Paul Page

Auto Racing Commentator

Paul Page, one of the best-known voices in televised motorsports for more than a quarter century, serves as the host of ESPN’s extensive coverage of the NHRA.  Page’s association with ESPN dates from before the network debuted on September 7, 1979.  The network's first auto racing producer, he produced a number of sprint-car races in the Midwest that summer that were aired on ESPN in the fall.  Although Page has handled a wide variety of sports in his career – with assignments on every continent except Antarctica, over the years he has become most identified with Indy cars, covering CART, the IRL and 25 Indy 500s, between TV and radio. 

Before joining ABC Sports in 1987, he served for 15 years as the “voice” of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for the worldwide broadcast of the 500, and had hosted NBC Sports’ auto racing coverage since 1977.  He worked on the radio coverage of the Indianapolis 500 beginning in 1974, hosting the broadcast from 1977-87.  He served as the lead commentator for ABC’s broadcast of the 2004 Indianapolis 500, which because of several rain delays went 8 l/2 hours, making for one of the longest single-event telecasts ever.

For ABC and ESPN, he has also covered NASCAR, figure and speed skating, college football, the X Games, Winter X Games, the 2003 America’s Cup, the Great Outdoor Games and even the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4.

Page began his career as a news reporter at WIBC-Radio in Indianapolis in 1968.  In 1977, he was nearly killed in a helicopter crash near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway while on assignment.  Later that year, he moved to WTHR-TV in Indianapolis where he served as a news and sports reporter until 1980.  From 1978-87, he hosted NBC Sports' auto racing telecasts as well as covering a wide variety of events, from the NFL to sumo wrestling. 

Page has received numerous honors, including AP, UPI and Indianapolis Press Club awards for his reporting in Indianapolis.  Page earned two Iris Awards from the National Association of Television Program Executives for programs he wrote and produced on auto racing (1983, '84).  He also received a 1983 New York Film Critics Silver Medal for his feature "Horses of Steel, A Look at the Indy 500."  Twice the ABC telecast of the Indianapolis 500 he hosted was honored with a Sports Emmy Award as Best Special.

Although born in the racing hotbed of Indiana (November 25, 1945), it was through his childhood travels that he gained his love of auto racing.  Page was a self-professed "Army Brat," attending 11 schools in 10 years at one point.  He lived near the Mercedes-Benz Formula One testing facility in Stuttgart, Germany, in the early '50s and became a race fan.

Page also has experience behind the wheel, racing Formula Fords in SCCA’s National Championship Series from 1970-77.  He still keeps his hand in racing with an occasional drive, such as twice at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  He's raced 24-hour sports car events with Bruce Jenner, Michael Kranefuss, Lyn St. James, Bob Bondurant, and world motorcycle champion Kenny Roberts.  In 1988, Page tested the Porsche Indy Car at the Nurburgring.  He still drives the Baja 1000 desert race.

After graduating high school in Highland Park, Ill., Page studied radio/TV and English at the University of Tulsa.  He operates a production company, Page Productions, with his wife, Sally, with whom he has two children.  As the SCCA Regional Executive of the Indianapolis Region, he created the IRO, a group devoted to racing medicine and rescue.  Paul was a founder of Indiana's Emergency Paramedic Program and has taught paramedic training.

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