Steele to add female voice to Indy broadcast.

Backed by more than 317,000 watts of power and a state-of-the-art public address system, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway public address team is ready for the 87th Indianapolis 500, with familiar voices mixing with new talent.

Veteran IMS lead p.a. announcer Tom Carnegie, who will call his 58th consecutive Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on Sunday, May 25, is joined behind the microphone by fellow veteran announcers Jim Phillippe and Dave Calabro.

Joining the staff for 2003 are well-known radio and television personalities Dave Wilson, Jerry Baker and Laura Steele. Steele becomes the first woman in history on the IMS public address staff.

Phillippe, who has worked with Carnegie on the IMS public address staff since 1948, two years after Carnegie called his first "500", is credited with developing the post-qualifying interview format and is an integral part of the stirring, patriotic pre-race ceremonies before the start of Indianapolis 500.

Calabro has been part of the IMS public address team since 1985. He is also sports director for Indianapolis television station WTHR.

After spending her formative years near IMS, Steele graduated from college in Chicago and launched an on-air radio and television career that has taken her all over the United States. She is presently an on-air talent for popular Indianapolis radio station WFBQ-FM (94.7).

Like Steele, Wilson grew up in the shadow of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After spending 11 years traveling the world doing stand-up comedy, Wilson gained broadcast experience on the popular "The Bob and Tom Show" on WFBQ. He has been the afternoon host on Indianapolis station WIBC-AM (1070) since 1995.

Wilson is also a member of the IMS Radio Network broadcast team, reporting from every event on the 16-race 2003 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series schedule.

Baker is a longtime member of the IMS Radio Network broadcast team and also is well known for his tenures as radio and television voice of the Indiana Pacers. He has also served as play-by-play announcer for numerous Indiana high school basketball championships and serves as sports information director for the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

When the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens for official Indianapolis 500 practice on Indianapolis Star Opening Day, Sunday, May 4, a new public address system will debut. The 317,200-watt system features 341 loudspeakers around the facility, and 38 subwoofers along the main straightaway. More than 70 miles of speaker wire were required to link the massive system, which is the world's largest p.a. system when put to full use on Race Day.