ABC as part of its coverage of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday plans to focus a lot on the race’s history in addition to documenting this year’s race. THE DAILY spoke with ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Amy Rosenfeld, who is overseeing the race’s coverage, about how she plans to incorporate “the good old days” into the telecast.
Q: How will you document 100 years of Indy in this weekend’s coverage?
Rosenfeld: Clearly the thread of history has to be part of the production, moreso than any other race. It's important that we try to connect with every level of fan. We know the diehards will be there. We’re also trying to attract folks that may be casual fans but remember the good old days. We have to do justice to the history because there are those who are really like encyclopedias of the event. Then there are those who watched it as a kid and loved these racers, and it was cool and fast and loud.
Q: How will you balance the history with what’s happening on the track?
Rosenfeld: Oh, by the way, you really need to document the race. The last couple of races have been really good. You are always aware that there needs to be that thread of history throughout the telecast. But you have to be careful because you don’t want to get so deep in the past that you are unable to react to what’s unfolding in the present.
Q: What can viewers look forward to seeing?
Rosenfeld: One of the things that will be cool for those that remember the good old days is that we actually were able to get the four-time winners together for a round table: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Our race analyst Eddie Cheever was a big part of putting this together. To be able to get all the legends together and hear their experiences, that’s pretty powerful.
Q: You go from Indy to Austin for the X Games then Paris for Euro '16. Is it difficult to move from sport-to-sport like that?
Rosenfeld: Delegate or die has become my new mantra. You have to surround yourself with great people. You really behave as a catch-all for problems that come up. This past Sunday was a good example. Indy qualifying was on ABC simultaneously with MLS on ESPN and Copa del Rey on ESPN2. Despite the fact that I’m about to be 50, I was super Millennial. I had devices everywhere with multi screens -- it was the epitome of the multi-screen experience. If my late parents could see me multitasking, they would never believe it.
Q: That doesn't sound like a super Millennial. That sounds like just a Millennial.
Rosenfeld: I know! I’m learning more from talking to 23-year-old production assistants than anything. I’ve totally morphed into a dinosaur. It’s so sad. I thought I at least had 20 more years before that happened, but clearly not.
