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Indycar.com
VERSUS announces TV announce crew
That it's less than three months until the IndyCar Series opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., doesn't escape Bob Jenkins. He's been crossing off the days on a calendar since agreeing to be the lead announcer for VERSUS' inaugural season of IndyCar Series telecasts.
The veteran motorsports broadcaster will be joined in the booth for the network's 12 races by former IndyCar Series driver and current team co-owner Robbie Buhl and longtime motorsports reporter Jon Beekhuis, also a former open-wheel racing driver. Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd and Lindy Thackston will provide trackside updates and features during each telecast.
"This is what I've been waiting for," said Jenkins, who was among the cast members during the 1979 germination of a cable network named ESPN and served as the network's lead motorsports anchor for its stock car and open-wheel racing coverage from 1979-2003. "I spent a great deal of my career doing NASCAR, which was great. I got to work with some wonderful people, but my love always has been and always will be open-wheel racing. I had the opportunity to work for ABC and do the '500' and other IndyCar races, but when that ended I thought maybe my career was over and that I would never get back to the level that I wanted to be and working the series that I wanted to work.
"I kind of feel like a race driver who hasn't had a ride for the past few years and has been signed and can't wait till the next year. There are few words that can describe my excitement and great anticipation of what's going to happen this year."
Marc Fein, executive vice president of Programming, Production and Business Operation for VERSUS, shares in Jenkins' enthusiasm. VERSUS, which is available in more than 74 million homes, will air at least 12 races per year for the next 10 years. Each race telecast will last a minimum of three hours and include extended pre-race coverage. All will be produced and available in HD and be distributed internationally.
The network will air a one-hour preview show the day before each race, and all IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights races will be re-aired on Mondays. Additionally, the network will feature extensive coverage of each qualification day and Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway leading up to the Indianapolis 500. The Firestone Indy Lights broadcast cast and production team will be announced soon.
"VERSUS is very excited about the stellar lineup of on-air talent assembled for our IndyCar Series telecasts," Fein said. "We feel these individuals, who are great personalities and authorities in the sport, will provide viewers with a unique insider's perspective along with engaging in-depth analysis during our race day coverage."
Jenkins' baritone pipes and easy delivery will engage and entertain viewers, while allowing the ensemble to interject salient points.
"The play-by-play guy is the anchor and has to be the cornerstone of the whole thing," said Jenkins, who also has worked for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network in various capacities dating to 1979. "It's always been my philosophy that I want the viewer to feel that all the announcers on the telecast are in their living room with them and we are talking with them about the race rather than talking to them.
"We try to relate to the race fans and we essentially are working for them and giving them a product they will like and watch race after race."
As the lead announcer the past two seasons of ESPN2's coverage of Firestone Indy Lights races, Jenkins was joined in the booth by Buhl as the analyst. He also has worked with Beekhuis, a former driver in CART (1989-92) and the 1988 Indy Lights champion, who served as a pit reporter during ESPN, SPEED, CBS and NBC CART/Champ Car broadcasts before moving to the lead analyst role in 2007. Beekhuis was a reporter for ESPN's coverage of IndyCar Series races in Edmonton and Surfers Paradise last year.
"Robbie has great knowledge and is able to express himself very well," Jenkins said. "When I heard that Jon would be available, I was very happy because he knows the workings of a race car and he's able to express those well. Individually, I think we have a really good team. It won't take a whole lot of time for us to get in the groove."
Arute, who also will patrol pit lane during ESPN on ABC's five-race package this season, Floyd and Thackston will add both experience and fresh perspectives to the VERSUS broadcasts. Floyd has worked for ESPN, NBC, Fox Sports and SPEED on various live sporting events. Thackston anchors and reports for First Coast News in Jacksonville, Fla., and has worked for XM Satellite Radio and SpeedTV.com.
"VERSUS has the need for content on their network and we'll be able to do that now by doing pre- and post-race shows in addition to the race coverage," Jenkins said. "It's a win-win situation for the league, VERSUS and more importantly it's a win for the race fans.
"I can't wait for the season to start."
Indycar.com
Penske has the Power
Ryan Briscoe received an opportunity in 2007 with Penske Racing that he says changed his professional life. He's advised fellow Australian and new teammate Will Power to make the most of his most recent motorsports opportunity.
Power, 27, a native of Toowoomba, Australia, was introduced during a news conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the driver of the No. 3 Team Penske car for preseason testing sessions. The balance of the year's driving responsibilities for the No. 3 car, including the IndyCar Series season-opening race at St. Petersburg on April 5, will depend on the timing and outcome of Helio Castroneves' pending federal court case.
"The way I look at it, we have three drivers at Team Penske," Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said. "We'll determine who drives which one of those two cars depending on how everything sorts out. We remain hopeful that Helio's situation will have a positive outcome and the team is fully behind him. While Helio prepares for his court case, we're excited to welcome Will Power to the team.
"The most important thing for us in 2009 -- not only is (Castroneves) our driver, but our friend -- is to do everything we can to support Helio going forward with what he's going through. But under these circumstances, our job is to make sure that in racing you're as prepared as you can possibly be. That's what Roger (Penske) has always set a precedence for; it's what our organization is known for, is preparation. We need to be sure in 2009 that we're ready to go and we're ready to win as many races as we can for not only our sponsors and for our organization but also all those that work for us.
"If (Castroneves is) ready to go in St. Pete, then he's still our guy. If he's not ready to go in St. Pete, then obviously Will's going to be ready to go in St. Pete. Anything after that really is a matter of how everything plays out day to day then. Will has already proven that he's a terrific racer and we think he's going to be a good fit with Team Penske. "
Power recorded two top-five and five top-10 finishes in the Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia car for KV Racing Technology during his initial IndyCar Series season. He also won on the streets of Long Beach in Champ Car's final race and started from the pole in the exhibition race on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia, in late October. That race was won by Briscoe.
Power produced strong performances in the British F3 and World Series by Renault championships before moving to the United States in 2005 to compete in the Champ Car World Series. He captured the series Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and claimed three wins and six pole positions in two-plus seasons.
"I'm really looking forward to helping these guys out for the 2009 season," Power said. "I know there were a handful of drivers in the mix. I feel very privileged that they chose me. I'm really going to give this 100 percent. No matter what the outcome is, I'm very happy to be here."
Briscoe joined Penske Racing's American Le Mans Series team for the 2007 and was selected to drive the No. 6 Team Penske car in the IndyCar Series, replacing Sam Hornish Jr. who moved to stock cars. It was the second go-round in the series for Briscoe, and he responded with two regular-season victories and three pole starts.
"We're excited to welcome Will on board," the recently-engaged Briscoe said. "More than anything it's a huge opportunity for him. I know the feeling, so I'm excited for him. Team Penske focuses on teamwork a lot. It's something Helio and I have that works really well. I know he's extremely fast and I think we'll get on well together. He'll help at preseason testing and we'll just have to wait and see what Helio's outcome is. We've all got our fingers crossed that everything comes out OK."
Castroneves, whose federal trial on tax evasion charges begins March 2, was upbeat during the news conference.
"It's a little bit strange to be in this situation," he said. "One thing I have to say, Roger and Tim, they back me up all the way. It's pretty good to have friends like that, first of all, and a good organization behind you like that, as well.
"My life, it's definitely about racing. I can't wait for this thing to be over, for me to be back in the race car, do what I love most, which is racing.
Castroneves, 33, has won 14 IndyCar Series races for Penske since 2001, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and '02. He finished second by 17 points to Scott Dixon in the 2008 championship.
"We support Helio Castroneves and Penske Racing's decision to allow Helio to focus on his upcoming court case," said Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division of the sanctioning Indy Racing League. "Helio has played a significant role in the continued growth of the IndyCar Series on and off the racetrack. He is a true star in every sense of the word. His two Indy 500 titles and 14 career IndyCar Series wins, combined with his infectious personality and widespread popularity, have made him a real fan favorite and we appreciate all he has done to promote the League.
"Few of us will forget his late-season charge in 2008 on eventual series champion Scott Dixon as he fell just short of his first IndyCar Series championship in Chicago after a dramatic last to first run. We wish Helio and Team Penske the best during this process and hope to see Helio competing for the championship in the near future."
I have Service Electric and I get VS. and VS.-HD. Not watching the Dakar-in-name-only rally though because of it not being contested in Africa at all this yeat.I have Time-Warner and should get it. I've been watching Dakar on VS.I still hate that I won't get to see this on TV since only people with Comcast will get to see the races
Have you tried using the VERSUS Channel Locator on IndyCar.com?I still hate that I won't get to see this on TV since only people with Comcast will get to see the races
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