Note: Please give us your post-race comments on the new column at the top of the page.
Hang on NASCAR fans. 12 announcers and 76 cameras are coming at you live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's time for the Brickyard 400 on ESPN.
Last season this was one of the biggest auto racing disasters in recent memory. The Goodyear tire problems unfolded live on global TV. ESPN could do nothing but watch the chaos and try to report the obvious. Now, things have changed.
The foundation of this season's telecast is clearly the incredible recovery of Goodyear from the struggles of last season to being a success this year. No tire problems will return the focus to the racing and the telecast coverage.
The 12 ESPN voices are familiar to NASCAR fans. Allen Bestwick will remain in the infield pit studio during the race. He will be joined there by Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace and Ray Evernham. Bestwick should serve to host the race recaps, the video highlights and the coverage under any extended caution flag period.
Jerry Punch is handling the play by play for the race, with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside. Down on pit road will be Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, Dave Burns and Vince Welch. This is a veteran crew, but this is a very big stage today.
ESPN has a new camera that swoops down pit road at over 80 mph. This angle should be great on restarts and to cover the race off pit road. Look for the ESPN director to try and strike a balance between the in-car cameras and the tremendous amount of cameras positioned around the track.
This is the first Brickyard 400 with the new restart rules and the double-file strategy should make for a new wrinkle. Tire strategy will come into play and the pit reporters are going to be busy keeping fans up to date on what teams are thinking.
This post will serve to host your comments about the ESPN telecast of the Sprint Cup Series race from IMS. To add your TV-related comments, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking time from your weekend to stop by.
405 comments:
1 – 200 of 405 Newer› Newest»Good interview with Kyle by Marty... coming from someone who isn't exactly kyle's biggest fan :)
Bevo... Agreed! Marty did an excellent job not letting him off the hook and to Kyle's credit, he manned up.
Great interview Marty! Good show so far.
no fan of Kyle but he is correct about media in face with STUPID questions. :)
Anyone have an official weather forecast?
Wooot!!! Can't wait for the race to start...Hey....What kind of double file restarts are they having today????
After watching Kyle with Marty, I have to wonder if Hendrick scarred him by dumping him for Jr. Does he think that he got dumped because he didn't win enough?
He said that he thinks that if he doesn't win every race, he might be fired. I don't think any other driver feels that way.
They all want to win and most try to win, but none think they have to win every race to keep their jobs.
How can anyone act normally under that type of pressure?
There needs to be a way to give him a sense of security without causing him to lose his desire to win.
10% chance of showers..
High of 79
0% chance of rain
(think that means no rain)
Bigger weather issue will be how much cloud cover.
Deadliest Catch & Dirty Jobs' Mike Rowe has a great voice for this ESPN narration.
There is the bat cam!!
@ Patrick, ditto.
Patrick - almost a good enough voice as Ashton Smith who I really like.
Man the stands are empty.
I really thought KB would self destruct during Marty interview - he did well.
Every one ready to mute if anthem is awful?
So. let's hope the ESPN Director resists the urge to use the in-cars endlessly and lets us see the racing.
Empty as in 150K. That is a big place.
The interpreter is for those of us who mute the anthem. Not as bad as some.
That was a perfectly timed flyover!
Kind of nice to see real commercials and not 800 numbers in the show.
good anthem I like her voice.
Solid National Anthem.
wow 150k fans there and it still look empty? wow it is a big place.
Anthem good. Wished we could've seen the girl signing more..sign lanquage is beautiful.
I posted in the wrong blog and my comment disappeared before sending it.
Love seeing the jets.
I like tracks that let you see all the way around, but Indy is an incredible facility.
soooo will we get any "Sport Center in Game" today? I sure hope not.
@JD-no, instead we get credit repair scam commercials :)
LMAO @ Dot!!
Nice anthem - thank heavens. Flyover shots were good too. Pit command very slow to load today
Its up to you now Jerry Punch.Plzz try not to fade out.
Did you get a US Fidelis spot there Bevo?
Hopefully KB fed Dr.Jerry some NOS. Atleast DJ is there again to help Doc if he fades
Three cheers for the Punchmeister.
Yeeha. :>)
ESPN is really pumped about the bat-cam over pit road. Goes 80 mph and can see the frontstretch and pit road. Watch for it during the live race coverage.
I love the balloon release... JD honestly if you can get seats in the top section near turn 1 you can see nearly the entire track (you need binoculars but you can still see) I love Indy, I seriously get goos bumps everytime I come into this place! (ps I'm on a laptop from the speedway so I won't be commenting on the tv coverage until I get home to watch it.) but I will be checking in here from time to time, until my batter dies!
I guess we know ESPN's script today.
Well, NASCAR has just had two great races over at ORP. If there was ever a time for ESPN to have a great broadcast, it is right now.
@JD- something called Consolidated Credit Services :) DirecTV has some pretty weak commercials
Daly Planet Editor said...
ESPN is really pumped about the bat-cam over pit road. Goes 80 mph and can see the frontstretch and pit road. Watch for it during the live race coverage.
Not only that, but its cable is at a slight angle and actually goes over the track at the entry of turn 1. I'm curious to see how far they'll run the shot.
Looks like Tony got the schnitzel, the in race reporter!!!
Frank in Sebring
I think Kyle Bush is the J.R. Ewing of NASCAR! :)
Everybody loves to hate (dislike)him
OMG Tony is BUSY in race reporter....
I forgot to smudge the house before the race (Native American ritual) be back in a minute or two
What is ESPNs script?
@Brian- enjoy! I'm going to try the same thing at the fall TX race if I can pirate a connection. Tried it on my BlackBerry before but that's too much work :)
I hope they don't wear out that pit cam today
Tony Stewart they are really wanting to win today. I wonder if we'll see anyone else for more than a nanosecond.
I bet the drivers are really excited to have a camera swooping down at them going into the turn
@VickyD- also Newman and JPM.
I'd love to see Montoya win.
Remember when Brett and Geoff went at it? That was great.
The in car race reporter curse may be over. Leff did OK last night.
Quick burning of sage done...gratitude to the 6 directions..and a little prayer for Massa
(Massa recognized his parents this morning and had good reaction to them. GREAT NEWS. Then put back under for couple of days)
I rode around the IMS track as a little girl..UPS style truck, empty...took my dad, brothers and an Uncle around...Uncle had connection but I felt the "specialness" even then. LONG ride around.
Gorgeous day!
Hope for good CAMERA DIRECTION
thanks Bevo! On the attendance figures, there are less people than their were last year, but alot of people have found its more fun to sit in the infield, the stands hold 250,000 people, so although they look empty its still a lot of people... One to go! I'd say (pure guestimate)there are about 200,000 people here, about 50,000 in the infield and 150,000 in the stands!
I want Mark Martin to win....then retire....plz. Hope he doesn't end up like Brett Farve.
Two extra pace laps? Not a great way to start the race.
Bevo, if Matt can't win then I would like JPM or Hornish.
Winds at 15 mph out of the west, slowing to 11 mph around 6 pm, according to weather.com
I hope we get wide shots.
Crews are upset about the extra pace laps. New pit stop numbers.
Thank you Charlie for that info.
And they missed the cars going into turn one. can you believe that?
bad for Robby :(
First DFR SOS!!!
That did not take long
is Steven Wallace around?
HOrrible camera work so far.
Too many new toys
Good coverage of Sadler, hope they follow it up after the break.
@ Jo, you're killing me.
Second chance to get it right for the restart.
I heard Costner and his band play in Fan Fest at Daytona....um...it was interesting.
In addition to the DF SOS restart wording is NASCAR making them say "50 Year Old Mark Martin" and "19 Year Old Joey Logano" every time?
kudos to nascar.com live chat support for fixing my raceview issues, turns out I needed a newer version of Java
I'll give him this, as a singer Costner is a pretty mediocre actor
ESad running new engine. Needs to hook up with Rusty and US Fidelis.
DFR SOS, JP said so.
We have a lot of people in our live blog today, so we are going to try and talk TV/media during this race.
Is anyone using TrackPass Raceview today? Is it working OK?
Dayum.... got our "Shoot-out Style"....
Dot, Doc will only sound energenic when he says - shoot out style - otherwise he'll be his old self.
@bevo - you're killing me! LOL
Jeff Burton got his DFRSOS he must be thrilled!
Thanks for the follow up Anon, the NASCAR.com guys actually checked in with me to make sure all was OK.
The more I get to know those Turner guys, the more I like them
The ambient audio is so loud I can hardly tell the booth is talking.
Love to see some blimp shots.
@ Daly Planet Editor
Using regular pit command, no problems at this point.
Good job following up on Sadler
TV folks complained Elliotts car smelled funny yesterday. Can't believe that was not addressed.
uh..in car cams already.
is MRN working today on radio or is it MRN
BUMPER CAM *&^$@&^
Was hoping they would ask Sadler about his first time running the new Dodge motor. That would be the obvious question, right?
Although a couple of laps behind, I have Nascar live leaderboard on and seems to be ok.
bryan, I am working on that. You watching in HD or SD?
Single file race, double file restarts.
Daly Planet Editor said...
Is anyone using TrackPass Raceview today? Is it working OK?
So far, so good. I've got one window for your site/leaderboard, one for RaceView, one for PitCommand and TweetDeck (@StirrupCigars)
Pit Command is fine today, good sound , acurate info about a lap delay or 30 sec. I just waited to late to load it usually load early to avoid the rush since its a free weekend. Radio is playing well also using the PC radio at same time.
RE Raceview. It's locked up won't launch and I can't even close out the Nascar.com page or click on anything else. I've moved on. Thankfully Pit Command still works or I'd be screaming since I pay for it.
J.D.,
Is anyone here at the race? Are the stands full?
I wish I could have you all for brunch. I just made spinach, turkey Italian sausage omelettes with lots of cheddar on top.
WCK
Doubt Sadler wants to talk right now.
@Sophia- no MRN, Indy has their own radio network.
Indy has their own radio network that I believe only broadcasts only two races.
IMS Radio network likely on same station as MRN/PRN
JD... Becoming the TV repair man?
IMS has their own radio broadcast
Kenn, no one expected it to be full after last season. 150K is what they are saying right now. Get a better number in a bit. Lower stands spotty.
Sound perfect - SD DirecTV
"JD... Becoming the TV repair man?"
Your business card will be the size of a poster.
and the gross commercials begin..mute the tv and blind fold the kiddies
my 'kitties' have paws over their eyes.
Kenn Fong
Sounds delicious
No MRN RADIO today. Rats..could not get the online links some kind person gave me to work.
boo hiss....wasting tiime on bat cam and we are MISSING the race..and bumper cams....
Paging Mike Wells
J.D.,
Sorry about the attendance query. I was busy cooking and neglected to read backwards.
WCK
Tell ya what (Rusty-ism), we have been blessed by having the TV guys and the computer guys reading the comments and then acting on them.
It has been a very positive sharing of information. I am doing the same thing on Twitter, which is where this live blog may move sometime in the future.
Talking with Connie Montoya from the bus lot. She is on pins and needles.
Raceview is a complete failure here for us today. Keeps crashing our two computers, so we've given up. I wouldn't pay a dime for it, and I feel badly for people who have paid for it.
SD on TSN
My only complaint so far, the overuse of bumper cam/roof cam.
Please, ESPN, show us the RACE.
Is there a bootleg radio link..I can't get WCKY to work
Daly Planet Editor said...
Kenn, no one expected it to be full after last season. 150K is what they are saying right now.
Stands look full in RaceView. ;)
sophia you do know that pit command has radio broadcast and its free today
or is it race view? maybe both
I tried.
Haven't listened to a race with the good Dr. this year and now I remember why.
Back to the radio.
Would have like to have seen what Speed did and also why Junior fell back on during the commericial break.
Nothing the ESPN crew can do to make this single-file parade interesting. Sad how the COT has ruined racing. Good finishes aren't good races.
As a subscriber I was a little worried about being able to access PitCommand since it was being offered free but so far no problems.
Pit command does have Radio option
Where is PitCOMMAND?
nascar.com will try
I hate it when jerry acts like a reporter in a PxP role.
Looks like Blaney & Skinner are still out on the track at lap 17. Good going boys.
@Sophia - all the NASCAR viewing stuff is free today - go to NASCAR.Com & click on radio link on right side -
ZZZZZZZZZZZ single cars. There has been some passing Jimmie's up to 6th not that we saw any of it.
Hey Bryan, sounds great, SD and HD. Do you have some sort of simulated surround on or something, sometimes the phasing on amps and such can enhance the stereo imaging and bring out the crowds.
Thanks for the feedback Ron, I am going to pass it along. Turner said they have plenty of server space to handle capacity.
YAY! Free IMS on nascar.com
Thank you EVERYBODY! xoxo
Ok this is turning into a parade..was it like this last year? I only remember tire issues.
Racing in the big screen please - driver bit in small box!!!!!
Wow, gone to soundbites under green with only 20 laps in the books.
Oh, man, Jerry Punch is OUT OF IT.
He just said "We've already established that Juan Pablo Montoya was a winner here at Indy in 2000", but then goes on to rattle off his wins in open wheel AGAIN.
Then Punch says "can Tony Stewart take more chances today?" and even Dale Jarrett had to remind him, "Yeah, he said that to us in the pre-race interview, so yes."
UGH
According to Twitter @curtcavin "Gotta say, given the economy and the tire blek (sic) last year, it's a helluva crowd. We're going to go with 180,000."
Of the usual S&P's: #36 Skinner and #71 Gilliland have sponsors this weekend & will race. The #87 and #66 have no sponsor, but Indy has very nice purse $. Maybe it will motivate the #66 and #87 to race.
Seem to be having trouble with shots being framed before they cut to them
Same old BSPN
Following THEIR agenda..to heck with showing us the race. TNT we hardly knew ye.
Might be a day to sit outside with the laptop if wireless will go out there and listen to IMS and tape the race.
Was that the first mention today that JPM could win both Indy and the Brickyard?
The over/under on how many more times Jerry Punch tells us Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indy 500: 10!
I'll take the over.
How can Marty Reid stay pumped for the entire Nationwide Series race from ORP and Punch is already bored after 20 laps at IMS?
Man, this is the bigtime, sell it!
Hey Bryan, sounds great, SD and HD. Do you have some sort of simulated surround on or something, sometimes the phasing on amps and such can enhance the stereo imaging and bring out the crowds.
--
Straight TV - aren't even any audio choices on the menu.
It's sounding a little better now. At the start I could hardly tell they were talking. Now I can hear them clearly most of the time - just an occasional spike of car noise over the booth
He's not only bored -- he is out of notes!
They did a good job adjusting the mix, but like the old days they are really pushing the nat sound from the track and making Punch talk over it.
Nemechek to the garage. Will it get a mention?
66 off too
was there a mention of smoke to third?
Blaney off, too. How's about an update from the booth or the pit reporters?
How many total off S&P?
Why are they still talking about Joey Logano filling Tony Stewart's shoes? Hasn't he been in the car for 6 months already?
Daly Planet Editor said...
How many total off S&P?
Just the two (#66 & $87) so far.
as i thought last night - no utilizing pit reporters like last night when they were used early and often.
JD just blaney and joe
If we get green flag pit stops I think it may spread the field out even more. Will take even more talent to make this race interesting.
Chad- does the splitter touch at all
Jimmie- only when I run over the curb
The silence from Chad was deafening
Remember, this is the first Cup race for ESPN. The problem last season was they treated us like this NASCAR thing was new to us.
We have been watching the sport for 6 months, but ESPN has been over in Nationwide land.
Anyone missing RaceBuddy right about now?
That #88 radio conversation was 10 laps ago. Don't try to make be believe that it was live.
I miss race buddy. Was thinking about it when the blog was talking about free pit command.
Glad Jr. didn't miss his pit stall this round of pit stops.
If RB was still available I would stay for the race. I'm off to the pool.
In the past when I don't watch live, good things happen. I hope my sacrifice pays off for you guys. :)
Oh dear God it's Brewer full screen
Same ol' ESPN.
Reading your guys' comments tops their boring broadcast.
Nothing but problems with NASCAR.com and Raceview.... load applets, no sound... total lockups and reboots.
WHERE IS MY RACE BUDDY?
Full screen for tech center. Are we not under green flag and there is racing going on?
I swapped over to Fox for the delayed-coverage of the Hungarian GP. Rather watch that then ESPN's joke of a broadcast.
And Charlie, TB doesn't really say a lot.
Full screen Tim Brewer, full screen replay, played same Daughtry song from last night over sound of full speed cars. Geez.
Mr Editor -
Is it me or does Doc kinda disappear at times and DJ is left to 'toss it' to the pit reporters?
Walter
yall havin probs with racebuddy...clear your java cache from control panel...might help...also make sure it's the latest version from java dot com
Newracefan said...
Oh dear God it's Brewer full screen
Why can't they use a pic-in-pic format for that? Brewer is so damn painful to watch at any time, but during the green? come one guys. I don't know exactly what it is I don't like about Brewer. He seems to lack confidence and doesn't make any sense half the time. At least he got rid of the mafia/guido jewelry.
Mudslides anyone? This is not starting out well
I HATE the Tech Center. Not to say some fans are interested in that, just don't show it during live on-track/green flag action.
On the plus side - no prerecorded dancing drivers going to commercial.
BTW consider this fair warning. Stewart on Speedway this week said he had just finished shooting a Burger King commercial with Carrot Top. You have been warned.
One of my FAVE TRACKS and crappy BSPN has me OUTSIDE listening to radio (THANK you NASCAR.com)
I have a tape in but BSPN HORRIBLE director ruined the race already.
no hope for NASCAR. enjoying the birds, ornamental grasses, trees, fresh air, and RADIO guys that enjoy the race.
ESPN Mr. Pitiful if ESPN were one person
oppps...pit command
@ragan- Tip : keep an eye on Alonso
Yeah, I'm on here and checking UPS Racing's Twitter for updates.
For me, that's what I call 'Practice Style' Updating. Never thought I'd have to do it during an actual race. Thanks ESPNonsense.
#36-Skinner, off. Has ESPN said anything yet?
@bevo-NO Spoilers! ;)
Really need to start telling the overall story and quit with these little spotlights on cars and then playing old radio conversations.
Anyone else S&P?
Ick, David 27th. :(
For filler lets go to commercial, then do a Through the Field, then Commercial again.
JD
Yes, I miss RBuddy and TNT's camera crew/direction.
When you have chased this dame of Indy parents outside from Indy race, you have messed up your broadcast totally.
Thanks again for free IMS online. Watching the birds rotate feeders is more fun :)
@ragan - not a spoiler, it's the bizarre moment of the season. :)
Possible S&P - 36 - Skinner been of 10 laps according to Trackpass
OK I'm as good as my word, as my late Dad taught me to be.
Dear espn,
After watching NASCAR in person since I was a small child & on TV since Wide World of Sports in black & white, you have finished me off. Congrats. Doc is watching what race I do not know, as much effort as Goodyear put into tires, you did not put 1/2 that into your product. This is a p*** poor effort.
And it shows.
I'm listening to the rest of this race on radio. Goodbye bspn.
We'll try each week to see if you improve.
I'll be reading the blog JD, but not commenting since I will not be watching the race on TV.
Even with a sponsor, Mike Skinner is off the track and probably done for the day. Did the same thing at Chicagoland even though they had a sponsor.
Not exactly the same TV vibe as the trucks or Nationwide Series over at ORP.
@bevo Okay, just saying.
Just reminded why I don't care for Shannon Spake. She loves to call drivers "young man". I mean come on. Denny is 28. You sound silly calling him that. What does that make Joey? A toddler?
Daly Planet Editor said...
Not exactly the same TV vibe as the trucks or Nationwide Series over at ORP.
How is that possible from the same network that brought us that fantastic NNS race last night? Sad, just really, really sad.
@anon 3:14- hahaha!
Almost as bad as the 'how does that make you feel' questions.
The fact that they don't address the start & park issue at one of the biggest money races in the series---and then Blaney Skinner & Nemechek get no coverage---tells me that there are no journalists on this ESPN coverage...very weak
JD--Skinner and Smith also to the garage.
36-Skinner sponsored by Guy Fieri from Food Network. Surprised he's off.
I can't blame ESPN for everthing today. It doesn't help that with 50 laps into the race, the 10th place car is already 17 seconds back. Goodyear may have made the tires too good.
And ESPN guys on Twitter PRAISING TB video over GF racing. Sadly they are clueless as well.
@Jo
Amen. My laptop is getting hot in the sun, black keyboard..need to move under shade
Camera shots are way to tight, especially for this track. ESPN so inconsistent race to race. Last night, there were a lot of shots at ORP that were wide you were able to see lots of the guys racing.
Here at Indy, where there is no racing at all, they should be using wide shots, especially coming down the front stretch. It would allow you see more of where everyone is running in relation to each other.
If it were not for PitCommand today, I'd have no idea how far things are spread out.
I wondered why Smith didn't look his usual excited self during driver intros, thought it was nerves. Guess not, he appears to be a S&P too sad
Can't get Raceview to load -- don't care enough to investigage why. JD, count me as "YES - I miss RaceBuddy".
How long till the mystery caution.......
Praising TB? Over GF racing?
What a joke!
Anonymous said...
How long till the mystery caution.......
No mystery there.
Re: 18 into the wall
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!
WCK
IF they had heard Kyle talking about the vibration during commercial why didn't they bring that up right away after commercial and not wait till something happened.
this is AWFUL, AWFUL coverage. kill doc punch's mic and let AB take over, or something...anything. You can't spend weeks and then hours hyping this race to have a telecast as embarrassing as this. Jerry Punch set the standard for pit reporting - he can not call a race. how many chances does he get?
I know this is tv blog
TRY IMS radio..they shut UP and let you listen to natural car sounds for 30 seconds or so. FABULOUS..maybe they can't stream commercials. GREAT.
sorry BSPN deserves no carrying of NASCAR.
Hearing KB having serious problem now.
Nice coverage of the pit stops, but I would have liked a triple split and to hear the pit reporters.
That "music" on AT&T & Pepsi commercials is awful.
Has ESPN said whether or not there is any hope of the #19-Sadler getting back out?
I this the "NEW" Kyle Busch?
Post a Comment