Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

  • ABC
  • CBS
    • ShowTime
  • NBC
    • NBC Sports Network
    • Universal
    • Telemundo
    • Comcast
      • Golf Channel
  • FOX
    • Fox Sports1
    • Fox Sports2
    • FOX Sports Radio
  • ESPN
  • Turner
    • TNT
    • TBS
    • Sports Illustrated
    • Bleacher Report
    • truTV
  • NFLN
  • MLBN
  • NBA TV
  • NHLN
  • HBO
  • Sirius/XM

MIKE TIRICO, DANICA PATRICK, DALE EARNHARDT JR., LEIGH DIFFEY, JAMES HINCHCLIFFE & TOWNSEND BELL DISCUSS INDY 500 ON MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TUESDAY, MAY 24 AT 2 P.M. ET

May 20, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Dial 313-209-6544 to Participate; Passcode 7732963

106thRunning of Indianapolis 500 Sunday, May 29 at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Universo and Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 20, 2022 – Mike Tirico, Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe will preview NBC Sports’ coverage of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on a media conference call, Tuesday, May 24, at 2 p.m. ET.

Media interested in participating should call 313-209-6544; Passcode: 7732963

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will begin on Sunday, May 29, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Universo and Peacock. Coverage of Indianapolis 500 practice continues today at noon ET on Peacock. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ Indianapolis 500 practice and qualifying coverage this week.

  • WHAT: Indianapolis 500 Media Conference Call
  • WHO: Mike Tirico, Danica Patrick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, James Hinchcliffe
  • WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, at 2 p.m. ET
  • NUMBER: 313-209-6544
  • PASSCODE: 7732963

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS WEEK-LONG COVERAGE OF INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING BEGINNING TOMORROW ON PEACOCK

May 16, 2022 By admin Leave a Comment

Peacock to Present 30+ Hours of Exclusive Coverage of Indianapolis 500 Practice and Qualifying This Week, Beginning Tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET

Fast Nine Qualifying to Determine Pole Position for 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 16, 2022 – NBC Sports presents comprehensive week-long coverage of Indianapolis 500 practice and qualifying from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week, totaling more than 35 hours of on-track coverage, including 30+ hours exclusively on Peacock.

Coverage gets underway with a two-hour practice session tomorrow, Tuesday, May 17, at 9 a.m. ET, followed by another two-hour session at 1 p.m. ET and a three-hour practice at 3 p.m. ET for seven total hours of coverage exclusively on Peacock. Following five consecutive days of practice from IMS, qualifying for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 begins this Saturday, May 21, at noon ET exclusively on Peacock.

The two-hour Fast Nine qualifying session to determine which driver earns the pole position airs Sunday, May 22, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

NBC Sports’ roster of commentators to anchor practice and qualifying coverage throughout the week from IMS includes Leigh Diffey, Kevin Lee, and Marty Snider as play-by-play voices. James Hinchcliffe, Townsend Bell, and Steve Letarte will serve as analysts, while Dave Burns, Dillon Welch, Snider, and Lee will provide reports from pit road.

Coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will air on Sunday, May 29, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC.

Below is the programming schedule for practice and qualifying of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 across NBC Sports and Peacock:

Date Event Network/Streaming Time (ET)
Tues., May 17 Indy 500 Practice Peacock 9 a.m.
Indy 500 Practice Peacock 1 p.m.
Indy 500 Practice Peacock 3 p.m.
Wed., May 18 Indy 500 Practice Peacock Noon
Thurs., May 19 Indy 500 Practice Peacock Noon
Fri., May 20 Indy 500 Practice Peacock Noon
Sat., May 21 Indy 500 Practice Peacock 9:30 a.m.
Indy 500 Qualifying Peacock Noon
Sun., May 22 Indy 500 Last Chance Practice* Peacock 11 a.m.
Indy 500 Fast Nine Practice Peacock 11:30 a.m.
Indy 500 Last Chance Qualifying* Peacock 1:15 p.m.
Indy 500 Qualifying Peacock 3 p.m.
Indy 500 Fast Nine Qualifying NBC, Peacock 4 p.m.
Mon., May 23 Indy 500 Practice Peacock Noon
Fri., May 27 Indy 500 Final Practice on Carb Day Peacock 11 a.m.
Pit Stop Challenge Peacock 2:30 p.m.

*if necessary

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES COMMENTATORS FOR 106TH RUNNING OF INDIANAPOLIS 500

May 4, 2022 By admin

Mike Tirico and Danica Patrick Return to Indy 500 as Pre-Race Host and Analyst; Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joins Tirico and Patrick on Peacock Pit Box

Leigh Diffey and Townsend Bell to Call Fourth Consecutive Indy 500; “Mayor of Hinchtown” James Hinchcliffe Makes Indy 500 Booth Debut as Analyst

106th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29; Pre-Race Coverage Begins at 11 a.m. ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 4, 2022 – As the Month of May gets underway, NBC Sports has announced its team of race and studio commentators for its comprehensive coverage of the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 29 on NBC.

NBC Sports host Mike Tirico and studio analyst Danica Patrick return to Indianapolis 500 coverage for the fourth consecutive year, contributing to pre-race, in-race, and post-race coverage. One of the most versatile voices in sports, Tirico hosted NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage from Tokyo and Beijing as well as NBC Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LVI all within the past year. In the fall, he will begin his first season as play-by-play voice for NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football. Patrick, one of motorsports’ most popular personalities, is a former INDYCAR and NASCAR driver who became the first woman to lead laps and earn a top-five finish in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of racing’s most popular personalities and an NBC Sports motorsports analyst, will contribute to pre-race coverage alongside motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood, and will join Tirico and Patrick on the Peacock Pit Box on pit road for segments during the race.

For the fourth consecutive year, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be called by NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey and analyst Townsend Bell, while fellow INDYCAR on NBC analyst and long-time INDYCAR driver and fan-favorite James Hinchcliffe makes his debut in the Indy 500 broadcast booth. Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, Dave Burns and Dillon Welch will serve as pit reporters.

Coverage of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues on Saturday, May 14, with the GMR Grand Prix from the IMS road course at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Click here for more information on NBC Sports’ comprehensive coverage of the 2022 INDYCAR season.

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, Motorsports, NBC, Uncategorized

PENSKE ENTERTAINMENT AND NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCE ‘PENNZOIL PRESENTS THE CLUB’

March 17, 2022 By admin

A Conversation 110 Years in the Making: Foyt, Unser and Mears Welcome Castroneves to the Most Exclusive Club in Motorsports

The One and Only Recorded Conversation Among the Four Four-Time Winners of the Indianapolis 500

Includes Interviews with Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart and Scott Dixon and Veteran Motorsports Writer Curt Cavin

“Pennzoil presents The Club” Debuts Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, Leading into GMR Grand Prix

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, March 17, 2022) – Television coverage of the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will shift into high gear Saturday, May 14 when NBC debuts “Pennzoil presents The Club,” a documentary featuring an exclusive conversation among one of the most elite groups in global motorsports — the four drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times.

Airing at 2 p.m. (ET), “Pennzoil presents The Club” will lead into live coverage at 3 p.m. that afternoon of the GMR Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the IMS road course.

A trailer released, just this morning, is available here.

Helio Castroneves became the fourth member of the most exclusive club in motorsports last May 30. Castroneves will aim for his record-breaking fifth “500” victory in the 106th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29, also live starting at 11 a.m. (ET) on NBC.

“This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch and discuss sports history,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “For fans around the globe, it’s an epic way to start the Month of May on NBC before tuning in to the GMR Grand Prix and Helio’s historic ‘drive for five’ on Indy 500 Race Day.”

Shortly after Castroneves’ emotional victory for Meyer Shank Racing in the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, Boles called for a secret meeting of Castroneves and his fellow four-time winners, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

On July 21, 2021, the four legendary INDYCAR SERIES drivers gathered to commemorate one of the most significant accomplishments in motorsports history. IMS Productions was on hand to capture and document the moment, recording a conversation 110 years in the making.

“Pennzoil presents The Club” is a documentary celebrating that conversation and what it means to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” four times. The show features a sit-down conversation in downtown Indianapolis, historic race footage and a four-time winner’s meeting at the world-famous Yard of Bricks with the Borg-Warner Trophy.

Featuring additional interviews with Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart, Scott Dixon, Roger Penske and veteran motorsports writer Curt Cavin, “Pennzoil presents The Club” is the only recorded conversation among Foyt, Unser, Mears and Castroneves. Unser passed away Dec. 9, making this conversation even more poignant. The documentary includes a dedication to his memory.

“It’s still hard for me to believe that I am a part of this group of drivers – these are drivers that I have looked up to and watched all my life and to now be standing on the same level as them is incredible. My best memories have come from winning the Indianapolis 500, there is no other race in history that has that same feeling; the feeling of a month’s long hard work all coming to an end in the best way possible,” said Castroneves. “I will forever be grateful for the people who have helped me achieve such a monumental accomplishment because it was not just me, it was a team effort each of those four years.”

-NBC SPORTS-

Filed Under: Indianapolis 500, Indy 500, IndyCar, Motorsports, NBC, Uncategorized

SUNDAY’S INDIANAPOLIS 500 ON NBC DELIVERS HIGHEST VIEWERSHIP IN FIVE YEARS

June 2, 2021 By admin

“Greatest Spectacle in Racing” Averages 5.581 Million Viewers, Up 51% vs. 2020 and Up 2% vs. 2019

Race Peaked at 7.129 Million Viewers as Helio Castroneves Took Checkered Flag

Indy 500 is Most-Watched Sporting Event of the Weekend

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Off to Best Six-Race Start in Four Years

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 2, 2021 – Sunday’s 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge ranks as the most-watched Indy 500 in five years averaging a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 5.581 million viewers on NBC — up 51% vs. last year (3.692 million), which was run on Aug. 23 due to the pandemic; and up 2% from NBC’s inaugural broadcast of the race in 2019 (5.489 million).

“The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” (12:48-3:57 pm ET) peaked at 7.129 million TV-only viewers from 3:15-3:30 p.m. ET as Helio Castroneves outdueled Alex Palou in the final laps to win his record-tying fourth Indy 500. The race finished with a 3.15 household rating.

Additional viewership highlights for this year’s Indy 500:

  • Is NBC Sports’ most-watched IndyCar race to date.
  • Ranks as the most-watched sports event of the weekend across all networks.
  • Stands as NBC’s most-watched Sunday afternoon sports event in 16 months, since a Seattle-Philadelphia NFL Wild Card matchup with on Jan. 5, 2020 (36.0 million TAD).
  • Across NBC Sports streaming platforms, this year’s race ranks as the second most-streamed IndyCar race ever with an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 34,500 viewers, behind only the 2019 Indy 500 (45,600).

Through the first six races of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES on NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are averaging a TAD of 1.926 million viewers, the best six-race start to a season in four years (2.046 million; 4 ABC, 2 NBCSN) and up 28% vs. last season’s comparable races (1.504 million viewers).

Following are the Top 10 local markets for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500:

Rank Market HH Rating
1 Indianapolis 21.3
T2 Dayton 8.1
T2 Cincinnati 8.1
T4 Ft. Myers 6.3
T4 Louisville 6.3
6 Knoxville 6.0
T7 Nashville 5.4
T7 Columbus 5.4
9 Hartford 5.1
10 Greenville 5.0

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

HELIO CASTRONEVES WINS THE 105th RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 ON NBC – NOTES AND QUOTES

May 30, 2021 By admin

“Spider-Man is back at the Speedway!” – Leigh Diffey

“Tom Brady won a Super Bowl, Phil (Mickelson) won The PGA…the old guys still got it, kicking the young guys’ butts, teaching them a lesson.” – Helio Castroneves on His Record-Tying Fourth Indy 500 Victory

“The youngsters were playing checkers today and Helio was playing chess.” – Paul Tracy

“This is his everything. It’s his Christmas, his New Year’s, and even his Halloween when he gets to play Spider-Man and climb the fence.” – Townsend Bell

“The headline this year — simple — the fans, they are back! 135,000 strong, the largest post-pandemic sporting event anywhere in the world.” – Mike Tirico

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 30, 2021 – NBC Sports presented exclusive coverage of the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 this afternoon on NBC from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as Helio Castroneves won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for a record-tying fourth time in his career, outdueling Alex Palou and 2019 Indianapolis 500 champion Simon Pagenaud, who rounded out the podium.

NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR commentary team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play) and analysts Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy called NBC Sports’ broadcast of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on NBC, alongside pit reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Kevin Lee.

NBC Sports host Mike Tirico anchored coverage alongside analyst and former INDYCAR driver Danica Patrick. INDYCAR rookie and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and NBC Sports’ Steve Letarte served as Peacock Pit Box analysts. NBC Sports’ Rutledge Wood also contributed to the network’s Indy 500 presentation by reporting on-site at IMS, while Jac Collinsworth served as host of pre-race coverage on NBCSN.

Post-Race

Castroneves to Snider on his record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory: “It’s not the end, it’s the beginning…I don’t know if it’s a good comparison, but Tom Brady won a Super Bowl, Phil (Mickelson) won The PGA and now here you go. The old guys still got it, kicking the young guys’ butts, teaching them a lesson.”

Castroneves to Snider: “This stage is absolutely incredible. I love Indianapolis. The fans, they give me energy!”

Castroneves: “I only did two races this year and I won two. I think I still got it, don’t you think?”

Diffey on the celebration: “This might be the longest post-race celebration in Indy 500 history. But you know what, it should be. He’s part of the four-time winners’ club.”

Bell: “This guy has been in the sport for so long and when you’re in the sport that long, you’ve worked with so many people and accepted help from so many people that are a part of the sport. He’s a fan favorite and he’s a sport favorite — even on competing teams, people at the track, sponsors that he used to work with, everyone is going to embrace the newly-minted four-time champ. He can take as long as he wants (to celebrate). He’s earned it.”

Tracy: “There’s no doubt now that you go for the ‘Drive for Five,’ right?”

Bell: “Oh yeah. This guy will be doing this — I think we’ll be seeing him into his 50s. He’s lost none of the enthusiasm. He has all of the ability and this great team behind him now — and the fans have always loved Helio Castroneves.”

Bell on Mario Andretti kissing Castroneves on the head: “He just got blessed by the Grandmaster.”

Patrick: “Helio is the kind of guy that you want to be around. He is always that happy, he’s always that friendly — he climbs the fence and everyone just gathers around! You can see how much everyone loves him on pit road. I welled up (watching him celebrate), I could probably choke up right now.”

Tracy: “The youngsters were playing checkers today and Helio was playing chess.”

Tracy on Castroneves returning to a full-time INDYCAR ride: “Guarantee you he wants to be in the car full-time. He deserves to be in the car full-time…he didn’t have an opportunity when he got let go by Penske out of the INDYCAR program…it was just a fizzled-out ending. Now he can write his own ticket.”

Diffey on Castroneves: “They say enthusiasm and passion always win out. You’re seeing it right now.”

Race

Diffey on Castrnoneves’ victory: “Welcome to the four-time club, Helio Castroneves. Spider-Man is back at the Speedway!”

Patrick on racing strategy at the Indy 500: “In Indy, as I’ve experienced and said, there are so many strategies that can play out. Whether you are Penske, starting in the back and looking for someone to make it happen or whether you’re a driver in an accident that puts you to the back of the field, now you’re looking to see ‘how can I transition this into an alternative strategy that honestly has a great chance of winning?’”

Patrick on fuel strategy around lap 100: “Laps have been fairly slow – 212, 213 mph. From the leader back, everyone knows how important it is to save fuel.”

Bell on Graham Rahal’s accident on lap 119: “Graham cannot believe what happened. He had the car and position, they saved the fuel — just an absolute gut-punch in the biggest race in the world.”

Bell on Scott Dixon’s car stalling on pit road on lap 36: “The most painful sight in pit lane is what we just saw. The pace car and field lapping Scott Dixon — disaster for the 9 (car).”

Tracy on Stefan Wilson pitstop wreck on lap 32: “As these cars come down from speed (onto pit lane), there’s virtually no downforce at 100 miles-per-hour, you hit the brakes, you downshift and it locks the rears up and immediately turned him sideways.”

Pre-Race

Tracy on Helio Castroneves: “I almost look at Helio Castroneves as the Tom Brady of Motorsports. He’s timeless, he knows how to win and get the job done…at Team Penske, they put him out to pasture earlier than he wanted…he wasn’t ready to leave. They pushed him off for a young guy.”

Bell: “He’s an ageless wonder…in my book, Helio Castroneves is still a kid. This is his everything here. It’s his Christmas, his New Year’s, and even his Halloween, when he gets to play Spider-Man and climb the fence when he wins.”

Tirico on the atmosphere at IMS with fans: “The headline this year — simple — the fans, they are back! 135,000 strong, the largest post-pandemic sporting event anywhere in the world.”

Collinsworth on his first Indy 500 experience: “I’ve never been to a sporting event that’s as connected to one community. The roots run deep here…everyone can’t wait to tell you their favorite Indy 500 story.”

Patrick on the impact of Paretta Autosport: “There might be a girl in the stands, watching at home, see Beth (Paretta) as an owner, Simona (De Silvestro) as a driver, these women going over the wall with their braids, and that might be them someday. That’s why this is such an important and inspirational story.”

Pre-race coverage included:

  • NBC Sports analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s sit-down interview with Marco Andretti, who competed in his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this season in the Indy 500;
  • NBC Sports’ Tim Layden narrated an essay on the Wheldon family – Susie Wheldon and sons, Sebastian and Oliver, who are developmental drivers for the Andretti Autosport team – remembering their husband and father Dan Wheldon, who tragically passed away in a racing accident 10 years ago after winning the Indy 500 in 2011;
  • Feature on Paretta Autosport, a racing team that is 75% female, including its owner, Beth Paretta, and driver, Simona De Silvestro, who became the first female driver-owner duo to qualify for the Indy 500;
  • NBC Sports’ Rutledge Wood speaking with David Letterman, co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, whose team won the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with Takuma Sato;
  • An introduction to select Indy 500 fans who have a special bond and connection to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and what the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 means personally to them in Faces of the 500 segments;
  • Reports from Rutledge Wood and Jac Collinsworth around IMS, taking in the sights and sounds from the approximately 135,000 spectators who will be in attendance.

This Is Us actor Milo Ventimiglia served as honorary starter and waved the green flag, while country music star Jimmie Allenperformed the National Anthem ahead of the race.

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

LEIGH DIFFEY, TOWNSEND BELL, PAUL TRACY AND SAM FLOOD PREVIEW 105TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 ON NBC

May 27, 2021 By admin

“To get the sports world looking full with folks in the stands celebrating this great American tradition on Memorial Day weekend, we couldn’t be prouder to bring that to America.” – Sam Flood on this Year’s Indianapolis 500

“We get this unbelievable gift of calling the biggest race in the world when the championship and the series is arguably at its strongest point.” – Leigh Diffey

“It’s a juggling act. It’s a three-hour, five-balls-in-the-air juggling act to win.” – Paul Tracy on the Uniqueness of the Indy 500

105th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge – Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on NBC; Pre-Race Coverage of “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” Begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 27, 2021 – NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR commentary team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, and Paul Tracy, as well as executive producer Sam Flood, previewed this Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 on a media conference call yesterday afternoon.

NBC Sports presents the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, May 30, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. Six-time INDYCAR champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon won the pole position and will lead the field to the green flag for this year’s Indy 500. Race day coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

Following are excerpts from the call. Click here for a full transcript.

Sam Flood on this year’s edition of the Indianapolis 500: “We’re really excited to be covering this spectacle, the biggest crowd we’ve had in this country since COVID started, probably the biggest crowd ever assembled since the COVID crisis got going. To get the sports world looking full with folks in the stands celebrating this great American tradition on Memorial Day weekend, we couldn’t be prouder to bring that to America.”

Leigh Diffey: “I’m more excited and looking forward to this one perhaps even more so than our maiden one in 2019. We’re back on Memorial Day weekend. The fans are back. We get this unbelievable gift of calling the biggest race in the world when the championship and the series is arguably at its strongest point.”

Paul Tracy on the uniqueness of the Indy 500: “It’s a juggling act. It’s a three-hour, five-balls-in-the-air juggling act to win.”

Townsend Bell: “We have to remember this is the only race in the world in terms of the top level where you’re going to grid three-wide, 11 rows deep, fire it off into Turn One at these incredible speeds.”

Tracy on Qualifying Weekend: “We truly last weekend had a treat of seeing the fastest field ever assembled…It just shows now how competitive this field has become and how important it is to have every I dotted and every T crossed when you come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If you even just hiccup, you’re not going to make the field.”

Bell on the struggles of Team Penske during Qualifying Weekend: “Boy, doesn’t that train up for an unbelievable Indy 500 to have the most successful team in the history of the race starting mid to deep in the pack with four drivers and four cars that in practice look to be better than anybody…I think we’re in for a real treat.”

***

NBC Sports will present eight hours of live coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day, beginning with pre-race coverage at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage will shift to NBC for five hours of coverage at 11 a.m. ET, with the green flag of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing slated to wave at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET. Following the conclusion of the race, NBCSN will provide an hour of post-race coverage at 4 p.m. ET.

For the third consecutive year, the Indianapolis 500 will be called by NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), Townsend Bell (analyst) and Paul Tracy (analyst). Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Kevin Lee will serve as pit reporters.

NBC Sports’ comprehensive Indy 500 commentary team includes host Mike Tirico and analyst and former INDYCAR driver Danica Patrick, who became the first woman to lead laps and earn a top-five finish in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005. INDYCAR rookie and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will serve as a Peacock Pit Box analyst alongside NBC Sports’ Steve Letarte. NBC Sports motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood returns for the third straight year to provide on-site reports around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while NBC Sports’ Jac Collinsworth will make his Indy 500 debut when he serves as host of pre-race coverage on NBCSN.

Earlier this week, NBC Sports announced comprehensive programming around the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, including pre-race coverage highlights. Click here for details.

This week’s coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins tomorrow with the final practice session on Carb Day on NBCSN and Peacock at 11 a.m. ET. Below is this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 coverage across NBC, NBCSN and Peacock:

Date Coverage Network/Streaming Time (ET)
Fri., May 28 Indianapolis 500 Carb Day NBCSN, Peacock 11 a.m.
Sun., May 30 Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge Pre-Race NBCSN 9 a.m.
  105th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge NBC 11 a.m.
  Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge Post-Race NBCSN 4 p.m.

 

–NBC SPORTS–

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

TRANSCRIPT – 105TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL

May 26, 2021 By admin

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Leigh Diffey

Townsend Bell

Paul Tracy

Sam Flood

THE MODERATOR: Thank you and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us today for our NBC Sports Indianapolis 500 conference call. In a moment we’ll be joined by our lead INDYCAR team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy, as well as NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood.

Sunday’s race will be NBC Sports’ third broadcast of the Indy 500 and will feature roughly eight hours of coverage. Pre-race coverage begins at 9 a.m. eastern on NBCSN, followed by more pre-race coverage at 11 a.m. eastern on NBC. There will also be an hour-long post-race show at roughly 4 p.m. eastern.

We will begin with some opening comments. First up is NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood.

SAM FLOOD: We’re really excited to be covering this spectacle, the biggest crowd we’ve had in this country since COVID started, probably the biggest crowd ever assembled since the COVID crisis got going. To get the sports world looking full with folks in the stands celebrating this great American tradition on Memorial Day weekend, we couldn’t be prouder to bring that to America.

Our producer Rene Hatlelid is really on top of this, has mapped out great content through the whole day starting at 9 a.m. on NBCSN, 11:00 a.m. on Big Bird NBC. They’ve got a drone flying around for us getting the great shots. The only thing faster than the drone is Jimmie Johnson, our new guest analyst for the show. Jimmie was really engaged this past weekend, hardworking, showing his personality. Gets to work with Danica, Mike Tirico and the rest of the crew.

We couldn’t be happier and more excited about an event like this on a beautiful weekend coming up, Indianapolis, as the world reopens particularly with an event with this many folks celebrating.

With that, I hand it off to the man who calls anything that is a race, announced earlier today that Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play voice of track and field in the Olympics, but is home now calling INDYCAR and the Indy 500 for the third time.

LEIGH DIFFEY: Good afternoon, everyone. I was reminded just so harshly the other day how fast and exciting these cars are when I came in for the final couple of days of practice. I drove through the turn two tunnel, I stopped my rental car, got out near the museum there, watching the cars go through one, down the short chute to two. It was such a wonderful reminder of how extraordinary this place is with those cars.

We’ve been here for the last two weeks. But from watching them go around the Grand Prix circuit, standing there and watching the brutal speed and sound, then to look up and see some people sitting in the turn one grandstands, it just kind of felt right. It felt fantastic. To see the hubbub in the garage area, Gasoline Alley, the concession area, to see people back, people happy to be back.

I think I’m more excited and looking forward to this one perhaps even more so than our maiden one in 2019. We’re back on Memorial Day weekend. The fans are back. We get this unbelievable gift of calling the biggest race in the world when the championship and the series is arguably at its strongest point. Five different winners in five races.

You have the superstar veteran names blended with these exciting new young guys who aren’t afraid to do anything. I just think we have this amazing gift right now and we’re not going to squander it, we’re going to cherish it, give you guys and all of our viewers a fabulous Sunday afternoon of INDYCAR racing.

Townsend, you’re ready to roll, mate. Take it away.

TOWNSEND BELL: I’m glad you mentioned speed because over the last few years I’ve been encouraging INDYCAR to continue to push the limits. Ever since I was a kid at 11 years old, 1986, going to the Indy 500, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing was built on one single ethos, which is how fast can the cars go, how fast can these drivers push these cars, what kind of limits can they break with new track records.

I’m pleased that this year is the fastest field in Indy 500 history, at over 230 miles an hour average for the entire field from qualifying. It was an electric day on Pole Day there at Indianapolis with the Fast Nine shootout. Scott Dixon getting his first pole position in two years.

So exciting, as Leigh said, to see this wave of new young talent that has come in with incredible skill, bravery, and an amazing ability at such a young age to kind of guide these missiles to record speed.

To see (Rinus) VeeKay go out and do what he did in Chevrolet, Colton Herta answer him. VeeKay is 20 years old. Colton Herta is 21 years old. You thought when Colton ran, what a magic lap that was, hanging it out there. We all thought at that time it was probably pole. Lo and behold, here comes Scott Dixon at 40 plus years of age, the veteran with all the experience, but still all of the courage to put it on the line was a great story.

Super pumped to get back there. Glad the cars are breaking records. When you talk about one INDYCAR by itself, it’s something special to see it and feel it, like Leigh pulling over and watching and listening. We have to remember this is the only race in the world in terms of the top level where you’re going to grid three-wide, 11 rows deep, fire it off into turn one at these incredible speeds.

Super pumped to get out there. As long as Paul Tracy doesn’t interrupt me, we should be great. Paul, over to you.

PAUL TRACY: I have to reiterate everything that Townsend just said. We truly last weekend had a treat of seeing the fastest field ever assembled. I think lost in that, in all the excitement of that, we had a David versus Goliath monumental battle between Penske Racing and A.J. Foyt and R.C. Enerson, the lone one-car team, trying to topple the giant of Penske Racing and force them out of the field. It was truly something to watch.

It just shows now how competitive this field has become and how important it is to have every I dotted and every T crossed when you come to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If you even just hiccup, you’re not going to make the field.

When you look at a guy like Will Power, who is arguably one of the fastest INDYCAR drivers that has ever sat in an INDYCAR, just look at the amount of pole positions he has scored over his career and wins, championships. For him to be hanging it out there, banging into the wall trying to out-qualify R.C. Enerson was a sight to behold. It was truly nothing like I’ve seen him have to go through because it always comes so easy for him to score these poles. It just seemed so effortless.

For the race, what I’m looking at is Scott Dixon is obviously the man to beat. He’s the odds-on favorite to win the race. Clearly he has shown that. But he’s got a tightrope to walk. He’s got a seventh championship on the line. Is he willing, a double points race, to put it all on the line for an Indy 500 win and forego the championship points lead if he gets into a wreck with somebody or gets into a situation? He is so good at managing his overall year-long program. Is he willing to put it all on the line for the 500? He hasn’t delivered a 500 in many years, but he certainly delivered a lot of championships in between.

When it comes down to it, there’s guys like (Alexander) Rossi, (Ryan) Hunter-Reay, they’re ready to kill themselves for a race win. When it comes down to it, is Dixon willing to do that? I feel Rossi and Hunter-Reay are ready to do it.

Sam, not the easiest question. I’m going to try to ask it in a way I might be able to get an answer from you. It is a contract year with NBC Sports and INDYCAR. There has been different reports and speculation out there that says NBC Sports is out of the running on this. I’m wondering what you can or cannot say. Does NBC Sports want to be back with INDYCAR?

SAM FLOOD: We love INDYCAR. We love the Indy 500. We love the partnership we have. We hope we can continue that partnership. So whatever reports are out there, all I know is, we are fans of this relationship and want it to continue. I’m on the content side of the business, and the commerce side of the business has to navigate that side of the equation.

As partnership and as the growth we’ve meant to the sport, working with the team at INDYCAR, we’re really proud of all that’s been accomplished over these years and hope it continues in the future. That’s the way we proceed into this season, planning on being partners for a long time to come.

I know all three of you love the series. I know what it means to you, that you take great care in presenting the series professionally and respectfully, showing it for the strong series it is. What does it mean for the three of you to be part of this series and to be the storytellers of the series?

LEIGH DIFFEY: That’s a great question. To me I came to America for INDYCAR, so it means everything to me. To use the old adage: I’m living the dream.

The team that Sam and his staff have put together for us to blend, one of the most common statements made to us by fans or even people within the industry, they say, Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun. It’s true, we are. It’s not manufactured. We treat the environment that we work in seriously, but with flashes of humor. That comes throughout on the air and through our delivery.

We take it seriously because it is serious, but we’re also in the entertainment business. I’m pretty sure you’re going to get a similar answer from Townsend and Paul. It means the world to us.

TOWNSEND BELL: It’s a privilege. The privilege is no greater than when we go to Indy this weekend to cover this race. I didn’t know what to expect back in 2019 when we had a chance to call our first Indy 500. What I realized in that moment is that the race and our job to tell the stories is one of celebrating. I think the passion that not only the three of us have in the booth for the sport, but the 250,000, 300,000 fans that gather with us there.

I’ve always felt like Indy is just that one big celebration where, sure, there’s fans that are rooting for different drivers, but I think it’s different than a Super Bowl or a national championship college football game where you’re either a red team or a blue team. At Indy it just feels like it’s more of a religious experience where everybody is celebrating speed and the glory of going after the biggest prize in racing.

It’s a tremendous honor. I think we all bring something pretty unique to the table. I think even our opening remarks, just look at the insight that Paul brings. He just brought up something about Scott Dixon that I hadn’t thought about. Paul has said that on the broadcast, said, Hey, think about Dixon racing for points versus an overall Indy 500 win. That’s something that we could debate whether that’s the case, would he go down that path. I think people enjoy the different perspectives there.

I enjoy the fact that I hear about these things and am surprised by some of those insights as they’re happening in real-time. It’s not like we rehearsed this out. It’s a stream of consciousness that we’re proud to deliver, hope we get to do for many years to come.

PAUL TRACY: I guess when I stopped driving and I wasn’t around for a while, I didn’t realize that once I got back into the sport with NBC when they had me come onboard with them, I didn’t realize how much I missed the camaraderie that I had with the drivers. I didn’t have a lot of that when I was racing because I was so competitive and I was so fiery. I kind of kept guys as an enemy.

But as I’ve grown into this broadcasting role, I’ve become very good friends with a lot of the drivers. They’ll express to me a side of things that they typically wouldn’t say to a journalist or a pit reporter, will talk about things. They let me on the inside of things. Some things I can’t say on air and some things they’re okay with me saying on air. I really enjoy that part of it.

Also being around the fans. When Townsend and I walk around the paddock together, go to lunch, the amount of people that come up to us, Diffey as well, say, Man, you guys are the best, the best team ever that’s been calling races. We hear that at every single race that we go to, every single market.

Sam has put together a fantastic team of people that are all really good friends. I think we do an amazing job at putting out a product, putting people on the inside of the product and giving them the information that they typically wouldn’t get anywhere else in any other sport.

Do you think anybody could do a better job than the job NBC Sports is doing with INDYCAR?

SAM FLOOD: The bar is very, very, very, very high.

Mr. Flood, to have the race from a TV standpoint back on its traditional date, how important is that rating-wise? I know there was a little bit of disappointment with the ratings from last August, the fact that maybe a lot of casual sports viewers didn’t realize the Indy 500 was happening that weekend.

SAM FLOOD: I don’t think that’s specific just to the Indy 500. It’s the way the mismatch of the sports calendar last year was very different. The Kentucky Derby was run on a different day, the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Finals, all on different days. All these sports had different time frames. The comparatives aren’t real.

We don’t worry about that. We worry about what’s in front of us, which is the time to have an incredible Indy 500 with the world coming back to normal, fans in the stands, and the story of the race is great. Even better yet might be the story of the people that finally get to get back into that environment and celebrate this great American tradition.

Have you seen a realignment of data from what you saw with this year’s Kentucky Derby? Did it compare favorably to other May Derbys and expect the same thing for the Indy 500?

SAM FLOOD: I can say the Kentucky Derby number was up dramatically. Obviously 2019 for the Derby is tough to compare because it has the controversial finish that extended the drama for 22 minutes after the finish as they decided to throw a horse out of the race for the first time ever. For that reason, the number was exceptionally high. But our Derby number from the first Saturday in May was up in that stratosphere.

History tells us that there are good numbers out there. As we all know, there are a million factors coming into ratings. Weather is a big part of it.

You’re in the storytelling business. You brought in some additional storytellers to tell the story this weekend. Jimmie Johnson is an INDYCAR rookie, but of course he’s a seven-time NASCAR champion. You have Steve Letarte, Dale Jr. is going to be back, Danica. Do you believe having a broad-based group of storytellers from the INDYCAR side, the NASCAR side, helps bring in a bigger audience?

SAM FLOOD: Our goal is to serve the fans, and we’ve got a group of talent that serves the fans exceptionally well.

The one thing I’ll tell you is the three gentlemen on the phone with us right now call the race and have exceptional ability to see what’s happening before it happens and tell you why it matters. Then we’re going to add context with a group of talent we have in and around them.

Nothing at NBC Sports is a bigger message that it’s a big event than Mike Tirico as the host. That lets the world know this is big-time. Mike is going to have some fun people to play with and work with over the weekend. We’re thrilled.

Our lineup tells you how important it is to us and this company.

Sam, obviously you produced the show last year without any fans in the stands. You’re coming back to full stands. How will the fans play a role from the actual visual part of the broadcast after not being there since 2019?

SAM FLOOD: You obviously shoot the race a little bit differently. The spectacle is back. Last year, empty stands all around the racetrack is a very different visual. You could have the greatest football game or the greatest basketball game, if there are empty seats, it’s not an event, it’s a game.

When you have a packed house or a very full house at a car race, it becomes an event again. It’s more than a race. Our job is to lean into that, celebrate that. Some of the content in the pre-race show is going to be looking at the people who are so passionate about this event that aren’t necessarily sitting in a driver’s seat, but their passion is sitting in the stands outside turn two, or down the backstretch, wherever they might be, what is their preferred angle of watching this race. We’re going to tell that story and show how special it is to be back home.

Do you know the applications of where that drone will be and how much that drone will add to the broadcast this year?

SAM FLOOD: It’s always a process. We’ve had great success with drones on other events. Sean Owens is this exceptional young director. He’s got great ideas. He’s going to work it in and make sure the camera has the quality and the look that takes us to the next level.

The one hard part about drones is they’re not up in the air for a very long time, so they’re up in spurts. He’s got a time when he wants to do it. Does he want to do it for a restart? Does he want to do it for pit stops? When do you want to utilize it? They’re up, then got to come down and re-power before they go up again.

It’s a bit of a math equation. No one said the directors have to know math, but Sean is going to have to know some math on Sunday to know how he wants to deploy it the right time in the race.

It certainly is going to be beneficial building the hype.

What would a Scott Dixon win this weekend do to further cement his legacy?

LEIGH DIFFEY: I think that it adds to the story, like it adds to his incredible story. He was so mad last year with the way that the race finished, that he was denied a chance to beat (Takuma) Sato and get his second win.

Across the spectrum of his career, he doesn’t rate last year when he won his sixth championship as his best year clearly because he didn’t win the Indy 500. He rates 2008 as his best career year. That’s how much it means to him.

I think it just elevates him further in the sport’s history. I think it would be appropriate if he won. He’s such a good steward of the sport. He’s such a great ambassador of the sport. In my opinion, he deserves to be a multi-time 500 winner.

TOWNSEND BELL: I’ll add to that and say I think if you look at the multi-time winners at Indy, (AJ) Foyt, (Rick) Mears, (Al) Unser, (Helio) Castroneves, et cetera, Dario (Franchitti), Dixon with one, that doesn’t seem fair or appropriate when positioned next to his six championships and potentially a seventh this year where he’s well on his way at least in terms of the first five races.

I go back to Paul’s point earlier. I think it’s going to be fascinating to see how he decides down the stretch of the Indy 500 to play his hand. Last year the strong indication was that you obviously had to make your move early, like Sato did. It wasn’t going to be a last-lap thing.

Based on what we’ve seen in practice, it seems like that is still going to be the case. INDYCAR has increased the race-ability of the car with some of the aero changes. But the last 10 or 15 laps in a tire stint are difficult, the field tends to spread out. If there’s a restart in the last 20 or 30 laps, it’s going to create huge urgency to make moves. There’s going to be some guys willing to take some huge risks.

How big of a risk is Scott willing to take, knowing what he learned last year, a painful lesson about Sato making the move early enough, Scott just couldn’t really counter, couldn’t get close enough to respond before the final caution, versus wanting to drive for championship points, extend his current lead in the championship. I think that will be fascinating to watch.

No question the lessons from last year, what all the drivers have learned this year in practice so far, is going to put a huge priority on those first probably five laps on a restart. That creates a lot of drama and a lot of high risk for the drivers. That’s where it’s fun to watch.

PAUL TRACY: I’m thinking of how to put my answer to that. A second Indy 500, a seventh championship, what it does to change his status in the sport? I don’t really think it changes too much, other than he’s going for these individual glories as a driver and competitor. There’s no denying his level of talent, his level of commitment, his level of fitness.

But does it change his perspective from the outside looking in? I don’t know. He’s the type of character, and this is no disrespect to Scott, I think he is one of the most talented race drivers that has ever sat in a race car, but if you sent him out in downtown at any race we go to, people don’t really recognize him out on the street because he’s so understated, mellow, not controversial. He blends into the crowd.

From a sporting perspective, from a general public perspective, I don’t know how much it changes if he wins another Indy 500 and another championship. Certainly within the sport, there’s no denying that he is going to go down as one of the greatest drivers of all time. Whether that resonates with the casual fan, I don’t know.

Do you think there are any concerns with Team Penske thus far this season? What are your expectations for the team on Sunday?

TOWNSEND BELL: Yeah, I think there are concerns. Team Penske has not won a race in the first five races of this season. The last time that happened was 2013. 18 Indy 500 wins, they’re head and shoulders above any other team in the sport. The qualifying performance was a shock to everyone, including their drivers, and I’m sure ownership as well.

The crazy thing about the last week is that if you watched Peacock in the 40-some hours that we broadcast live during the week, for each practice day, certainly Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of practice, with a ton of laps run, a bunch of group running and race simulation running from the field, I would say 60% of our praise was heaped on how strong the Team Penske cars were in race configuration, how excellent the balance looked, how close their drivers could trail another car in turbulent air. We were surprised as anybody to see them struggle in qualifying trim.

But, boy, doesn’t that train up for an unbelievable Indy 500 to have the most successful team in the history of the race starting mid to deep in the pack with four drivers and four cars that in practice look to be better than anybody.

It’s almost like an accidental reverse grid or something in that there’s these incredible race cars that are going to be fun to watch. They certainly don’t appear like they’re going to finish anywhere near mid to tail end of the pack. They have a lot of great cars and drivers to pass. The excitement will be there from the very beginning with those four drivers.

I think we’re in for a real treat. I hate to say it, but I think we’re lucky to have them struggle in qualifying because they’re going forward, for sure.

LEIGH DIFFEY: I think the interesting thing, too, is when was the last time you saw Will Power have that look of shock and disbelief? He’s normally got those piercing eyes on his target. He looked like a deer in the headlights. He was seriously concerned, knew the threat was real he wasn’t going to make the field. That’s one side of it.

The other side, too, is their qualifying performance this year very much mirrored what occurred last year. Josef Newgarden was not far away from those top four in last year’s race. Have Dixon and Sato swapping for the lead, Rahal right behind them, Santino Ferrucci. The next one in the field was Josef Newgarden.

Townsend’s point is very accurate. I think it’s going to be spectacular to watch and come through.

PAUL TRACY: I agree with both of these guys. I think Penske’s cars in race trim are fine. I think they have good handling cars. For whatever reason, they’re lacking the qualifying speed. That really all just comes down to — it’s not one thing you’re going to put on the car that’s going to fix everything — it’s a hundred little things, minute things that make the difference.

Certainly in this field, in a 500-mile race, you can win from anywhere in the field. To give you an example, I started 32nd in ’02. Guys have started from the back and won 500-mile races before. But it certainly doesn’t make your job easier.

You kind of put yourself in the danger zone we call it, Townsend and I, where the things that happen in the back of the field, you get caught up in other people’s mistakes, the things that happen. The guys in the back, the middle to the back of the field, actually race you harder and are more aggressive than the guys who are running inside the top five.

You’ll see the top three or four runners, there’s give-and-take, they’re kind of letting each other go, shuffle back and forth. When you get back 10th on back, those guys are not willing to give up a position to anybody. They’ll run you into the pit wall if they have to.

Like I said, the guys in the middle and the back of the field get really aggressive and territorial about their running position, and do not want to give up a position at all.

Coming through from the back of the field is extremely difficult. You’ve got to take risks, big risks, to make it happen, and also take big risks on your strategy and do something different than the leaders are doing which can either hurt you or help you when it comes down to the end of the race, whether it turns into any type of a fuel mileage race. You can either be on the good end of it if everything goes right, or you could be speckled at the front and be light on fuel, have to save fuel to make it to the end when other guys don’t.

It’s a juggling act. It’s a three-hour, five-balls-in-the-air juggling act to win a 500-mile race.

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, transcript, Uncategorized

*REMINDER* LEIGH DIFFEY, TOWNSEND BELL, PAUL TRACY AND SAM FLOOD PREVIEW 105th INDIANAPOLIS 500 – TODAY AT 4 P.M. ET

May 26, 2021 By admin

105th Indianapolis 500 Presented This Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on NBC; Pre-Race Coverage of “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” Begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN

Dial 800-353-6461 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 26, 2021 – NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR commentary team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, and Paul Tracy, as well as executive producer Sam Flood, will preview the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on a media conference call today at 4 p.m. ET.

Media interested in participating should call 800-353-6461; Passcode: 1022546.

  • WHAT: 105th Indianapolis 500 Media Conference Call
  • WHO: Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, Paul Tracy, and Sam Flood
  • WHEN: Today at 4 p.m. ET
  • NUMBER: 800-353-6461
  • PASSCODE: 1022546

NBC Sports presents the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, May 30, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. Six-time INDYCAR champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon won the pole position and will lead the field to the green flag for this year’s Indy 500. Race day coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

This week’s coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins on Friday with the final practice session on Carb Day on NBCSN and Peacock at 11 a.m. ET.

—NBC SPORTS—

Filed Under: Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

LEIGH DIFFEY, TOWNSEND BELL, PAUL TRACY AND SAM FLOOD PREVIEW 105th INDIANAPOLIS 500 – TOMORROW AT 4 P.M. ET

May 25, 2021 By admin

105th Indianapolis 500 Presented This Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on NBC; Pre-Race Coverage of “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” Begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN

Dial 800-353-6461 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 25, 2021 – NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR commentary team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, and Paul Tracy, as well as executive producer Sam Flood, will preview the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on a media conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26, at 4 p.m. ET.

Media interested in participating should call 800-353-6461; Passcode: 1022546.

  • WHAT: 105th Indianapolis 500 Media Conference Call
  • WHO: Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, Paul Tracy, and Sam Flood
  • WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26, at 4 p.m. ET
  • NUMBER: 800-353-6461
  • PASSCODE: 1022546

NBC Sports presents the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, May 30, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. Six-time INDYCAR champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon won the pole position and will lead the field to the green flag for this year’s Indy 500. Race day coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

This week’s coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway begins on Friday with the final practice session on Carb Day on NBCSN and Peacock at 11 a.m. ET.

—NBC SPORTS—

Filed Under: conference call, Indy 500, IndyCar, NBC, Uncategorized

Next Page »

Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ·News Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Powered by WordPress.com.Log in