Mike King vacates position as Voice of the Indianapolis 500

The voice of the Indianapolis 500 on the IMS Radio Network will change hands next season as long-time IndyCar announcer Mike King will step down from his position at the end of the month.

King has been the play-by-play voice of the IMSRN since 1996 and the announcer of the Indianapolis 500 since 1999. He will vacate those positions on November 1 to tend to family and other business, as stated in a IMS news release.

“I would like to thank the Hulman-George family and the entire IndyCar family for an incredible 19 years with the IMS Radio Network,” King said in the release. “Calling the Indy 500 and every other IndyCar Series race has fulfilled so many of my hopes and dreams.

“I loved every second of it, especially that special connection with the fans over the airwaves. But I’m also looking forward to this next phase of my life, including dedicating more time to my family, which always has been so understanding and supportive while I was on the road working with the network.”

King also works as a marketing and public relations expert at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind.

IMS officials say that the search for a new chief announcer has already begun. What remains to be seen is if the new voice of IndyCar will come from within or oustide the IMS family.

The IMS Radio Network broadcasts this season also included the talents of Jake Query, Pippa Mann, Nick Yeoman, Mark Jaynes and Michael Young with part-time help from Indiana Pacers broadcaster Chris Denari, Jerry Baker and Katie Hargitt.

Former IndyCar Series announcers Bob Jenkins and Pual Page are technically on the market, having stepped down from their positions over the last decade but there is no indication that they are candidates or even interested in filling the role.

Who would you like to see become the Voice of the Indianapolis 500? Tell us in the comments section below.