Howard's Perspective on The Indianapolis 500
Video (1:53)
(Notes by Katy Simpson, J470 Broadcast Media Analysis, Spring 2022 )
On a news segment, Howard Caldwell expresses his frustration at the fact that none of the Indianapolis 500 events were available on live television. Caldwell states that this is because of a stipulation in Jay Leno’s contract that prevented live coverage of the award ceremony, and then tells racing committee to get rid of Leno and avoid anyone else with the same stipulation.
00:02: video starts with female reporter on screen, states that Indianapolis 500 events have angered Howard Caldwell, says he will give his thoughts
00:11: switches to Howard Caldwell, talks about how drivers who participated in Indy 500 used to be shown receiving a check for their effort
00:19: footage of racer in 1990 at podium plays, Caldwell narrates, says that this gave viewers a personal look into the drivers
00:29: camera cuts back to Caldwell, says there was supposed to be a live ceremony and presentation of awards and prizes to entrants in Indy 500, but didn’t end up happening
00:48: footage of celebrations from night before plays, shows racers with trophies and drivers being interviewed in suits, Caldwell narrates over footage, says viewers only saw videos of drivers and interview with past and present drivers after the fact
00:59: camera cuts back to Caldwell, says this is another event viewers cannot see live on television in Indianapolis, couldn’t see race itself or parade or awards live
01:10: says Jay Leno’s NBC contract that prevented video coverage of awards, meant no live pictures
01:28: suggests that members of speedway committee avoid anyone like Leno who has that stipulation in contract, says to bring back Paul Page
01:43: camera cuts to a male and female news reporter sitting next to each other, say that unofficial summer season has begun, music begins to play
01:52: footage cuts to images of Marilyn Monroe
01:53: screen goes black, program ends