For coverage of the IndyCar Series in 2005
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Newcomers Gil de Ferran and Todd Harris will join
Scott Goodyear in the broadcast booth for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the IRL
IndyCar® Series in 2005.
Harris will serve as the play-by-play commentator while de Ferran, the 2003
Indianapolis 500 winner, will join Goodyear as an analyst in the networks'
three-man booth.
Harris, who joined ABC in 1999 as a sideline reporter for college football, has
covered a variety of events for the network. One of the most respected young
talents in the industry, Harris will assume his new role as play-by-play
commentator for ABC and ESPN's IndyCar Series coverage after serving as a pit
reporter in 2004. Harris also serves as the host of ESPN's World Strongest Man
telecasts.
De Ferran, who retired as an IndyCar Series driver following the 2003 season,
served as an analyst on several ESPN and ESPN2 Indy 500 programs and select
IndyCar races in 2004. He competed for nine years (1995-2003) in open wheel
racing in the United States. He posted 12 wins, 21 poles and 50 top-three
finished in 160 career starts in the IRL and CART competition. In addition to
the Indy 500 victory, he won two CART Championships in 2000 and 2002.
Goodyear, a former IndyCar Series driver, returns for his fourth season with
the networks. He made his racing debut in 1980, racking up five top-20 Indy 500
finishes. He won three IndyCar Series for Panther Racing from 1998-2000.
Veteran pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch and Jamie Little will cover the pit areas
for both ABC and ESPN's telecasts while Jack Arute, who has covered the IRL on
ABC since its inception, will work the pits on ABC races only. Vince Welch will
replace Arute for ESPN races.
ESPN's 2005 IndyCar Series season debuts at 2 p.m (EST) on March 6 with the
Toyota Indy 300 from Homestead-Miami Speedway. ABC's coverage begins Saturday,
March 19 with the XM Satellite Radio Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.