INDIANAPOLIS - The ABC Sports, ESPN and ESPN2 television networks will provide
extensive, live coverage from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the month of May
leading up to and including the 87th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on Sunday, May 25.
ESPN2 also will be a part of history when it broadcasts the inaugural Freedom 100
Infiniti Pro Series race live from IMS on Saturday, May 17.
Television coverage of the Indianapolis 500 - from Indianapolis Star Opening Day on
Sunday, May 4 through Race Day on Sunday, May 25 - will include on-track action and a
view of the many behind-the-scenes efforts from the famed Gasoline Alley garage area, as
teams and drivers work to find the speed to first qualify for the "Greatest Spectacle in
Racing" and then challenge for a coveted Indianapolis 500 victory.
"RPM2Night," ESPN2's popular motorsports news show that normally airs only on weekends,
will provide live updates nightly during the month of May from the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. Well-known ESPN and ABC personalities, such as "RPM2Night" host John Kernan,
Dr. Jerry Punch, Marlo Klain and Robin Miller, will keep fans updated on daily
developments during the weeks and days leading up to the 2003 Indianapolis 500.
ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will team up to provide 5 1/2 hours of MBNA Pole Qualifying coverage
Saturday, May 10 and 6 1/2 hours of coverage on Bump Day, Sunday, May 18. ESPN2 will
deliver four hours of coverage on the second day of qualifications Sunday, May 11.
The Freedom 100 broadcast is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, May 17. The race
marks the first time in IMS history that another automobile race will share the famed
2.5-mile oval with the Indianapolis 500 during the month of May.
ESPN2 will carry 2 1/2 hours of live coverage from Carburetion Day on Thursday, May 22,
which includes the all-important two-hour final practice for the "500" starting field
and the Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.
ABC's live broadcast of the 87th Indianapolis 500 will begin with pre-race coverage at
11 a.m. (EDT) May 25, followed by flag-to-flag coverage of the race at noon. The
broadcast television talent for the 87th Indianapolis 500 is among the most respected
and popular in all of sport, including: Bob Jenkins, race broadcast host; Paul Page,
play-by-play announcer; Scott Goodyear, analyst; Jack Arute, Gary Gerould, Dr. Jerry
Punch and Vince Welch, pit reporters.
87th Indianapolis 500 Television Schedule
(All times EDT - one hour ahead of Indianapolis - except where noted)
Date
Program
Air Time
Network
May 4-9
"RPM2Night"
6:30-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 10
MBNA Pole Qualifying
Noon-1 p.m.
ESPN (live)
1-3 p.m.
ABC (live)
5-6 p.m.
ESPN (live)
6-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
"RPM2Night"
7-7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 11
Second-Day Qualifying
1-4 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
6-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 12-17
"RPM2Night"
6:30-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 15
Pit Pass (Helio Castroneves)
3-3:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (tape)
May 17
Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100
3-4 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 18
Bump Day Qualifying
1-4 p.m.
ESPN (live)
4-6 p.m.
ABC (live)
6-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
"RPM2Night"
7-7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 22
Carburetion Day Practice & Pit Stop Competition
3:30-6 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
"RPM2Night"
6:30-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 23
"RPM2Night"
6:30-7 p.m.
ESPN2 (live)
May 24
Indy 500 Festival Parade
2-3:30 p.m.
ESPN (live)
Indy 500 Special
3:30-4 p.m.
ESPN (tape)
May 25
Indianapolis 500 pre-race
11 a.m.-noon
ABC (live)
87th Indianapolis 500
Noon-3:30 p.m.
ABC (live)
May 26
Indianapolis 500 Celebration Banquet
8-10 p.m. (Indy time)
CBS Indianapolis affiliate WISH Ch. 8
May 27
Indianapolis 500 Review
8-8:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (tape)
Indianapolis 500 Celebration Banquet
8:30-10:30 p.m.
ESPN2 (tape)
