The Voice of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tom Carnegie Dead at Age 91

Tom Carnegie began his career in radio in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1942. In 1946 the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Tony Hullman hired Carnegie for the Indy 500. For once you can truly say "The rest is history".

Tom Carnegie was one of the most well known voices in the history of sports broadcasting. His deep strong voice greeted the crowds at the 500 from 1946 until 2006, when he retired. Carnegie was truly an "icon among icons".

Carnegie had several phrases that became his own. When a driver approached the start finish line for the first of four consecutive qualifying laps, Carnegie would stretch out his words: "Annnd heeez on it!" He is perhaps most well known for his identification of a record setting pace during qualifying. Many a fan has heard his famous phrase: "It's a new track record!"

Carnegie called the Indy 500 sixty one times. He called the Brickyard 400 twelve times and the Indy Grand Prix six times. Eleven U.S. Presidents served during the time of Carnegie's tenure at the track. Harry Truman was President when Carnegie started at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When Carnegie started at the track, women were not even allowed in pit row. When he retired, Danica Patrick was a driver.

Carnegie was also a broadcaster in other sports. He is a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. Carnegie called the game on the public address system when little Milan won the Indiana High School State basketball championship in 1954. Carnegie had a cameo role in the movie "Hoosiers" about that event.

His illustrious sports broadcasting career aside, Tom Carnegie will be remembered by most for his booming voice echoing across the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Carnegie was one reason that the Indy 500 became "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

We'll miss you, Tom.