco Car Stereo 150 was shown tape-delayed on NBC, the Kraco Twin 125s were shown live on ESPN (and tape-delayed on NBC), and the Los Angeles Times 500 was shown live on ESPN.
- The True Value 500, previously tape-delayed on ABC, was removed from the calendar, as was the Red Roof Inns 150, previously shown live on ESPN.
- The Michigan 500, shown on NBC, was moved from tape delay to a live broadcast.
- The Rex Mays Classic, previously untelevised, was shown live on ESPN.
- The Tony Bettenhausen 200, previously shown tape-delayed on NBC, was untelevised, though it was planned to be aired.
- The Watkins Glen 200, previously untelevised, was planned to be shown live on ESPN, but wasn't.