NBC Confirms Mike Tirico As Host Of Indianapolis 500

Mike Tirico

In conjunction with Indianapolis Motor Speedway commemorating there are only 100 days until the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, NBC Sports announced Friday that veteran sports anchor Mike Tirico will serve as host of the network’s first-ever coverage of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." The 103rd Indy 500 will air at 11 a.m. ET Sunday, May 26.

Tirico is synonymous with the biggest events in sports. He is the host for NBC’s primetime Olympics coverage, as well as “Football Night in America," the most-watched studio show in sports that precedes NBC’s “Sunday Night Football" coverage. He also hosts NBC Sports’ Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup coverage in horse racing, marquee PGA Tour golf events and The Open, and serves as the play-by-play voice for University of Notre Dame football and select NFL games.

It was recently announced that Tirico will call play-by-play for his first-ever NHL game on Feb. 20, after hosting the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, 2019 NHL Winter Classic and 2019 NHL All-Star Game.

“There’s no better way to come on the air for the biggest spectator event in the world than with Mike Tirico, the best big-event host in sports television," said Sam Flood, president of production for NBC Sports and NBCSN. “Mike’s role will be to set the scene for the millions of viewers watching at home, not only touching on the drivers and the racing, but also on the enormous crowd and countless happenings around the speedway that make this a bucket-list event for all sports fans."

During 25 years at ESPN, Tirico also hosted or called play-by-play for the FIFA World Cup soccer, “Monday Night Football," the NBA Finals, The Masters, Wimbledon, U.S. Open tennis and major college bowl games, among other big events.

This will be the first time Tirico has worked at the Indianapolis 500 in any capacity.

“I am thrilled to join our team in covering one of America’s iconic sporting events," Tirico said of the Indy 500. “Having long enjoyed ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ as a viewer, it will be fabulous to see it in person for the first time."

The 2019 INDYCAR season is the first under a new media rights agreement in which NBC Sports Group acquired the exclusive rights to all NTT IndyCar Series races – including the Indianapolis 500 for the first time – qualifying and practice sessions and Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires races across its numerous platforms. All races will air live on NBC or NBCSN.