IRL: Indy Racing League Notebook 2004-03-17

Indy Racing League Notebook
March 17, 2004
New-Look Booth, Graphics To Greet Viewers On ABC Sports

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, March 17, 2004 -- A new look will greet viewers of IRL IndyCar Series® events on ABC Sports beginning with the March 21 Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Returning announcers Paul Page and Scott Goodyear will be joined in the booth by long-time pit reporter Jack Arute, while Vince Welch and newcomer Todd Harris form the network's pit reporting team.

"We feel our broadcast team from top to bottom is one of the deepest and most talented crews on network television," said Mike Pearl, Senior Vice President of Production, ABC Sports. "In addition to a three-man booth, we are excited about the new production changes that should enhance our presentation of the Indy Racing League."

Emmy Award-winning producer Curt Gowdy, Jr., will take over the reins as coordinating producer of the broadcast, joining Terry Lingner, a veteran of auto racing productions, who will produce ABC's IndyCar Series coverage.

Conrad Piccirillo, one of the top live sports directors in the country, will serve as the director of the broadcast.

In addition, the network will run a graphics package developed for the network by its broadcast partner ESPN.

Buhl visits hospital: IndyCar Series driver Robbie Buhl will visit patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital at 10 a.m. March 18.

Buhl, driver of the No. 24 Team Purex Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone, is in his 15th year as national spokesperson for the Racing for Kids charity and visits hospitalized children in each IndyCar Series market. He will be visiting the hospital for the 12th time -- making it Buhl's most visited hospital.

Buhl will be joined by Dr. William Pinsky, founder of Racing for Kids, and J. Patrick Wright, the charity's executive director.

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The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season continues with the Copper World Indy 200 at 4 p.m. (EST) on March 21 at Phoenix International Raceway. The race will be broadcast live on ABC and the IMS Radio Network. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series Phoenix 100 will take place at 2:45 p.m. on March 20. The race will be broadcast by ESPN2 on a tape-delayed basis on March 25.

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