Mike Tirico will be host of NBC’s inaugural Indianapolis 500 coverage this Sunday, and the INDYCAR community has given him quite the warm welcome.
But Mario Andretti didn’t just give Tirico any normal welcome to Indianapolis. Instead, he gave him the ride of his life, seated behind the legendary driver in the IndyCar two-seater, riding from the tarmac of the Indianapolis International Airport to the yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
THE 103RD INDIANAPOLIS 500: Click here for how to watch, full daily schedules
Tirico’s adventure even saw the street-legal race car pacing down Interstate 465 on its way to the famed racetrack.
"That is the coolest thing I've ever experienced."@MikeTirico hitched a ride with @MarioAndretti in his two-seater @IndyCar from the airport all the way to @IMS! #MustBeMay #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/62l3xqqNbx
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 22, 2019
“Mario is amazing,” Tirico said. “He wanted to go faster the whole time. Don’t be mistaken, he just wants a seat and a good engine and he just wants to open it up. He’s the best.”
Upon arrival at the yard of bricks, Andretti and Tirico both kissed the bricks, just as multiple Indy 500 and Brickyard 400 winners have done many times prior.
Coverage of the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 begins Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. ET on NBCSN, then moves over to NBC at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The UBER-Uber ride. 25 stars.
— MikeTirico (@miketirico) May 22, 2019
Thank you @MarioAndretti @IMS for the most memorable welcome to an event ever. Can’t wait for #Indy500 Sunday @IndyCaronNBC https://t.co/PbRc3aObfS
