In accordance with Indiana state health guidelines relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, track owner and IndyCar owner Roger Penske has had to leave out the fans, 250,000-plus of whom traditionally make this the most significant one-day sporting event on the planet. The grandstands have been eerily empty through last weeks practice and qualifying days.
Mike Tirico hosts live pre-race protection alongside visitor analyst and previous IndyCar chauffeur Danica Patrick from the Yard of Bricks. Pre-race protection will consist of NBC Sports lead IndyCar commentary team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell and Paul Tracy, who will also call the race on NBC, as well as pit press reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast and Kevin Lee. Rutledge Wood will supply reports from around the track, and engaging with fans via social media throughout the broadcast.
The absence of fans has actually thrown the focus on NBC/NBCSN/NBC Sports Gold to relay the activities, and they have come through in design. We expect them to do the exact same today.
SCHEDULE: ( All times Eastern).
NBC Live coverage starts at 1.00 pm and the prerace accumulation will consist of: function stories and interviews surrounding pole-sitter Marco Andretti and his renowned grandfather, 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti; interviews with 2019 Indy winner Simon Pagenaud and 2016 winner Alexander Rossi; a live interview with NBC Sports analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. from Charlotte; the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the “Singing Surgeons,” previous Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgical treatment residents Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson; and the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” by Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison.
And seeing the within the track doing not have fans on Carb Day (two days ago) was particularly odd. Traditionally, that is the day when not just does the NTT IndyCar Series run its last pre-race practice, there is also the Pitstop Challenge, the Indy Lights series gala occasion (the Freedom 100), and performances.
1.00 pm: All Cars on Grid1.00 pm: NBC Live Coverage Begins1:20 pm: ” On the Banks of the Wabash” 1:47 pm: Indianapolis 500 Driver Introductions2:08 pm: Presentation of Colors, Military Joint Services2:09 pm: Invocation– Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, Archdiocese of Indianapolis2:10 pm: Rifle Volley2:11 pm: ” Taps” 2:12 pm: National Anthem2:14 pm: First Flyover– U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds2:14 pm: ” Drivers, To Your Cars” 2:20 pm: ” Back Home Again in Indiana” 2:22 pm: Second Flyover– U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds2:22 pm: Command to start engines from Roger Penske2:30 pm: Green Flag, 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 provided by Gainbridge (200 laps) Flag waved by Dan Towriss, President and CEO, Gainbridge.
In addition there are IndyCar Radio Network broadcasts reside on network affiliates, Sirius 211, XM 205, indycar.com, indycarradio.com and the IndyCar Mobile app powered by NTT DATA.
Image by: IndyCar.
How the grid lines up.
