This 1987 Indy 500 special by ABC Sports features the excellent commentary of Jim Lampley, Sam Posey and 3 time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser….which is one heck of a auto racing broadcasting team that was making the call on this special race.
Jim Lampley is an American sportscaster, news anchor, film producer, and restaurant owner….who has covered a record 14 Olympic Games on U.S. television….when in 1974, while in graduate school, he was chosen along with Don Tollefson in what ABC called a talent hunt…..as ABC executives thought that Lampley’s youthful looks would make him endearing to the college crowds they looked to attract for their college football games. At ABC, he covered such events as Major League Baseball, college basketball games, the 1986 and 1987 Indianapolis 500….as seen in this video herewith, the 1977 Monon Bell game between DePauw University and Wabash College, five Olympics, as well as many assignment on the ever popular program Wide World of Sports.
Sam Posey is a retired American racing driver and sports journalist….who went on to become an auto racing commentator for ABC Sports…..when he debuted on ABC for the Indianapolis 500 in 1974….while serving as analyst. In subsequent years, he served as a pit reporter, and ultimately returned to the booth starting in 1982. While commentating the 1986 Indianapolis 500….there was a yellow flag out very near the end of the race….when Posey used a two-way radio to ask an impromptu question to race leader Kevin Cogan…..as Posey was trying to ask Cogan about his thoughts in leading the Indianapolis 500 at this stage….when Cogan tried to stave off the conversation once, but Posey persisted a second time….at which time Cogan politely replied to Posey that he was “a little busy now,” ….but would talk to him later. Posey understood the circumstances and told the audience if that were he, “I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.”….when just moments later, on a restart with two laps remaining, Bobby Rahal jumped Cogan on the restart and went on to win.
BobbyUnser is an American former automobile racer….who is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louis Unser, the father of Robby Unser and the uncle of Al Unser Jr. and Johnny Unser. He is one of ten drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 three or more times….and one of only two, followed by Rick Mears, to have won the Indy 500 in three different decades (1968, 1975, 1981). Unser became a television commentator for Indy car races after his retirement working for NBC, ABC, and ESPN…..when in 1989 and 1990 while working on ABC’s Indy 500 telecasts….the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded ABC’s telecast of the Indianapolis 500 the Sports Emmy Award for “Outstanding Live Sports Special“. Unser receiving announcer honors with Paul Page, Sam Posey and others.
