NBC SPORTS NETWORK'S 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SEASON CONTINUES FROM BRAZIL SUNDAY WITH SAO PAULO INDY 300

Sao Paulo Indy 300 - Sunday at 11 a.m. ET

New Episode of IndyCar 36 features Ryan Hunter-Reay -- Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET

Qualifying coverage -- Saturday at 6 p.m. ET

"The track has a couple of great passing zones, which always adds to the excitement of street racing." - NBC Sports Network's Wally Dallenbach, Jr.

NEW YORK - April 26, 2012 - The NBC Sports Network's coverage of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series continues this weekend with live event coverage of the Sao Paulo Indy 300 on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, preceded by a new episode of IndyCar 36 featuring Ryan Hunter-Reay at 10:30 a.m. ET. On Saturday, NBC Sports Network will air qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. ET.

Fans should anticipate an exciting road race this week as the largest city in South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, will close down one of its busiest streets to accommodate IndyCar. In his first IndyCar season, Rubens Barrichello will race against fellow Brazilian drivers Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves. NBC Sports Network will feature an exclusive interview with Barrichello, conducted by current IndyCar driver and NBC Sports Network reporter Townsend Bell, which will air during the telecast.

DALLENBACH, JR. ON THIS WEEK'S RACE: "The battle continues this weekend in the streets of Brazil. The race is important to many in the IndyCar field since it's their 'home' race, and we will see a lot of these drivers step their game in order to claim bragging rights. The track has a couple great passing zones, which always adds to the excitement of street racing. I look forward to calling this week's race."

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 Ryan Hunter-Reay, who races for Andretti Autosport and is the winningest American driver in the IndyCar series. He has been the top-finishing American driver in points the last two seasons. After three races in 2012, he is sixth in points and remains the highest-placed American driver. IndyCar 36 will air just before this week's race at 10:30 a.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 last month.

QUALIFYING: During the 2012 IndyCar season, NBC Sports Network will air live or same-day qualifying sessions the day before each race. This Saturday, one-hour coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Network's booth is helmed by Bob Jenkins (lead race announcer), Jon Beekhuis (analyst) and Wally Dallenbach, Jr. (analyst). Kevin Lee will serve as pit reporter from Brazil with Robin Miller serving as IndyCar reporter from Indianapolis.

VIEWERSHIP: After growing its IZOD IndyCar viewership by double digits each of the last two seasons (up 10% in 2011; up 16% in 2010), NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) is attracting more viewers again this season through two races. Long Beach registered 468,000 viewers, up 45 percent compared to last year's race (323,000). For the season (two races), viewership for IndyCar on NBC Sports Network is up nine percent vs. last year's first two races (341,000 vs. 313,000).

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

DATE COVERAGE TIME

Sat., April 28 IndyCar Qualifying 6 p.m.

Sun., April 29 IndyCar 36 featuring Ryan Hunter-Reay 10:30 a.m.

Sun., April 29 Sao Paulo Indy 300 11 a.m.

Mon. April 30 Sao Paul Indy 300 (re-airs) 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK'S REMAINING 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE (subject to change, all times ET):

DATE RACE LOCATION TIME

June 9 Firestone 550 Fort Worth, Texas 8 p.m.

June 23 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Newton, Iowa 8 p.m.

July 22 Edmonton Indy Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2 p.m.

August 18 Streets of Qingdao Qingdao, China 12 a.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.