A new season of IndyCar is here as Alex Palou looks to defend his title, but who are the NBC commentators in 2022? Who is in and out as the booth is freshened up?
Changes throughout IndyCar in 2022 are not just limited to the drivers.
The most high profile switch among them is that of Romain Grosjean to Andretti Autosport.
Ex-Formula 1 star Grosjean, a 10-time podium finisher in his 179 starts between 2009, and 2012-2020, makes the move from Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing.
At the wheel of the #51 in 2021, Grosjean claimed a pole on the Indy road course as well as three podiums, including a charging third at Laguna Seca.
He replaces 2012 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay in the DHL #28 machine.
While the driving musical chairs has ended, NBC has also shuffled its IndyCar commentators for the new season.
Who is out and who is in as an NBC IndyCar commentator in 2022?
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NBC IndyCar commentators in 2022
As in previous seasons, NBC has three commentators in the booth calling IndyCar races.
Two members of the team remain the same, with one change.
Leigh Diffey remains on play-by-play duties.
The Australian joined NBC in 2012 to cover both IndyCar and Formula 1 for the network – although F1 coverage was lost when NBC lost the rights.
Since then Diffey has focused on IndyCar – and occasionally dabbled in NASCAR covering for other announcers.
As NBC is the host broadcaster for the Olympic Games in the US, Diffey has called action from both the Tokyo Summer and Beijing Winter Games within the last year.
Staying on as an NBC IndyCar commentator in 2022 is Townsend Bell.
A colour commentator, Bell is a former IndyCar driver himself – making his last start at the 2016 Indy 500.
He’s also an accomplished sportscar racer – and took a class win at the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours in a Ferrari in GTE AM.
The new member of the team
Paul Tracy is no longer a commentator for NBC on IndyCar.
The 2003 Champ Car champion has been replaced for the new season as NBC looks to freshen up its offering.
Tracy is replaced by James Hinchcliffe in the booth alongside Diffey and Bell.
Hinchcliffe, the 2016 Indy 500 pole-sitter joins the team after dabbling in broadcasting in 2020 after he lost his seat.
A six-time race winner, Hinchcliffe was dropped by Andretti Autosport after a 20th place finish in the 2021 standings.
The likes of Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Mike Tirico all remain as programme presenters or pit-lane reporters.
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