You’re sitting in Turn 3, the humidity is already starting to stick your shirt to the plastic grandstand, and the air smells like a mix of sunscreen and high-octane exhaust. Then, you hear it. That high-pitched, crackling roar that isn’t just coming from the track—it’s coming from the thousands of little hand-held radios scattered through the crowd.
There is something undeniably visceral about the Indy 500 radio broadcast. For a lot of us, the race doesn't actually start until we hear that iconic "Stay tuned for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing" transition. While the world is moving toward 4K streaming and 360-degree cameras, the radio network remains the backbone of the Month of May. Honestly, it’s probably the last piece of "appointment listening" left in American sports.
The Magic Behind the Indy 500 Radio Broadcast
If you think the radio call is just a backup for people who can't get to a TV, you’ve got it backwards. In many ways, the radio crew is more "plugged in" than any television production could ever be. Because they aren't tied to a director’s specific camera shot, the turn reporters and pit analysts have to paint the entire 2.5-mile picture with just their words.
It’s frantic. It’s loud. And it’s incredibly precise.
The current anchor, Mark Jaynes, sits in the "Sid Collins Booth" high up in the Pagoda. He’s the traffic controller. When a car spins in Turn 2, he doesn't wait for a replay; he throws it to the person standing right there. For 2025 and 2026, the team still relies on this decentralized structure that dates back decades.
- The Booth: Mark Jaynes and driver analyst Davey Hamilton.
- The Turns: Nick Yeoman, Michael Young, and Jake Query are usually the voices you hear screaming over the engine noise as the field thunders past.
- Pit Road: A rotating cast that often includes stalwarts like Ryan Myrehn and Rob Blackman.
The technical feat is honestly kind of insane. They coordinate dozens of microphones scattered across the track to ensure you hear the "whoosh" of the cars without it drowning out the commentary. It's a delicate balance that FOX or NBC often struggles with on the TV side, but the IMS Radio Network has mastered over seventy years.
A Legacy of Voices: From Sid Collins to Now
You can't talk about this broadcast without mentioning Sid Collins. He was "The Voice of the 500" for 26 years. He's the one who basically invented the format we use today—the "flag-to-flag" coverage. Before him, radio stations would just check in at the start, the middle, and the end.
Collins understood that the Indy 500 is a story. It's a drama that unfolds over three or four hours. When he died in 1977, Paul Page took over and brought a new level of energy that defined the 80s and 90s. Even now, you might catch Paul Page making a guest appearance on the airwaves because at 16th and Georgetown, tradition is everything.
How to Listen: 2026 Options
Most fans are worried about how the new TV deals with FOX might change access, but the Indy 500 radio broadcast remains remarkably accessible. If you aren't at the track, you’ve basically got three main ways to tune in.
- Terrestrial Radio: There are over 350 affiliates across the country. In Indianapolis, the flagship is still 93.5 FM / 107.5 FM / 1070 AM.
- SiriusXM: This is usually the easiest way for people on a road trip. You’ll want to find SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation (Channel 218). They usually start pre-race coverage way earlier than the local stations, sometimes as early as 10:00 AM ET.
- The Apps: Both the INDYCAR App and the IndyCar Radio website stream the broadcast for free globally. This is a lifesaver if you’re trying to listen while mowing the lawn or stuck at a family BBQ.
Shortwave listeners can still find the race via the American Forces Radio Network. It's cool to think that a soldier in a desert halfway around the world is hearing the same roar as a guy in a lawn chair in Speedway, Indiana.
Why Radio Still Matters (Even with TV)
There’s a weird phenomenon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Even though there are massive video boards everywhere, thousands of people in the stands wear headsets to listen to the radio call.
Why? Because the radio guys see things the cameras miss.
When a driver starts "searching" for a different line or a car starts smoking slightly on the backstretch, the turn reporters catch it instantly. On TV, you’re at the mercy of the director. If the director wants to show a celebrity in the pits while a pass for the lead is happening in Turn 4, you’re out of luck. On the radio, they’re always watching the racing.
Also, let’s be real: the Indy 500 radio broadcast doesn't have nearly as many commercial interruptions that "hide" the action. They use a "side-by-side" style of reporting where you rarely feel like you’ve lost the thread of the race.
Practical Steps for Race Day
If you're planning on using the radio broadcast to enhance your 2026 Indy 500 experience, here are a couple of things you should actually do.
First, get a dedicated scanner or a high-quality portable FM radio. Don't rely on your phone’s cellular data if you are actually at the track. With 300,000 people in one spot, the cell towers basically melt. You will get a 30-second delay on a streaming app, which is infuriating when you see a crash happen and don't hear the call until you've already finished gasping.
Second, check your local listings a week before. The IMS Radio Network affiliate list changes slightly every year. If you're driving through rural Ohio or Illinois, you might need to hop between stations to keep the signal clear.
Third, if you’re listening at home, try syncing the radio audio with the TV muted. It takes a little bit of pausing and unpausing to get the timing right, but once you do, it’s the ultimate way to watch the race. You get the high-def visuals of the TV and the expert, high-energy commentary of the radio team.
The Indy 500 radio broadcast isn't just a relic of the past; it’s a living part of the race’s soul. Whether it's the 110th running or the 150th, there will always be a team of reporters standing on top of concrete walls, shouting into microphones, trying to tell the world what it feels like to see 33 cars dive into Turn 1 at 230 miles per hour.
What to do next
If you're gearing up for the next race, download the official INDYCAR app now and familiarize yourself with the "Radio" tab. It’s also worth checking the historical archives on the IMS website if you want to hear how the legendary Sid Collins or Paul Page called classic finishes from the 60s and 70s. Getting your ears "tuned in" early makes the actual race day much more enjoyable.