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INDY 500: 59 Hours of TV, Radio Coverage Planned for 84th Indy 500

4 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

INDIANAPOLIS - From the first day of practice May 13 to the drop of the checkered flag May 28, race fans will be kept abreast of activity surrounding the 84th Indianapolis 500 with approximately 59 hours of radio and television coverage.

ABC Sports, ESPN and ESPN2 will provide approximately 41 hours of extensive, live coverage from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the month. The Indy Racing Radio Network will broadcast about 18 hours of on-track activity and interviews.

Coverage will include on-track action and behind-the-scenes efforts from the famed Gasoline Alley garage area, as teams and drivers work to find the speed that will qualify them for the elite 33-car starting field.

ESPN2 will air daily evening reports, beginning May 14 with an opening weekend wrap-up.

ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will provide seamless live coverage of qualifications on Pole Day, May 20 and MBNA Bump Day, May 21.

Live flag-to-flag coverage of the 84th Indianapolis 500 on ABC begins with pre-race activities at 11 a.m. (EDT) May 28, followed by the race at noon.

Broadcast television talent for the Indianapolis 500 includes: Al Michaels, race broadcast host; Bob Jenkins, play-by-play announcer; two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk and 1983 winner Tom Sneva, analysts; Jack Arute, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch, pit reporters; and Leslie Gudel, behind-the-scenes race reporter.

ESPN2 will air additional feature coverage with "Road to Indy" airing at 7 p.m. (EDT) May 21 and a series of tributes to nine legendary Indianapolis 500 winners entitled "Race for Heroes."

The half-hour programs will feature Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Parnelli Jones, Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, Sneva and Danny Sullivan. The first installments, on Sullivan and Mears, will air at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. (EDT) May 10.

IRRN will feature four "Indy Live" interview talk shows during the month, plus live morning and afternoon qualifying shows and qualifying updates every half-hour May 20 and May 21.

IRRN's Race Day live coverage begins at 11 a.m. (EDT) May 28 with a pre-race show, followed by the Indianapolis 500 broadcast at noon.

The IRRN broadcast team for the event consists of these veteran radio commentators: Mike King, play-by-play announcer; Chris Economaki, analyst; three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, driver expert; Donald Davidson, historian; Jerry Baker, Turn 1 race reporter; Ken Double, Turn 2 race reporter; Mark Jaynes, Turn 3 race reporter; Bob Lamey, Turn 4 race reporter; Chris Denari, Larry Rice and Mike Lewis, pit reporters; Howdy Bell, scoring reporter; and Chuck Marlow, garage and medical center reporter.

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.