FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS NEARLY 30 HOURS OF MOTORSPORTS COVERAGE THIS WEEK

Coverage Highlighted by Live Broadcast of F1’s Monaco Grand Prix on NBC This Sunday

Carb Day Coverage Airs Friday on NBC Sports Network

NEW YORK – May 22, 2013 – NBC Sports Group presents nearly 30 hours of motorsports coverage this week including the Monaco Grand Prix live, plus practice, qualifying, F1 Extra, and two GP2 races. In addition, NBC Sports Network will present live coverage of the Indianapolis 500’s Carb Day, Indy Lights, a new episode of IndyCar 36, featuring Simona de Silvestro, and the Indy 500 Parade.

For the first time, Formula One’s famed Monaco Grand Prix will air live on network television Sunday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC. Race day will begin with a live pre-race show at 7 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, and conclude with F1 Extra, NBC Sports Network’s half-hour post-race show, live from Monaco. Live coverage begins tomorrow, May 23, at 8 a.m. ET with F1 practice from Monaco. F1 qualifying will air live on Saturday, May 25, at 8 a.m. ET. In addition, NBC Sports Network will air two GP2 races, F1’s developmental series, at 12 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26.

On Friday, May 24, NBC Sports Network presents live coverage of IndyCar’s Carb Day, the last practice before the race, with the return of renowned motorsports voice Bob Jenkins. Coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET, continues with Indy Lights at noon ET, and is followed by more Carb Day coverage. The premier of IndyCar 36 featuring record-breaking driver Simona de Silvestro airs at 10:30 p.m. ET Friday night.

Stadium Super Trucks will air at 12:30 p.m. ET and AMA Motocross will air at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network on Saturday.

NBC Sports Network’s Motorsports Coverage (subject to change, all times ET):

Thurs., May 23 F1 Practice 8 a.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 24 F1 Practice Encore 1:30 a.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 24 Indy 500 Carb Day 11 a.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 24 Indy Lights Noon NBCSN
Fri., May 24 Indy 500 Carb Day 1 p.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 24 IndyCar 36: Simona de Silvestro 10:30 p.m. NBCSN
Fri., May 24 F1 Practice Encore 11:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., May 25 F1 Qualifying 8 a.m. NBCSN
Sat., May 25 Stadium Super Trucks 12:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., May 25 AMA Motocross 3 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., May 25 Indy 500 Parade 10:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 GP2 Race 1 12 a.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 F1 Pre-Race Show 7 a.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix 7:30 a.m. NBC
Sun., May 26 F1 Extra 10 a.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix Encore 10:30 a.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 F1 Extra Encore 1 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 GP2 Race 2 1:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., May 26 Monaco Grand Prix Encore 10:30 p.m. NBCSN

F1 COMMENTATORS ON SITE IN MONACO: NBC Sports Group’s F1 announce booth will be on site to capture the unique glitz-and-glamor atmosphere of the Monaco Grand Prix. Leigh Diffey will serve as lead race announcer alongside veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team Steve Matchett, and F1 insider and former journalist Will Buxton. Diffey will precede his work in Monaco by calling Indy 500 qualifying coverage.

The team participated on a media conference call today from Monaco and shared their excitement about this weekend’s upcoming race:

Rich O’Connor, producer: “To be able to tell the history, the stories and the challenges of this venue is something we’re really looking forward to this weekend.”

Leigh Diffey: “It’s something that has to be seen to be believed. I am still in awe. Wait till you see the view.”

David Hobbs: “You just can’t get your head around it. All the drivers here want to win this race.”

Steve Matchett: “It’s absolutely unique in the challenges it poses to the teams. Every corner around Monaco, they all have names, they all have history. It’s a race of legends.”

Will Buxton: “If ever there is a moment at which you became disillusioned with the sport, you are reminded of the majesty and splendor of this incredible sport, it is standing trackside here in Monaco with cars flying past you over 100 mph inches from your face. You can feel the working parts of the engine rise through your feet and your legs, up your spine, draw the breath out of your lungs as they fly past you. This place gives you a buzz for motorsports that nowhere else on earth gives you.”

CARB DAY COMMENTATORS: Legendary motorsports voice Bob Jenkins returns to the booth for Carb Day on Friday, May 24, filling in for Diffey, who will be at Monaco. Jenkins will be joined by Beekhuis and race analyst and former NASCAR driver Wally Dallenbach, Jr. Veterans Lee, Snider and Miller will manage the pits. Mike King will call Indy Lights on Friday, May 24, alongside Jack Query. Jenkins, Diane Willis and Lee will host Indy 500 Parade coverage on Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. ET.

INDYCAR 36: NBC Sports Network offers motorsports fans another episode of the all-access series IndyCar 36. This week the cameras follow driver Simona de Silvestro, who made history by becoming the first woman to earn a podium spot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2006.

The NBC Sports Network original series is produced by IMS Productions and gives viewers an all-access pass into the life of a world-class driver in the middle of race season. The cameras will follow a driver for 36 hours during a race weekend providing a behind-the-scenes look at the on- and off-track activities of the stars of the IndyCar Series. The all-access 36 series also includes NHL 36, Fight Night 36 and F1 36.

Stadium Super Trucks will air on NBC Sports Network at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 25. Brian Till, Chuck Howard, and Kelli Stavast will host coverage.  

AMA Motocross will air live on NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 25. Jeff Weigandt, Jeff Emig, and Kelli Stavast will host coverage from Denver, Colo.

MOTORSPORTS ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA: NBC Sports Live Extra — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, May 26, qualifying on Saturday, May 25, practice on Thursday, May 23, as well as Carb Day and Indy Lights on Friday, May 24, and the Indy 500 Parade on Saturday, May 25. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Coverage airing on:

  • NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra;
  • NBC Sports Network will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via “TV Everywhere,” which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs.

MOTORSPORTSTALK: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One™, the IZOD IndyCar Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and all other motorsports racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBC Sports Network productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.

MotorSportsTalk’s content is provided by top racing journalists and expert analysts, including:

  • Keith Collantine (@KeithCollantine), editor and creator of the F1Fanatic blog;
  • Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) creator of the F1 site RichlandF1.com;
  • Tony DiZinno (@TonyDiZinno), who has written for RACER Magazine and has covered IndyCar and NASCAR since 2006;
  • Writer Christopher Estrada (@estradawriting) who has written for the Boston Globe, FoxSports.com, created the Indy Racing Revolution blog and is a contributor to IndyCar’s IndyCar Nation blog.

To explore the site, please visit MotorSportsTalk.com.nbcsports.com or www.NBCSports.com.

SOCIAL: Follow @MotorsportsTalk, @F1onNBCSports and @NBCSN on Twitter and “like” Facebook.com/NBC Sports for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about Formula One on NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network.

Commentator Twitter Chats – During the week of the Monaco race, F1 on NBC Sports commentators including @leighdiffey, @mrstevematchett, @mrdavidhobbs and @willbuxton will take part in various Twitter Chats allowing fans to get their questions answered from our very own experts.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

—NBC SPORTS GROUP—