Failed circuit breaker may be 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 and surprising 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.