Indy 500 to Race in August for First Time Ever – Next Sunday, Aug. 23, 1 p.m. ET on NBC
Qualifying Coverage Begins This Saturday and Sunday on NBC and NBC Sports Gold
STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 13, 2020 – Mike Tirico and Danica Patrick will return to NBC Sports’ coverage of the Indianapolis 500 when the Greatest Spectacle in Racing drops the green flag on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Tirico and Patrick, who both joined NBC Sports for its inaugural coverage of the event last year, will reprise their roles as host and studio analyst, respectively.
One of the most versatile voices in sports, Tirico also hosts NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage, Football Night in America and many other premier events, including hosting on-site at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year for the first-ever INDYCAR-NASCAR crossover weekend. He will again be joined during pre-race, in-race, and post-race coverage by Patrick, the former INDYCAR and NASCAR driver and one of motorsports’ most popular personalities. They will first appear together for practice coverage on Friday, Aug. 21, on NBCSN.
“My first Indy 500 last year exceeded my very high expectations in every way,” said Tirico. “Although this year’s race will take place under unprecedented circumstances, I can’t wait to get back to Indy. I’m confident that our team at the Brickyard will provide viewers with as exciting a viewing experience as possible. I am also thrilled that Danica Patrick is along for the ride again this year. We had such a great time last May and look forward to bringing Indy home for the viewers again.”
Click here for more on Mike Tirico.
“The Indianapolis 500 is an event that transcends mainstream and motorsports which is why it’s so special.” said Patrick. “We are living during a time that if we can bring people together, we should. Even if it’s not physically. I am honored to be back with the NBC Sports team and Mike Tirico. The memories I have from 15 years at IMS hold such a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to make more this year in the booth, or however we are positioned in 2020!”
Click here for more on Danica Patrick.
Tirico and Patrick will help promote the Indy 500 by appearing across numerous NBCUniversal programs and platforms in the days leading up to the race.
This marks NBC Sports’ second season as the exclusive home of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including the Indianapolis 500, which will take place in August for the first time ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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INDY 500 – PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING ON NBC & NBC SPORTS GOLD
Live coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues Saturday with an hour-long practice session at 8:30 a.m. ET, followed by seven hours of Day 1 Qualifying coverage starting at 11 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold. Qualifying coverage continues at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR broadcast team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), Townsend Bell (analyst), and Paul Tracy (analyst) will have the call for weekend qualifying coverage alongside Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast and Kevin Lee providing reports from the pits.
On Sunday, coverage of practice begins at 11 a.m. ET exclusively on NBC Sports Gold. Day 2 of Qualifying, highlighted by the Fast Nine Shootout for the Indy 500 pole position, will be presented at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. A 2.5-hour practice session from IMS will take place at 3:30 p.m. ET, concluding the week’s INDYCAR coverage.
–NBC SPORTS–