Townsend Bell
FILE - NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with the trophy with team members after taking fourth place in an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. Palou will compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona for the first time. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)
A dozen IndyCar drivers racing Rolex for preseason prep

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 26, 2022 03:46 PM EST

FILE - James Hinchcliffe, of Canada, waits in the pits before a practice session for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. Hinchcliffe, one of IndyCar's most popular drivers, said Tuesday, Dec. 14, he's stepping away from full-time racing in the series. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Hinchcliffe moves from IndyCar driver to NBC Sports analyst

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 16, 2021 10:10 AM EST

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, reacts after winning the pole for an IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
O'Ward works overtime to grab pole position in Indianapolis

By Michael Marot Aug. 13, 2021 08:46 PM EDT

The helmet of Simona De Silvestro, of Switzerland, shows a logo during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
NBC hopes for more IndyCar as contract comes to an end

By Jenna Fryer May. 26, 2021 05:54 PM EDT

IndyCar driver Jimmie Johnson (48) signs the shirt of fan Caroline Gast of Sarasota after the morning practice session at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race, Sunday, April 25, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Jimmie Johnson to make Indy 500 debut - for NBC Sports

May. 04, 2021 01:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, May 19, 2006 file photo, Indy Racing League driver Townsend Bell dons his helmet before practicing for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. NBC Sports analyst Townsend Bell will have his own unique double duty Saturday, July 4, 2020 when he calls the IndyCar race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then flies to Daytona International Speedway to compete in the IMSA sports car race. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman, File)
Bell to commentate and race on same day in different states

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 02, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 26, 2019, file photo, Simon Pagenaud, of France, leads the field through the first turn on the start of the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis. The once frosty schism between the two biggest racing series in the United States has thawed and NASCAR's elite Cup Series will share a venue with IndyCar on the same weekend for the first time in history. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
NASCAR and IndyCar collide for racing extravaganza at Indy

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 02, 2020 04:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 10, 2017, file photo, Will Power, of Australia, pumps his fist as he crosses the finish line under yellow to win an IndyCar auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas. IndyCar is getting ready for an all-in-one-day season opener on the fast track in Texas, more than 2 ½ months after drivers were set to roll on the streets of St. Pete. The pandemic-delayed season is now set to open Saturday, June 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
IndyCar ready to race after pandemic delayed start of season

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 04, 2020 11:18 AM EDT

In this image taken from video provided by iRacing IndyCar, IndyCar Pato O'Ward, foreground, heads into a turn during opening lap of the American Red Cross Grand Prix virtual IndyCar auto race at Watkins Glen International, Saturday, March 28, 2020. (iRacing IndyCar via AP)
McLaughlin wins virtual IndyCar event racing from Australia

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 04, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, practices on his racing simulator in his home in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 28, 2020. Kanaan, along with other IndyCar drivers and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson will compete in the series' inaugural virtual racing event Saturday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar's virtual race to be aired on NBC Sports Network

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 01, 2020 02:32 PM EDT

IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, practices on his racing simulator in his home in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 28, 2020. Kanaan, along with other IndyCar drivers and NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson will compete in the series' inaugural virtual racing event Saturday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar goes iRacing as latest series to offer fans content

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 28, 2020 05:47 PM EDT

Takuma Sato, of Japan, prepares to drive during practice for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 17, 2019 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
NBC ready to showcase iconic Indianapolis 500 for first time

By Dave Skretta May. 20, 2019 02:07 AM EDT

With a banner of former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt at upper right, workers perform maintenance on the illuminated signage on the Tower E elevator, Monday, April 1, 2019, in Bristol, Tenn. A full schedule of racing is coming up this weekend with the Bush's Beans Pole Day on Friday, the Alsco Xfinity Race 300 on Saturday, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Food City 500 on Sunday. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)
Earnhardt joins NBC Sports coverage of Indianapolis 500

Apr. 03, 2019 03:21 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 9, 2018, file photo, the City of St. Petersburg is pictured in the background as IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud makes his way through turn 10 during the first IndyCar practice on the first day of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla. The IndyCar season opens Sunday, March 10, 2019, in St. Petersburg. (Dirk Shadd/The Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
IndyCar slowly and steadily returning to relevance

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 06, 2019 04:11 PM EST