ABC, VERSUS TO PROVIDE COMPLETE INDIANAPOLIS 500 TV COVERAGE

ims Indianapolis Motor Speedway

From IMS
IMS Radio Network offering live programming throughout event

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, May 17, 2010 – ABC and VERSUS will provide comprehensive live coverage of the 2010 Indianapolis 500, with ABC broadcasting “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for the 46th consecutive year and exclusive cable partner VERSUS offering nearly 20 hours of practice and qualifying action.

ABC, which has televised the Indianapolis 500 annually since 1965, will start its coverage with a pre-race show at noon (ET) Sunday, May 30. Live race coverage starts at 1 p.m.

Brent Musburger will serve as host of the ABC telecast. Marty Reid will be the lead announcer, with 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr. and “500” veteran Scott Goodyear as analysts. Dr. Jerry Punch, Rick DeBruhl, Jamie Little and Vince Welch will work as pit reporters.

VERSUS’ live May programming will include 14 hours of combined coverage from Pole Day, Saturday, May 22 and Bump Day, Sunday, May 23. The network also will feature a live qualifying preview show from 3:30-5 p.m. on Fast Friday, May 21 and five hours of continuous coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 28, including the Firestone Freedom 100 race for the Firestone Indy Lights and the annual Pit Stop Challenge.

From 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Race Day, Sunday, May 30, VERSUS will air a live post-race show featuring in-depth trackside analysis of all the action that unfolded during the race.

VERSUS’ talent lineup includes Bob Jenkins as lead announcer, Indianapolis 500 veteran Robbie Buhl and former open-wheel standout Jon Beekhuis as analysts, and Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd and Lindy Thackston as pit reporters.

In addition to its live programming, VERSUS will air various Indianapolis 500 shows from May 27-29, including the IPL 500 Festival Parade and Indy 500 “Ready to Race” pre-race show Saturday, May 29.

ESPN Classic will provide a variety of Indianapolis 500-related programming, including past races and “SportsCentury” shows, through May 30.

The IMS Radio Network will offer a complete lineup of Month of May programming for its affiliates, with all shows simulcast on XM Channel 145, Sirius Channel 211 and indycar.com.

On-track coverage will start at 5 p.m. (ET) Friday, May 21 with one hour of coverage of “Fast Friday” practice and a preview of the upcoming two days of qualifying.

Live Pole Day Qualifying coverage will air from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4:30-6 p.m., with live Bump Day coverage from noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. Live coverage on Miller Lite Carb Day takes place from noon-3 p.m. Friday, May 28 with the Firestone Freedom 100 and Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.

Race Day programming starts with a live pre-race show at noon, Sunday, May 30, followed by flag-to-flag coverage of the Indianapolis 500 at 1 p.m.

“Indy Live” and “IndyCar Weekly” shows also will be broadcast both weeks of the race and hosted by IMS Radio Network anchor Mike King. The shows featuring many drivers and personalities of the Indianapolis 500.

The Race Day lineup of announcers for the IMS Radio Network includes King, IMS Historian Donald Davidson, Jerry Baker, Firestone Indy Lights driver James Hinchcliffe and Paul Page in the booth, Jake Query, Mark Jaynes and Chris Denari in the turns, Kevin Lee, Dave Argabright and Nick Yeoman in the pits and Dave Wilson in the garage.

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2010 INDIANAPOLIS 500 TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Date
Time (ET)
Event
Network

Tuesday, May 18
7 a.m., noon
“SportsCentury: Al Unser”
ESPN Classic

Friday, May 21
3:30-5 p.m.
Fast Friday/Qualifying Preview
VERSUS

Saturday, May 22
11 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Pole Day Qualifying
VERSUS

Sunday, May 23
Noon-6:30 p.m.
Bump Day Qualifying
VERSUS

Monday, May 24
1 p.m.
1991 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

3 p.m.
2008 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

Wednesday, May 26
Noon
“SportsCentury: A.J. Foyt”
ESPN Classic

Thursday, May 27
Noon
“SportsCentury: Al Unser”
ESPN Classic

4-5 p.m.
“Crashes and Conflicts 2”
VERSUS

Friday, May 28
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Miller Lite Carb Day
VERSUS

Noon
“SportsCentury: Mario Andretti”
ESPN Classic

4-5 p.m.
“Danica’s Decade”
VERSUS

Saturday, May 29
Noon
1971 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

2 p.m.
1981 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

4 p.m.
2001 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

5-6:30 p.m.
IPL 500 Festival Parade
VERSUS

6 p.m.
2002 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

6:30-7 p.m.
Indianapolis 500 Preview Show
VERSUS

8 p.m.
2009 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

10 p.m.
2005 Indianapolis 500
ESPN Classic

Sunday, May 30
9 a.m.
“SportsCentury: A.J. Foyt”
ESPN Classic

10 a.m.
“SportsCentury: Al Unser”
ESPN Classic

11 a.m.
“SportsCentury: Mario Andretti”
ESPN Classic

Noon
Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race
ABC

1 p.m.
Indianapolis 500 Race
ABC

4:30-5:30 p.m.
Indianapolis 500 Post-Race
VERSUS

2010 INDIANAPOLIS 500 RADIO SCHEDULE (IMS Radio Network, XM 145, Sirius 211)

Date
Time (ET)
Event
Monday, May 17
7-8 p.m.
IndyCar Weekly

Tuesday, May 18
7-8 p.m.
Indy Live

Thursday, May 20
7-8 p.m.
Indy Live

Friday, May 21
5-6 p.m.
Fast Friday

Saturday, May 22
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Pole Day Qualifying

4:30-6 p.m.
Pole Day Qualifying

Sunday, May 23
Noon-1 p.m.
Bump Day Qualifying

5-6 p.m.
Bump Day Qualifying

Monday, May 24
7-8 p.m.
IndyCar Weekly

Tuesday, May 25
7-8 p.m.
Indy Live

Thursday, May 27
7-8 p.m.
Indy Live

Friday, May 28
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Firestone Freedom 100

1:30-3 p.m.
Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge

Sunday, May 30
Noon
Indianapolis 500 Pre-Race

1 p.m.
Indianapolis 500 Race

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2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.

Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time.

Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.