ESPN Layoffs Could End the Indy 500 on ABC

The recent round of layoffs at ABC’s sports arm ESPN means the writing is on the wall. The Indy 500 will likely be off the network after 2017.

Perhaps the biggest story in sports media in 2017 is not the hiring of Tony Romo or what crazy thing Colin Cowherd is saying today, but the recent high-profile layoffs at ESPN. No department has been spared, no sport has been left out of the cuts. But perhaps the most decimated areas of the worldwide leader were in hockey and motorsports, both teetering on the edge of disappearing from America’s biggest sports network.

ESPN’s relationship with the racing world has almost always been strained in modern times. After building their network on unique coverage of NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One, NHRA, sports cars, and dirt racing, almost none of that remains today. NASCAR left the network at the end of the 2014 season, while the NHRA followed one year later. IndyCar eventually split their coverage between ABC and NBCSN, with ESPN providing the personnel and coverage on their mother network.

However, with IndyCar entering contract negotiations with television partners over their new deal, there is no guarantee that ABC will keep their races, including the prestigious Indy 500. Now, it appears less likely to see the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” stay where it has been since the 1965 race after the dismissal of three big faces on the IndyCar team.

As announcements of departures have slowly come out over the last 72 hours, the first motorsports name to drop was veteran pit reporter and announcer Dr. Jerry Punch:

Then, rumors began to circulate of Eddie Cheever being let go from the announcer’s booth, but they have yet to be confirmed.

NOTE: Eddie Cheever has NOT been let go of on ESPN despite initial reports

What was then confirmed on Friday was the departure of former NASCAR and current IndyCar play-by-play man Allen Bestwick:

Those that remain on the team (for now) are Cheever, fellow analyst Scott Goodyear, and pit reporters Rick DeBruhl and Jon Beekhuis. However, when you consider that Beekhuis is primarily employed by IndyCar and DeBruhl only works open-wheel races for ESPN/ABC, less of the team is secured at this point.

Of course, all those who have announced they will not remain at ESPN will still call this year’s edition of the Indy 500 and the Dual in Detroit the following weekend. Beyond that, however, much remains up in the air about IndyCar on ABC. While they remain under contract with the series to cover races through 2018, could this be a sign of accelerating television talks with a new partner?

Many fans would be overjoyed to see NBC Sports pick up the remainder of the IndyCar Series contract and bring more races to network television. In theory, the addition of these five races would not negatively impact their already robust motorsports coverage, with all the races coming before they pick up the second half of the NASCAR season. The only issue it may accelerate is the need for a solid IndyCar voice, instead of Leigh Diffey bouncing back and forth between Indy and F1.

Related Story: IndyCar TV Ratings After Barber

Of course, it is still premature to say that IndyCar is officially off of ABC. ESPN could always bring in new cheaper talent to cover the races or use someone in-house. However, the latter option would likely be met with great push back, similar to the use of Todd Harris in 2005 for IRL coverage.

What do you think of the ESPN layoffs? Would you like to see IndyCar coverage migrate to NBC Sports full-time in the future? Be sure to tune in for this weekend’s Phoenix Grand Prix for the Verizon IndyCar Series on NBCSN.