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NorthernLight IRL: Luyendyk, Gudel join ABC Sports' Indianapolis 500 Broadcast Team

8 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
NEW YORK-- Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Arie Luyendyk and ABC Sports reporter Leslie Gudel have joined ABC Sports broadcast team for the networks telecast of the prestigious Indianapolis 500, starting at 11 a.m. (EDT) May 28.

Luyendyk will work as an analyst on the networks Indianapolis 500 coverage and will join veteran play-by-play announcer Bob Jenkins and analyst Tom Sneva in the broadcast booth. Gudel will work as roving reporter behind the scenes, covering the garage areas, hospital, drivers, owners, mechanics and celebrity interviews. Gudel will also serve as a reporter on ABCs coverage of the Indianapolis 500 Time Trials, airing May 20-21.

Vince Welch, who joined ABC earlier this year on its Indy Racing Northern Light Series telecasts, will join veteran reporters Jack Arute and Dr. Jerry Punch in the pit areas.

Luyendyk is no newcomer to the broadcast booth, having worked Indy Racing events on Fox and ESPN in 1999. During his racing career, he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1990 and 1997 and was Bank One Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 1985. He retired from Indy Racing as a driver after the 1999 Indianapolis 500.

Gudel, who joined ABC Sports in 1999 as a college football sideline reporter, also works as an anchor for Comcast SportsNets in Philadelphia. In addition to her primetime anchor duties on "SportsNite," Gudel is a part of the Philadelphia Phillies telecast team as a roving reporter on game nights. She also plays host to "NASCAR Garage," a weekly auto racing show on TNN.

ABC Sports has televised the Indianapolis 500, the premier event of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series, since 1965, and live since 1986. ABC Sports has televised Indy Racing events since 1996.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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