Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Totally Explained

Everything about Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network totally explained

(IRL only) |}} The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network (known typically as the IMS Radio Network), is a radio syndication arrangement by which the Indianapolis 500, the IndyCar Series, the U.S. Grand Prix and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard are broadcast on radio stations covering most of North America. This arrangement allows the Hulman-George family, controlling figures in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis 500 and the related Indy Racing League, more control than had they merely granted the broadcast rights to another entity. The network claims to be one of the largest in the world, with over 400 affiliates, as well as being picked up on XM Channel 144 (except the Allstate 400 because of a preexisting agreement with Sirius), the American Forces Network, the LeSEA broadcasting network, and World Harvest Radio. For the Allstate 400 only, the network is picked up on Sirius NASCAR Radio channel 128, as part of NASCAR's broadcasting arrangement.
The longtime flagship of the network is station 1070-WIBC (now WFNI) in Indianapolis.

History

From 1939-1951, Mutual covered the Indianapolis 500 with live segments at the start, the finish, and live updates throughout the race. After losing its sponsor, Perfect Circle Piston Rings, Mutual didn't return. In 1952, the Speedway took radio broadcasting rights in-house, utilizing talent mostly from WIBC. Starting in 1953, the talent pool was extended to all stations in the area, and expanded to featured the first live flag-to-flag coverage.
Through 1985, the IMS Radio Network was the exclusive provider of live coverage of the Indianapolis 500. With the exception of MCA's closed-circuit television broadcasts from 1964-1970, there was no live television of the race until 1986.
In 1994, the network began broadcasting the Brickyard 400. Starting in 1996, the network began covering all events of the Indy Racing League. The network's name was changed in 1997 to the Indy Racing Radio Network to reflect the expanded content. The name change, however, was short lived. In 2000, the network also began covering the Formula One United States Grand Prix.

Personalities

The play-by-play announcer of the race is known as "The Voice of The 500". Sid Collins was the first voice from 1952 to 1976. Collins committed suicide on May 2, 1977, after being diagnosed with ALS. Paul Page, whom Collins mentored, took over from 1977 to 1987. Lou Palmer, formerly a pit reporter, then served the shortest tenure to date as "Voice," (1988-1989). Bob Jenkins replaced Palmer, and called the event from 1990 to 1998. Jenkins, a veteran of television and radio, has since said that no event left him so physically exhausted. Mike King is the present "Voice," having served in that position since 1999.
In addition to King, there are many other announcers on an Indy 500 broadcast. Working the booth alongside King are former IRL driver Davey Hamilton, former Indy racer John Andretti, former comedian and present WIBC afternoon host Dave Wilson, longtime Speedway historian Donald Davidson, and longtime motorsports journalist Chris Economaki, who gives pre-race, mid-race and post-race essays. The booth the five men work in is located on the top floor of the Bombardier Pagoda, which sits next to Victory Lane.
Since King and his colleagues can't see all the way around the track, each turn is assigned its own announcer. Jerry Baker has been located at Turn 1 for over 30 years. Bob Jenkins calls action from Turn 2, Mark Jaynes calls Turn 3, and Chris Denari works Turn 4. Working the pit lane are Dave Argabright, Nicole Manske, Kevin Lee and Kevin Olson. For the rest of the Indy Racing League schedule, Jaynes becomes the backstretch announcer with Manske, Lee and Olson as the pit reporters. In the middle of the 2006 season, Patrick Stephan took over Manske's spot when she moved to SPEED Channel. In 2007 Jake Query of WIBC Radio assumed pit responsibilities at Indianapolis as well as the road and street course races. The IRL's road racing events usually bring back some of the Indy-only announcers as well as one or two that are not heard for the rest of the series. From 1994-1999, Mike Joy anchored the 400 broadcasts. Joy resigned weeks before the 2000 race for the birth of his daughter Katilyn Jarrett Joy. Taking his place was Mike King from 2000-2003. In 2004 King was joined by Doug Rice as co-anchors. In 2007, Bob Jenkins returned to the booth to replace King and co-anchor the 400 with Rice.

Organization

Most of the crew that calls the 500 calls these races as well. For the race at Texas Motor Speedway, some of that company's own radio network will assist in the turns and pit areas in a deal in which the two radio networks will share coverage at Texas Motor Speedway, and also at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Generally, a radio station which wants to carry the Allstate 400 is required to carry the Indianapolis 500, and vice-versa.
Because of the joint production with Speedway Motorsports, their main radio anchor Doug Rice has joined first King and now Jenkins in the Bombardier Pagoda as co-anchor. While the Turns 1 and 3 announcers remain the same, Denari, who usually works Turn 4, is moved to Turn 2. Veteran Speedway Motorsports announcer Chuck Carland works Turn 4. Also, Kevin Lee is the only pit reporter from Indy Racing Radio to work that race; NASCAR veteran Ralph Sheheen and Speedway Motorsports radio pit reporters Brett McMillan and Pat Patterson will join Lee.

Selected on-air talent (Indianapolis 500)

Chief announcer ("Voice of the 500")

Bill Slater (Mutual)
Sid Collins (1952-1976)
Paul Page (1977-1987)
Lou Palmer (1988-1989)
Bob Jenkins (1990-1998)
Mike King (1999-2007)

Turn reporters

Luke Walton, Starting command, north pits

Jim Shelton (Turn 4, 1952-1980)

Jerry Baker (Turn 1)

Bob Jenkins (Turn 4, 1980-1989; Turn 2, 2007-)

Mark Jaynes (Turn 3)

Chris Denari (Turn 4)

Howdy Bell (Turn 2, Backstretch, Pits, Statistician, Hospital, 1962-2002)Record 41 Races

Larry Henry (Turn 3)

Ken Double (Turn 2, 1995-2000)

Bob Lamey (Turn 2, Turn 4, 1988-2000)

Mike Ahern (Turn 2, 1961; Turn 1, 1963-1973)

Gary Lee (Turn 2 1990-1994, Turn 3, 1996-1998)

Pit reporters

Paul Page (1974-1976)

Mike King (1995-1998)

Kim Morris (2001-2004)

Kevin Lee (2004-)

Jim Murphy (2002-2004)

Howdy Bell (1989)

Driver experts

Mauri Rose (1955)

Len Sutton

Fred Agabashian

Mike Hiss (1978)

Rodger Ward (1982-1985)

Gordon Johncock (1985)

Bobby Unser (1986)

Parnelli Jones (1987)

Pancho Carter (1988, 2005)

Johnny Rutherford (1989-1991, 1993-2002)

Derek Daly (1992)

Davey Hamilton (2003, 2006)

Kenny Bräck (2004)

Johnny Parsons (2001, 2007-2008)

Billy Englehart

Analysts

Donald Davidson, historian (1965-2008)

Chris Economaki, commentary (1995-2008)

Dave Wilson, color commentary (2003-2008)Further Information

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