INDIANAPOLIS – A former Indianapolis 500 pole winner, along with some of the regular crew from its NASCAR telecasts are among the highlights of NBC’s commentator lineup for this year’s 106th Indianapolis 500.
James Hinchcliffe, who won the pole for the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, will join Leigh Diffey and Townsend Bell in the booth to call the race. Mike Tirico and 2005 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick return as pre-race hosts. Patrick is also the only female to win an IndyCar Series race with her victory at Twin Ring Motegi in 2008.
Tirico and Patrick will be joined by former NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the Peacock Pit Box to provide additional commentary throughout the race.
The 106th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 29 begins with Pre-Race Coverage at 11 a.m. ET on NBC.
One of the most versatile voices in sports, Tirico hosted NBC Olympics’ primetime coverage from Tokyo and Beijing, as well as NBC Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LVI all within the past year. In the fall, he will begin his first season as play-by-play voice for NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football. Patrick is one of motorsports’ most visible personalities. The former IndyCar and NASCAR driver became the first woman to lead laps and earn a top-five finish in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005.
Earnhardt is one of racing’s most popular personalities and an NBC Sports motorsports analyst. Earnhardt will contribute to pre-race coverage alongside motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood, and will join Tirico and Patrick on the Peacock Pit Box on pit road for segments during the race.
Former NASCAR crew chief Steve Letarte, who is a regular on NBC’s NASCAR coverage, will be part of the lineup during qualifications.
For the fourth consecutive year, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be called by NBC Sports’ lead IndyCar play-by-play voice Leigh Diffey and analyst Townsend Bell, while fellow INDYCAR on NBC analyst and long-time INDYCAR driver and fan-favorite James Hinchcliffe makes his debut in the Indy 500 broadcast booth.
Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, Dave Burns and Dillon Welch will serve as pit reporters.
Coverage of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues on Saturday, May 14, with the GMR Grand Prix from the IMS road course at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.