News & Multimedia

WRTV To Televise 2018 Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration in Central Indiana

March 01, 2018 | By Indianapolis Motor Speedway

All 33 starting drivers in the 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil will be honored Monday, May 28 during the Victory Celebration, which will be televised in Central Indiana by WRTV (RTV6).

Longtime RTV6 Sports Director Dave Furst will host the Victory Celebration, which starts at 6 p.m. (ET) at the JW Marriott hotel in downtown Indianapolis. A reception will start the evening at 5 p.m.

A variety of awards are presented during the annual Victory Celebration, including special honors for the winning driver and team, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, and recognition and purses to all 33 starters.

“The Victory Celebration always is anticipated as an evening of triumph and memories as we look back at a magical Month of May,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We welcome RTV6 as this year’s broadcast partner of the event, bringing its tradition and excitement to Central Indiana homes. Dave Furst has great passion and knowledge of the ‘500’ and IndyCar racing, and he will be an entertaining host of a very fun evening for everyone.”

Furst joined RTV6 as a sports reporter in 1997 and was named sports director in 2002. He has won multiple regional Emmy awards and Associated Press awards for his reporting. Furst, a graduate of Indiana University, also serves as a reporter on the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network during the Verizon IndyCar Series season.

“To me, you didn’t put a bow on the Month of May until you watched the Victory Celebration,” Furst said. “It’s the perfect showcase for driver personalities while honoring the winning driver and winning team. There have been some fantastic moments over the years, and I don’t expect that to change this year. It’s an honor for it to come to RTV6 and very humbling that I’ve been asked to host.”

A limited number of tickets for the Victory Celebration are available to the public for $200 each. Guests can walk a portion of the red carpet before the ceremony and pose for pictures with the Borg-Warner Trophy. Visit ims.com/victorycelebration for more details or to purchase tickets.

The 102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil is scheduled for noon Sunday, May 27 at IMS.