Jenkins to lead line-up for ABC Broadcasts.

ABC Sports, the network of the Indy Racing League and home of the prestigious Indianapolis 500, announced Jan. 14 that veteran broadcaster Bob Jenkins has been promoted to host of its coverage of the Indianapolis 500 and the IRL.

Jenkins will lead the strongest broadcast line-up in televised motorsports, with longtime ABC announcer Paul Page calling the race action, former Indy Racing driver Scott Goodyear offering race analysis, and Gary Gerould joining Jack Arute and Vince Welch as pit reporters.

"I am very pleased to promote Bob (Jenkins) to the host position because he is the pre-eminent voice in auto racing," said Howard Katz, president, ABC Sports. "Paul adds years of experience to the team, while Scott will provide us with a very unique perspective as a former IRL driver. Along with top pit reporters Jack Arute, Gary Gerould and Vince Welch, we have assembled one of the most talented and experienced broadcast teams in the industry."

The versatile Jenkins has served as host and/or anchor for a wide variety of auto racing circuits, including the Indianapolis 500, IRL and IROC on ABC, NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Grand National telecasts on ABC and ESPN, and Formula One and IMSA.

Page, one of the most recognizable voices in motorsports, has covered a variety of series during his 25-year career, including the Indianapolis 500, IRL, IROC and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

As a member of ABC's IRL team, two-time Indianapolis 500 runner-up Goodyear will return to the Brickyard. He placed second to Al Unser Jr. in 1992 at Indianapolis by .043 of a second, the closest finish in Indy history. Goodyear recorded three victories during his Indy Racing League career with 17 top-five finishes in 39 starts.

Gerould is a veteran pit reporter who also has done play by play for the National Football League, among others. Arute, who joined ABC in 1984, is the network's top auto racing pit reporter and one of its top college football sideline reporters. Welch, who is also an accomplished play-by-play announcer in the Midwest, has emerged as one of television's top pit reporters in just a few short seasons with ABC.

ABC Sports will broadcast 10 Indy Racing events this season in the United States, beginning at 1pm (EST) Saturday, March 2 from Homestead-Miami Speedway. The network's schedule is highlighted by the prestigious Indianapolis 500, which airs from 11am-3pm (EDT) Sunday, May 26.