Failed circuit breaker behind FOX blackout at Thermal

03/23/2025 08:04 PM

The idle portion of The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix went dark on Sunday as the live FOX broadcast disappeared for the better part of 15 minutes.

A surprising development killed all television and radio broadcasting within the property and for domestic and international viewers, and with an instant loss of content to air, FOX scrambled and ran a number of commercials before switching over to the NASCAR Cup race at Homestead-Miami.

Set in 90-degree weather in California's Coachella Valley, extreme heat was the suspected culprit. An IndyCar official told RACER a failed circuit breaker in the TV compound was to blame for the sudden dropout that lasted from approximately lap 31 through lap 42 of the 65-lap contest won by Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou.