Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Paul Page built a respected broadcasting career in both Indiana and national media, with a focus on motorsports. He served as chief announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for 13 years and spent 16 years calling the Indianapolis 500 on ABC-TV. Page also worked at WIBC and WTHR in Indianapolis and spent 25 years with ABC, ESPN, and NBC covering a wide range of sports.  He was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2025.

Early Life and Education 

Page was born Paul Hendsridge in Evansville, Indiana. After his parents’ divorce, he was adopted by his stepfather, an Air Force colonel, and took the last name Page. He grew up on military bases around the world and graduated from high school in Highland Park, Illinois. His interest in broadcasting began during a high school radio news program. He later attended the University of Tulsa, where he studied communications and gained experience in classical music pronunciation, which helped him during his first radio job at WAIV-FM in Indianapolis. 

Starting in Indiana Radio 

Page began his Indiana broadcasting career in 1965 at WAIV-FM, a classical and jazz station in Indianapolis. He hosted shows like Opus Legato and Jazz Flight 805, which aired from a small studio atop the Dearborn Hotel. In 1968, he joined WIBC-AM in Indianapolis. Page covered general news, traffic, and high-profile criminal stories. In 1977, he even survived a serious helicopter crash while reporting on traffic for WIBC. 

Becoming The Voice of the 500 

In 1973, Page joined the IMS Radio Network as a pit reporter, working under longtime “Voice of the 500” Sid Collins. When Collins passed away in 1977, Page was chosen to take over as chief announcer. He called the race for radio until 1987. He later returned to the role from 2014 to 2015 and co-hosted the 100th Indianapolis 500 broadcast in 2016. 

Network Career and National Coverage 

In 1988, Page joined ABC Sports as a play-by-play announcer for the Indianapolis 500, working alongside Bobby Unser and Sam Posey. He remained with ABC and ESPN for 25 years, covering IndyCar, NHRA drag racing, NASCAR, Formula One, and other sports. He also hosted Wide World of Sports, NBC Sports World, and covered events like the X Games, Olympics, and even niche competitions like sumo wrestling and Rubik’s Cube championships. His work earned him multiple Emmys, including back-to-back wins for Indy 500 broadcasts in 1989 and 1990. 

Later Career and Personal Life 

Outside of his race day duties, Page worked as a general assignment reporter and host at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. He also served in the Army National Guard, where he was a broadcast instructor at Fort Harrison. In 1980, he married fellow broadcaster Sally Levick. Together, they launched Page Productions, producing programs for the Car Radio Network and covering various national sports events.

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June 2025 

Katherine Maners