Networks Providing Complete Indy Coverage
RacingOne Report
ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the IMS Radio Network will provide in-depth, behind-the-scenes coverage of the 91st Indianapolis 500, with almost 50 hours of programming.
The live television broadcast of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will start on ABC with a pre-race show at noon (ET) Sunday, May 27, followed by the race at 1 p.m. This marks the 43rd year of Indianapolis 500 coverage on the ABC network.
Indianapolis 500 Pole Day Qualifying will be broadcast live from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, May 12 on ESPN2 and from 3-6 p.m. on ABC, with post-qualification coverage, analysis and highlights on ESPN2 from 6-7 p.m.
Second Day Qualifying on Riley Family Day will be broadcast live from noon-2 p.m. on ABC and 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 13 on ESPN2. Third Day Qualifying coverage on Coca-Cola Throwback Day, Saturday, May 19 will be live from 4-6:30 p.m. on ESPN2, and Bump Day Qualifying on Armed Forces Day will be broadcast live from 12:30-3 p.m. Sunday, May 20 on ABC and from 5-6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Highlights from Miller Lite Carb Day Practice, the Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge and Freedom 100 will be shown from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday, May 25 on ESPN2.
Highlights of the 500 Festival Parade will be broadcast on ESPN2 from 5:30-7 p.m. Saturday, May 26, followed by the feature, “Ready to Race: the 91st Indianapolis 500” from 7-7:30 p.m. on ESPN2. An Indy 500 ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) Special, “24 Hours of Indy,” will air on ESPN2 from 7-8 p.m. Saturday, June 16.
The television broadcast team of Race Day host Brent Musburger, lead announcer Marty Reid, analysts Rusty Wallace and Scott Goodyear, and pit reporters Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Brienne Pedigo and Vince Welch will cover all of the stories from Indianapolis.
More than 400 affiliate IMS Radio Network radio stations located throughout the United States and Canada – plus the LeSea Broadcasting network, which provides worldwide shortwave radio coverage, and the American Forces Radio Network, which broadcasts to United States military installations and ships around the world – will broadcast live Race Day coverage of the Indianapolis 500 at noon Sunday, May 27 with a pre-race show, followed by the race broadcast at 1 p.m.
The radio network’s Indianapolis 500 coverage also will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio channel 145, “Indy Car Racing.”
IMS Radio Network coverage of the final hour of “Fast Friday” practice will take place from 5-6 p.m. Friday, May 11, followed by Pole Day coverage from noon-2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. There will be “first hour” and “final hour” coverage of Second, Third and Bump Day Qualifying from noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. on May 13, 19 and 20, respectively.
On Miller Lite Carb Day, Friday, May 25, the IMS Radio Network will offer live coverage of the Freedom 100 Indy Pro Series race from 12:15-1:30 p.m. and a recap of all of the day’s activities from 5-6 p.m.
The Network also will broadcast four “Indy Live” evening talk shows from the Brickyard Crossing Inn from 8-9 p.m. on May 8, 10, 17 and 24, with each show featuring Indianapolis 500 drivers, team owners and other personalities.
The IMS Radio Network’s Race Day broadcast team for the Indianapolis 500 is comprised of veteran radio commentators Mike King, anchor; Dave Wilson, color commentator; Davey Hamilton, driver analyst; Donald Davidson, historian; and Chris Economaki, commentary. In the turns: Jerry Baker, Turn 1 reporter; Bob Jenkins, Turn 2 reporter; Mark Jaynes, Turn 3 reporter; and Chris Denari, Turn 4 reporter. Reporting from pit lane: Dave Argabright, Kevin Lee, Nicole Manske and Kevin Olson.