Versus Broadcast Team

[hotdog1]

Heard today that the broadcast team will be: Bob Jenkins, Jon Beekhuis, and Wally Dallenbach in the booth. With Lindy Thackston, Robbie Floyd and Kevin Lee in the pits.

Also heard that Jack Arute will not be apart of the ABC or Versus team.

[OneLuckyGuy]

I think this team is better without Jack. I know he's been with the league a long time but I will not miss him.

[Hitokiri]

Yes no Robbie Buhl! I couldn't stand his stuttering.

Jack Arute, though I hated some of his 4th grade like questions, he did bring a lot of energy and experience to the team. I well personally miss him.

[Swaze]

Surprised to hear Wally Dallenbach's name but he seems like a decent addition. Could be a little better than Buhl but I really wish they would have put someone a little more excitable in the booth like Tommy Kendall or even Paul Tracy if he can't get a ride....................although Paul seems to be in a pretty pissy mood lately......not sure you'd want that loose of a cannon that's really mad at the series in the booth.

Keeping Lindy Thackston and Jon Beekhuis was the most important decision they made. Jon is a great source of information in the booth and Lindy is the total package as far as pit reporters go. Kinda seems messed up not to have Jack Arute but I'd much rather have Lindy at this point.

Only weak point of the broadcast team at this point sad to say is Bob Jenkins. I know he is well loved here and has even posted here before but honestly I think his best days as a play-by-play guy are behind him and he's not helping the series move forward. While his voice is iconic to us hardcore fans he just makes too many mistakes and misses too many important passes on the track. If the goal of the series is to grow and move forward and reach new fans, I don't think you do that with a guy like Bob whose best days are clearly behind him.

The guy they need is Allen Bestwick.

Bestwick has been relegated to pit reporter duties and hosting some NASCAR shows on ESPN but he could really help Indycar. Heck with that said he could really help NASCAR broadcasts too and the ratings prove that as they dropped once he was no longer the play-by-play guy. He's young enough to be relevant to the younger generation (like myself) and more importantly he's damn good at his job.

Going forward next year (2012) I think Indycar and Versus/NBC would be well served to get Allen Bestwick or someone just like him as the new PBP guy.

[GrafixMatt]

Yes no Robbie Buhl! I couldn't stand his stuttering. (

I'm glad Robbie Buhl is gone too.

[TimmyZ1]

Surprised to hear Wally Dallenbach's name but he seems like a decent addition. Could be a little better than Buhl but I really wish they would have put someone a little more excitable in the booth like Tommy Kendall or even Paul Tracy if he can't get a ride....................although Paul seems to be in a pretty pissy mood lately......not sure you'd want that loose of a cannon that's really mad at the series in the booth.

Keeping Lindy Thackston and Jon Beekhuis was the most important decision they made. Jon is a great source of information in the booth and Lindy is the total package as far as pit reporters go. Kinda seems messed up not to have Jack Arute but I'd much rather have Lindy at this point.

Only weak point of the broadcast team at this point sad to say is Bob Jenkins. I know he is well loved here and has even posted here before but honestly I think his best days as a play-by-play guy are behind him and he's not helping the series move forward. While his voice is iconic to us hardcore fans he just makes too many mistakes and misses too many important passes on the track. If the goal of the series is to grow and move forward and reach new fans, I don't think you do that with a guy like Bob whose best days are clearly behind him.

The guy they need is Allen Bestwick.

Bestwick has been relegated to pit reporter duties and hosting some NASCAR shows on ESPN but he could really help Indycar. Heck with that said he could really help NASCAR broadcasts too and the ratings prove that as they dropped once he was no longer the play-by-play guy. He's young enough to be relevant to the younger generation (like myself) and more importantly he's damn good at his job.

Going forward next year (2012) I think Indycar and Versus/NBC would be well served to get Allen Bestwick or someone just like him as the new PBP guy.

Bestwick is not going to happen, he's one of the main guys for ESPN's Nascar coverage and one of the few guys who knows or gives a damn about racing at ESPN. He's great at controlling the flow in the pre-race especially dealing with arrogant morons like Rusty Wallace

[hotdog1]

Do want to reiterate that this is what I heard. It was from a very good source. The Wally Dallenbach thing surprised me too, but apparently he is already under contract with NBC so that is why he is in the booth.

[Adam43]

Wally is a very good announcer. When the NBC crew did Long Beach in '07 I was very impressed with him and his depth of knowledge.

[indyracefan]

I didn't mind Buhl so much but will gladly take Dallenbach over Buhl for sure. Definitely glad that both Beekhuis and Lindy were retained. I liked Robby Floyd but Kevin Lee has done a great job via the radio network and deserves a shot I suppose. A loss for IMS Radio Network though.

I don't mind Jenkins either just so long as he appears a little better prepared this season. He flubbed-up big time on many occasions last season. And since there's nobody readily available that has the past experience in IndyCar like Jenkins I don't want him replaced just to replace him. And no, Paul Page wouldn't be a better substitute IMO either.

NO WAY I would want Allen Bestwick, I just can't stand that guy.

[Cygni]

Good crew, although Jenkins is way over the hill and honestly seems to be losing his marbles sometimes. I thought I read somewhere that Gary Gerould would be part of the team? Or maybe that's only ABC or Indy?

[Grizzlor]

Dallenbach gets a little testy sometimes, but he's a big improvement over Buhl and lightyears better than Goodyear or Cheever. Jenkins, Jon, Lindy, and Robbie do a great job. And if that last addition is true, a huge congratulations to Kevin Lee!

As for Page, I just want him to replace Dracula Reid on ABC. Gary Gerould is doing I think the Vegas race late in the year, because most of the ABC crew will be with NASCAR. Vince Welch is doing play by play.

[richie]

Kevin Lee has done a great job via the radio network and deserves a shot I suppose. A loss for IMS Radio Network though.

Kevin Lee is very good and will be a great addition to the Versus Coverage.

No worries on the radio side of things because of Lee's departure. Nick Yeoman came along last year as a pit reporter on the IMS Radio Network and did a great job. He'll be there for the entire season this year.

[drdisque]

I think it was Las Vegas '07 that Wally did, but yeah, I was impressed with him too. He actually seems much more astute at calling an open wheel race than a NASCAR race - probably due to his family background.

He provides a good balance between being able to provide core play-by-play type calls with being able to add in insight and color.

[Tomsk]

Earlier today I was thinking of starting a thread inquiring why VS still hasn't announced its on-air team. Super-relieved Jon and Lindy have been retained, Bob and Robbie Floyd are good, and Kevin will be a good addition. As for Wally...that actually excites me. I feel he's a bit underrated as a commentator.

[Z28]

If I had to guess I think Wally and Jon won't be afraid to disagree with each other and not have it seem contrived. They both can ad-lib well, unlike Buhl who most times never had a comeback, so they can jab at each other while getting along.

I wish Allen Bestwick would do the TV and Jenkins be on the radio, sorry to all the Mike King worshippers, but I'm sure he gets paid too well on ESPN.

Priority 1 or 1b should be replacing Reid and Goodyear with........well anybody they're that bad.