The IndyCar Series on ABC, also known as the IndyCar Series on ESPN, was the branding used for coverage of the IndyCar Series produced by ESPN, and formerly broadcast on ABC television network in the United States (through its ESPN on ABC division) between 1965 and 2018.
| IndyCar Series on ABC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | IndyCar Series on ESPN |
| Genre | Auto racing telecasts |
| Presented by | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 180 minutes or until race ends |
| Production company | ESPN on ABC |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | May 31, 1965 – June 3, 2018 |
| Related | |
Overview
editABC first began airing races that are now part of the IndyCar Series in 1965 with that year's running of the Indianapolis 500 on its Wide World of Sports anthology series,[1] with the network having broadcast the 500 every year until 2019.
By the late 1980s, ABC carried many of the CART PPG IndyCar World Series races that supported the Indy 500. In late 1987, Paul Page was recruited from NBC Sports to join Bobby Unser (who worked with Paul at NBC) and Sam Posey in the broadcast booth to form what remains as one of the most memorable trios in American auto racing broadcasting. Page provided enthusiasm (and popular Indy 500 intros with the theme music from Delta Force), Unser his unmistakable directness, and Posey his signature artistic and poetic perspective of the sport. In 1989 and 1990, their presentation of the Indy 500 earned the network the Sports Emmy for the year's Outstanding Live Sports Special. By then, their pit reporters were Jack Arute, Gary Gerould, and Dr. Jerry Punch. All 6 men were often on ABC's broadcasts of the International Race of Champions and of NASCAR Winston Cup.
In 1996, Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George led a group of breakaway owners in the founding of the Indy Racing League, with the 500 being its premier event. ABC added coverage of IRL races to the 500, and continued to broadcast CART Championship races through 2001. From the league's inception in 1996 through 2008, ESPN and ESPN2 also each carried several of the IndyCar Series,[2] before losing the cable television rights to the series to Versus (now NBCSN).[3] ABC and ESPN were IndyCar's exclusive television partners from 2000 to 2008.[4] Despite losing the cable rights, on August 10, 2011, ESPN renewed ABC's end of its broadcast deal with the league through 2018.[5]
Under that contract the network typically aired five races annually,[5] though it had occasionally aired six during the season.[6] In 2014, ABC celebrated its 50th consecutive broadcast of the Indianapolis 500.
ABC's coverage of the 2013 Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway was the first prime time broadcast of IndyCar racing for the network.[7] At the 2017 Indianapolis 500, ABC introduced "Race Strategist" (which featured predictive analysis of race conditions) and first-person "visor cam" views from Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden.[8]
Criticism
editIndyCar fans who have criticized ESPN on ABC's race broadcasts have used "Always Bad Coverage" as a derisive backronym pertaining to the poor quality of the ABC telecasts.[9]
Loss of IndyCar coverage
editOn March 21, 2018, NBC Sports announced that it had acquired the television rights to the IndyCar Series (after previously serving as cable rightsholder through NBCSN or CNBC for races not aired by ABC), replacing the package of races on ABC with a package of eight races on NBC, including the Indianapolis 500 (ending ABC's 54-year tenure as broadcaster of the event).[10][11]
ABC’s final IndyCar telecast was the second race of the Detroit Grand Prix on June 3, 2018.
On-air staff
edit2018 team
editAllen Bestwick was the lap-by-lap commentator while former IndyCar drivers Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever served as color commentators.[12][13][14] Former driver Jon Beekhuis and Rick DeBruhl reported from the pits.
This includes ABC's coverage of USAC, CART and Champ Car, as well as IRL and INDYCAR-sanctioned races, from 1965 through 2018:
- Nicole Briscoe
- Charlie Brockman
- Lindsay Czarniak
- Dave Diles
- Terry Gannon
- Keith Jackson
- Bob Jenkins
- Jim McKay
- Al Michaels
- Brent Musburger
- Paul Page
- Chris Schenkel
- Jackie Stewart
- Rick Benjamin
- Allen Bestwick
- Charlie Brockman
- Todd Harris
- Keith Jackson
- Bob Jenkins
- Jim Lampley
- Jim McKay
- Paul Page
- Marty Reid
- Chris Schenkel
- Jackie Stewart
- Al Trautwig
- Bob Varsha
- Jack Arute
- Jon Beekhuis
- Eddie Cheever, 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner
- Gil de Ferran, 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner
- Chris Economaki
- Scott Goodyear
- Parker Johnstone
- Arie Luyendyk, 2 time Indy 500 winner
- Sam Posey
- Jason Priestley
- Larry Rice
- Tom Sneva, 1983 Indianapolis 500 winner
- Lyn St. James
- Jackie Stewart
- Danny Sullivan, 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner
- Bobby Unser, 3 time Indy 500 winner
- Rusty Wallace
- Rodger Ward, 2 time Indy 500 winner
- Jack Arute
- Jon Beekhuis
- Michelle Beisner
- Charlie Brockman
- Donna de Varona
- Rick DeBruhl
- Dave Diles
- Chris Economaki
- Bill Flemming
- Ray Gandolf
- Jerry Gappens
- Gary Gerould
- Leslie Gudel
- Brian Hammons
- Todd Harris
- Don Hein
- Penn Holderness
- Keith Jackson
- Jim Lampley
- David Letterman
- Jamie Little
- Jim McKay
- Larry Nuber
- Brienne Pedigo
- Jerry Punch
- Sam Posey
- Scott Pruett
- Marty Reid
- Lyn St. James
- Chris Schenkel
- Anne Simon
- Cameron Steele
- Bill Stephens
- Al Trautwig
- Vince Welch
- Jack Whitaker
List of Broadcasts
edit| Year | Race | Coverage | Lap-by-lap announcer | Color commentators | Pit reporters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Jimmy Bryan 150 | Live | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
| Trenton 200 | Live | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
| Indianapolis 500 | Delayed | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki Bill Flemming | |
| Gould Grand Prix | Highlights | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
| 1978 | Jimmy Bryan 150 | Live | Jim McKay | Sam Posey | Chris Economaki |
| Gabriel 200 | Live | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
| Indianapolis 500 | Delayed | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki Bill Flemming Sam Posey | |
| Gould Grand Prix | Live | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
| Daily Express Indy Silverstone | Highlights | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki | |
| 1979 | Gould Twin Dixie 125 | Highlights / Live | Al Michaels | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki |
| Indianapolis 500 | Delayed | Jim McKay | Jackie Stewart | Chris Economaki Bill Flemming |
References
edit- ^ Bruce Martin (October 7, 2011). "ABC Television Adds To IndyCar Coverage". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "2008 IndyCar Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "2009 IndyCar Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ ABC, ESPN stay on Indy circuit - Broadcasting Cable, 1 September 2001
- ^ a b "Indy 500 will remain on ABC into 2018". ESPN. August 10, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Cheever expanding role to all 6 ABC IndyCar races". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "ABC prime-time broadcast showcases competition". IndyCar Series. June 6, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "ESPN Roars Back Into Action at Indy with Debut of Visor Cam, Race Strategist Predictive Analytics". Sports Video Group. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ Robin Miller (July 12, 2012). "Miller's Mailbag, 7.12". Speed. Fox Sports Media Group.
- ^ "The Indy 500 will soon have a new TV network". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (2018-03-21). "NBC Sports Grabs Indianapolis 500 Rights From ABC After 54 Years". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ Dan Lewandowski (May 25, 2013). "ABC's innovative '500' coverage on the air NOW". IndyCar Series. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Marty Reid Fired: ESPN Replaces NASCAR, IndyCar Announcer After Nationwide Gaffe (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. AOL. September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ "NASCAR broadcaster Allen Bestwick to move to IndyCar Series broadcasts". Charlotte Observer. January 2, 2014. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014.