While the announcement last week that he would be the play-by-play man for NBC Sports Network's Formula 1 coverage starting in naturally got the lion's share of attention, Leigh Diffey is equally looking forward to the second part of NBC's announcement – that he will take a similar role in the network's coverage of IZOD IndyCar Series events, starting with the 2013 season in St. Petersburg (ABOVE).
“It was always the goal to end up someplace like NBC, and I've had the privilege of working for large networks. But to work for NBC Sports Network and on IndyCar and Formula 1 is something else,” Diffey told IndyCar.com. “This is my 17th year of network broadcasting and this is what I've been working toward all along,” added the Australian, who will replace the retired Bob Jenkins on the 13 IndyCar Series telecasts set for NBCSN next year. “To say it's a dream come true is an understatement."
While he is best known for his play-by-play of sports car racing, Diffey's IndyCar gig is actually a return engagement, as his first U.S. broadcasting assignment was covering CART Champ Car races in 2001.
“I have such good memories of covering open-wheel racing here and this is like Phase II – a continuation – and I'm so excited about it,” added Diffey. “I'll bring some energy to the broadcast; everybody knows that's my style. I look forward to expanding on the stories about the series and the drivers, bringing out their backgrounds and history. The series has some terrific years ahead of it and I'm looking forward to delivering those stories on NBC Sports Network.”