Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network

Type	Broadcast syndication
Country	United States
Founded	1952
Launch date	May 30, 1952
Former names	Indy Racing Radio Network (1998-2002)
Affiliates	400 (as of 2006) XM Channel 144 (IRL only) AFN LeSEA World Harvest Sirius NASCAR Radio (Allstate 400 only)
Website indycar.com (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 Satellite Radio Channel 144 (except the Allstate 400 because of a preexisting agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio, both owned by Sirius XM Radio), 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, and is also available as part of the "Best of Sirius" package for XM Radio as part of NASCAR's broadcasting arrangement.

The longtime flagship of the network is station 1070-WIBC (now WFNI) in Indianapolis.

[edit] 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 did not 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.

[edit] 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.^{[citation needed]} 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 IRL driver Davey Hamilton (when he is not in the race himself), former Indy racer John Andretti, former comedian 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 cannot 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, Jake Query, Kevin Lee and Kevin Olson. For the rest of the Indy Racing League schedule, Jaynes becomes the backstretch announcer with Query, Lee and Olson as the pit reporters. In the middle of the 2006 season, Patrick Stephan took over Nicole Manske's spot when she moved to SPEED Channel. In 2007 Query, of WIBC Radio, assumed pit responsibilities at Indianapolis as well as the road and street course races and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. In 2009 Query reported from turns on road and street races, with Stephan reporting from pit road.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.

[edit] Organization

Most of the crew that calls the 500 calls the IRL series and Allstate 400 as well. For the Bombardier LearJet 550k and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, the Speedway Motorsports-owned Performance Racing Network joins the Indianapolis Motor Speedway radio network for co-production the races. Generally, a radio station which wants to carry the Allstate 400 is required to carry the Indianapolis 500, and vice-versa.

The Allstate 400 announcer arrangement is different because of the co-production. Doug Rice joins Bob Jenkins (who moves ouwho calls the Allstate 400 on radio) in the Bombardier Pagoda as co-anchor. While the Turns 1 and 3 announcers remain the same, Chris Denari moves to Turn 2, with veteran Speedway Motorsports announcer Chuck Carland in 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.

The 2008 crew for the Allstate 400 was different because IMS crewmembers had been assigned to the Rexall Edmonton Indy the preceding day.The crew did still feature both PRN and IMS staff.King and Jaynes worked the IRL race in Edmonton, while Jenkins stayed to co-anchor with Rice in Indianapolis.

[edit] Selected on-air talent (Indianapolis 500)

[edit] Talent chart

[edit] References

• Official site
• Johnson's Indy 500 Radio Network Page