The 105th Indianapolis 500 has a star-studded crew behind the mic for this year’s race on May 30. NBC Sports announced wall-to-wall coverage that includes Mike Tirico, former-INDYCAR driver Danica Patrick, and former-NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson as race day analyst.
Tirico and Patrick are handling their roles from the past two races, contributing to pre-race, in-race, and post-race studio coverage. Tirico handles assignments from the Olympics to Notre Dame football coverage as one of NBC’s most-used talents. Patrick still holds the title of the first woman to earn a top-five finish in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005.
“It continues to be an honor to be a part of the Indy 500 NBC Sports team for the third year in a row alongside Mike Tirico,” said Patrick. “I look forward to the experience more every year. In fact, it’s similar to the way it felt driving, as time passes, the gravity of the event becomes greater.”
Johnson raced in the INDYCAR circuit for the first time in his career this year at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The seven-time NASCAR champion is manning the Peacock Pit Box on race day and qualifying weekend, working with Steve Letarte.
“To say I am excited for May in Indianapolis is an understatement,” said Jimmie Johnson. “This will be my first in-person Indianapolis 500 experience, and I absolutely cannot wait to take it all in. I’m really excited to be working alongside Mike Tirico, who is one of my favorite hosts, and sitting on the Peacock Pit Box with Steve Letarte will be so much fun, as we go way back.”
NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR team of Leigh Diffey, Townsend Bell, and Paul Tracy is on the call. It’s the team’s third consecutive Indianapolis 500 together.
“We are thrilled to have Mike and Danica return as well as add Jimmie to our Indy 500 coverage this May,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, and President, Production, NBC Sports & NBCSN. “Danica’s and Jimmie’s racing insights, along with Mike anchoring our broadcast from historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will add another gear to Leigh, Townsend, Paul, and our pit reporters’ coverage of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”