This video was originally uploaded by OldSchoolNASCAR who was terminated. Thankfully, I saved it beforehand so I'm putting it back onto RU-vid for all of you to see. Enjoy!
I found Keith Jackson to be a much more enjoyable listen than Jim McKay. Jackson gave so much room for Jackie to show his expertise and didn't act like McKay did when someone would blow an engine and make it sound like the guy was flying into the stands.
I think the deal with Jim McKay (who I equally respect) is he called a lot of horse racing and was a horse racing enthusiast. So I think the excitement in his voice at crashes may have to do with horse racing announcing. It's very evident when the first green flag drops and he says, "They're racing in Indianapolis!" Jim probably had the hardest job any sportscaster has ever faced as he was pressed into action as a reporter delivering the news of Munich Massacre during the 1972 Olympics, as details came in. "When I was a kid, my father used to say "Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized." Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They've now said that there were eleven hostages. Two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They're all gone."
Interesting that even though Dallenbach broke down on lap 162, he had been so far ahead of most the field that when the race ended 12 laps later, he still finished 9th, ahead of several cars that were still running. I remember Rutherford being upset that the checkered flag was waved with the red, especially because the sun came out soon after that cloudburst. He thought they should have waited.
I was 14 and at the race. I felt the same way. They could have restarted within an hour as the rest of the day was sunny and warm. I understand they ended it in consideration of the cars who crashed in the rain and could not continue, especially Vukovich who was running in the top 10.
My least favorite portion of the Indy 500 back in the day was when Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle--"Gaawwwwlee") sang "Back Home Again In Indiana." Couldn't stand it!!! %$&@#!!!
