Countdown account of the checkered flag: behind the scenes of the Indy 500 with WDRB | Local news
Indianapolis, ind. (WDRB) – In a few days, Indianapolis 500 Rugira in life – and you can watch it live on WDRB.
While the countdown continues to “the biggest race”, WDRB went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for an exclusive look behind the scenes on the ceremonial, the preparation and the passion that make this event so emblematic.
It is a quick journey of 112 miles from Churchill Downs – “two most exciting minutes in sport” – at the gates of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While Kentucky Derby can hold the crown in horse races, Indy 500 is a royalty in the world of motorsport. But the two events have something vital in common: fans.
“This is the 109th series of Indy 500,” said Doug Boles, president of Indycar Racing and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “And just like Kentucky Derby, it is so much the history and tradition that make us so special. It is a horse race and it is a car race, but it is really all the other things that take place with the generations of people who have followed it – interest across the country. The only time of year.
Boles, a tireless ambassador for sport, said this year’s race promises to be greater than ever, thanks in part to a new powerful distribution partnership.
“I also fox here this weekend. The race is on Fox. Eric Shanks, the president of Fox Sports, entered Thursday evening. He is here all weekend,” said Boles. “The partnership with Fox was exceptional for us. What they did during the Super Bowl, the promotions they have – we are really, really excited to be part of them.”
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, like Churchill Downs, is more than a place. It is a living museum of American tradition and the history of sport. And in his heart is the emblematic Pagoda control round – the operational command center where the legends are watching the race take place, the emissions are produced and the voice of the rack comes to life.
This voice belongs to Dave Calabro, who spent four decades to call the action to IMS.
“This is my 40th year as an Indianapolis Motor Speedway Annonceror,” said Calabro. “I have been one of the staff here for 40 years.”
Calabro, a retired television sports anchor from Indianapolis, grew up from walking distance from the track. He started working at IMS as a student and took over as an advertiser after the legendary Tom Carnegie.
Calabro said Fox went for this year’s race.
“Fox has gone mad from Indianapolis 500,” he said. “They have been planning for months and months. I hear like 600 accredited people of Fox. They will explode this huge thing. It is already a huge spectacle, but I think they will simply put an additional frosting on this incredible cake to make it really fun.”
“If you are an occasional spectator, it will be fun – there will be so many celebrities here. And if you are a hardcore racing fan, the technology has been launched a few notches.”
Catch all the action of the 109th Indianapolis 500 race – on WDRB this Sunday.
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